Nokia opens satellite design studio in Rio de Janeiro

Espoo, Finland - Nokia has opened a satellite design studio in Rio de Janeiro reflecting the increasing impact Latin American style and culture is expected to have on the future design of mobile devices and services. Based at the Design School of UniverCidade, it will bring together Nokia designers, students and established local designers to explore new trends and ideas that will influence products for the Latin American and global markets.

The satellite studio is the second in a series Nokia is establishing in the world’s hottest new design capitals. The first was opened in Bangalore, India, last year. Set up in partnership with leading design schools in each country, the fixed term studios bring Nokia designers directly into contact with local cultures and influences that will help inspire new design ideas and provide local students with hands on experience of working with a world class global design team.

Alastair Curtis, Nokia’s Chief Designer, said, “Brazil is an incredibly vibrant and diverse place and one that is constantly transforming and developing itself in new ways. This makes it a perfect place to inspire designers. It also has a wealth of emerging new design talent that will play a key role in shaping many of the global design trends we will see in the next few years. Combining the experience of our global design team with the local creativity and perspective of the students is a very exciting and creative way to explore new ideas in this important market for Nokia.”

Over the next two years, the Rio satellite studio will be involved in a range of research projects exploring new cultural, social and design influences across Brazil. Nokia designers from around the world will visit the studio to take part in the research and work directly with the students.

One of the first projects will be to study graphical design trends in Rio, looking at a range of influences from street art and graffitti through to more formal billboard advertising and promotion. Insights from this work may influence visual elements in mobile devices such as wallpapers or screen savers, or areas like packaging and marketing.

The designers will also look beyond the city to consider how mobile devices or services could be designed to meet the needs of more rural communities in Brazil and other countries around the world.

João Lutz, Design Manager of UniverCidade, said “This is an incredible opportunity for design students to work alongside one of the world’s leading design teams and gain valuable new experiences and insight. We welcome this investment by Nokia in the design talent of the future and look forwarding to participating in some really creative and stimulating projects.”

In addition to the the development of the new satellite studio, Nokia’s design team has been working on a number of projects exploring Latin American culture and trends. In 2003 Nokia extended its student program to Latin America and has worked with design schools in Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

Nokia has more than 300 designers in its global team representing 34 different nationalities. This team includes a range of specialists including industrial designers, psychologists, researchers, colors and material designers, graphics experts, anthropologists, and user interface specialists. They are based in many different locations around the world including studios at Nokia’s corporate headquarters at Espoo in Finland, London, Beijing, Copenhagen, Calabassas in Los Angeles, and Dallas.