Design Considered #22 - The Edit
Better times for phone design, architecture in the desert and more.
#01 - Opening Thought
As Nokia rolled out classic phone after classic phone in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was less the form we talked about and more the increasing amount of function these fun little devices could pack in as technology advanced. Yet, looking back at the Finnish brand’s product history —now beautifully documented in Aalto University's Nokia Design Archive—it's the warmth and approachability of the designs that capture the imagination.
Back in the Nokia days, we'd rattle off our phone's strange number and letter combination (like the 5110 pictured) with pride. With their changeable cases and faces, Nokia phones were lively accessories we loved to have around. Poring through this new dynamic digital encyclopaedia, the creativity seen in the shapes, colours, and ideas empowering the Nokias on display blows away the monotony of today’s ‘smarter’ phone releases.
A few choice selections from the 700+ entry-deep depository are advertising images of uber chic, business-ready Communicator and the archive's in-depth film interviews, including one with the project’s lead researcher and former Nokia designer Anna Valtonen.
#02 - For Your Consideration
1. WHAT TO BUY
The tiny microphone trend needs to end. Having worked in media for many years, my advice to YouTubers / creators is that you can’t feign being a broadcaster with a thimble-sized mini mic between your fingertips. Even worse is wearing one of those tee-shirt-collar-stretching clip-on things that seem to dominate the small screen today.
The lavalier microphone was popularised on television 50 years ago and still works—chuck on a blazer and subtly clip a Rode Wireless Pro to your lapel for instant star-journalist status. Out and about? Teenage Engineering’s TP-7 Field Recorder delivers broadcast-quality audio, compact portability, and intuitive one-handed operation—a serious (and seriously sleek) tool for those who care about sound.
Finally, while it’s tough to agree with Joe Rogan on many things - the man knows what a good podcasting setup is. His choice, like many others in media, is the Shure SM7B, renowned for eliminating background sound and delivering a crisp vocal recording.
2. WHAT TO READ
Those with a Financial Times subscription should dig into The Modern House co-founder Matt Gibberd’s recent comment piece, where the property expert fantasises about down-sizing and doing away with home DIY. Monocle’s excellent newsletter often features quality reporting on architecture. This week, Mathias Agbo Jr looks at Africa’s ‘starchitect’ problem and the poor state of affairs in Ghana’s built environment. Finally, the biggest starchitect of all, Norman Foster, was recently profiled in a whopping 15,000-word feature in the New Yorker, the revealing piece is well worth a read (or a listen for those on the move).
3. WHAT TO SEE
Saudi Arabia is placing a growing emphasis on architecture, exemplified by the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025. This year’s event featured a remarkable contribution from Lebanon-based EAST Architecture Studio, renowned for a recent renovation of the Niemeyer Guest House at the Rachid Karami International Fair in Tripoli. In collaboration with artist Rayyane Tabet and engineering firm AKT II, EAST Architecture Studio designed “AlMusalla,” a modular structure inspired by regional weaving traditions.
The AlMusalla structure thoughtfully reimagines traditional prayer spaces through sustainable and modular design, using waste materials derived from local date palm trees. The design draws inspiration from regional weaving traditions, creating a space that is both innovative and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Those in the region can swing by to check it out - the Biennale runs until May 25th at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah.
#03 - Design Selection
When it comes to fine contemporary Scandinavian design, Copenhagen’s OEO Studio, led by Thomas Lykke and Anne-Marie Buemann, is top of mind. The firm, which leans toward a high appreciation for quality materials in its essentialist work, has most recently collaborated with Danish furniture maker &Tradition on an extensive six-piece furniture family named Ita. The oak pieces come in tastefully stained or natural finishes, perfectly proportioned to balance their minimalist construction with purposeful form.
Comprised of benches, tables, and the beautifully crafted coffee table (pictured), the collection’s design language reflects the refined simplicity the studio has become celebrated for - where every detail is considered, and nothing is superfluous.