Nokia Gets Design Conscious
November 30, 2006 | Levent OZLER
The world's largest mobile phone maker is building a new design studio and emphasizing looks as it vies to regain the edge from slimmer rivals.
Design has always been important to Nokia, and now it's reaching a new level.
The world's largest maker of mobile handsets is remodeling its headquarters in Espoo, Finland, part of a reorganization that will put design at the center of the company, literally and figuratively.
"We are sending a strong message to designers that they are respected, and to the rest of the organization that design is important," says Nokia Chief Executive Officer Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.
The company, which has had most of its Finland based designers in nearby Helsinki, is creating a new design studio in the waterfront Espoo headquarters that Nokia leaders say will be a true center of creativity, with drafting boards and everything.
"It's not just a showroom, it's going to be a living, breathing, design center," says Kai Öistämö, general manager of mobile phones for Nokia.
more: businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2006/gb20061 (1,522)
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