Nokia's folding mobile phone concepts - the Morph Concept has been awarded the red dot: design concept – an internationally recognized prize for highest quality design. In this year’s competition there were a total of 1,906 entries, out of which 21 concepts (including the Morph concept) were awarded the red dot: best of the best.

The Morph concept, launched alongside the Museum of Modern Art “Design and The Elastic Mind” exhibition last winter, showcases some revolutionary leaps being explored by Nokia Research Center (NRC) in collaboration with the Cambridge, UK Nanoscience Centre.

Nokia said that the concept repres­ents an opportunity to develop a completely new generation of mobile devices which will pave the way for new forms of mobile communications.

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 - an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term programme of joint research projects. NRC has established a research facility at the University's West Cambridge site and collaborates with several departments - initially the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department - on projects that, to begin with, are centered on nanotechnology.

Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high-end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

Source: Red Dot Design Awards