The Only

Meltemi

Clipper

N-Series

Clipper was Kickoff at January of 2011 in response to low cost Android smartphone

launched to the market by competitors. Nokia needed to catch up the competition

with low cost smartphone, and know that Meego (and later on Windows Phone)

are not able to go down in such low price point as competitors that using Android platform,

and so Meltemi appeared.

Clipper and Meltemi platform was very critical for Nokia to success in sub €100 price point market.

Unfortunately, Meltemi platform was killed at June 2012 due to a

expected 9 months delay of Software development.

The Nokia N-series was highly popular due to its pioneering

camera technology and multimedia capabilities. Models like

the N95 and N8 featured advanced cameras with Carl Zeiss

optics, providing high-quality photos and videos, rivalling

dedicated cameras of the time. These devices were multimedia

powerhouses, allowing users to enjoy music, videos, and even

mobile TV on some models.

Design innovation was another key factor. The N95’s dual

-sliding mechanism and the N90’s rotating camera offered

unique and functional designs, making these phones stand out.

These innovations made the N-series highly desirable, blending

style and advanced functionality for multimedia and mobile

internet use.

Concept

At the beginning of 2012, Meltemi was in the final decision-making stage.

While the UI was set to follow Meego, the ID and CMD were undecided.

We focused on the BRIICA Core design language, emphasizing dynamic

and unexpected elements, and also explored ‘Concept 5,’ which followed

the Fabura language, known for its simplicity and UI-centric approach.

This divergence presented challenges, leading to extensive internal discussions.

In March 2012, Mary McDowell, management chose the BRIICA Core direction

to avoid schedule delays. Consequently, Clipper combined elements of Fabura

with Core, resulting in a unique design language.

HMD licensed the Nokia brand and wanted to explore the

possibility of reviving the glory of the N-series. Therefore,

at the end of 2018, Project Hulk was initiated. Several

important elements were identified: a mechanical

mechanism to allow users to switch between

entertainment scenarios, best-in-class speakers to

provide an immersive experience, a kickstand to

transform the device into a smart speaker, and

a good camera to capture joyful moments.

Design Focus

Clipper no longer follows BRIICA Core language, we combine Fabula with Core,

and that led to a special design language that was only seen on Clipper.

Core language for ID and Fabula language for CMD. No more sparkling

special paint, no more extra decoration depth effect on the display window

and no more extra pattern on the battery cover. The lucky thing is both Core

language and Fabula language share the same element - Reduction.

And that became the main focus of Clipper design.

User scenarios played a crucial role in shaping the functionality

of this concept. When we designed the sliding mechanism, we

carefully analysed a range of potential user interactions and

behaviours. This comparative evaluation of various scenarios

guided our decision-making process. Ultimately, we chose the

side-sliding mechanism, as it best addressed the diverse needs

of users, offering both practicality and an intuitive user experience.

Reduction

Typical mobile phone design includes the A-cover, B-cover, and C-cover.

For Clipper, we eliminated the A-cover, leaving only the B-cover and C-cover.

This ‘2 parts construction’ reduced gap tolerance issues, colour matching problems,

and tooling costs, giving Clipper a unique appearance.

We fine-tuned the B-cover surface to hide the tooling parting line. The wax model in

the photo shows the initial concept of Clipper’s B-cover, which we call a semi-unibody.

To assemble Clipper, we placed the antenna box into the B-cover, slid the phone stack-up

part towards the connector area, and assembled the phone without screws

(though screws were used internally for better drop test results).

The photo you’re viewing is of the world’s most iconic selfie,

but it highlights a common issue:

no one is looking directly at the camera

Everyone is glancing off to the side! This is a typical problem

with group photos and selfies, where the camera is often

positioned far from the display, causing people to look

away unintentionally.

We’ve solved this by strategically placing the camera closer

to the centre of the display, ensuring everyone in the photo

makes eye contact with the lens. We’ve named this innovative

feature the ‘Group-fie’ camera. It is complemented by two

independent flashlights on the left and right sides of the

device, ensuring perfect lighting from all angles. This allows

you to capture those unforgettable party moments with

crystal-clear precision and a more engaging composition,

where everyone’s gaze is where it should be—on the camera.

Simplicity

Normal hot-swap-able Dual SIM mobile phone has at least 3 doors:

one for the SD card slot, one for the 2nd SIM slot and the 3rd one for the battery.

You could only find one door in Clipper, one big door covers all the slots, not only

to improve the visual quality of the product, also reduce cost, reduce assembly

hand time and most importantly - improve the accessibility of all those slots.

To deliver a truly immersive experience, the Hulk smartphone

takes a bold step by removing the front-facing camera from

the display. This innovative design ensures an uncompromised

viewing experience, maximising screen space for uninterrupted

content consumption, whether you’re watching videos, playing

games, or browsing.

In addition, the Hulk is engineered to provide a best-in-class

audio experience. The phone’s unique shape is specifically

designed to house the largest speaker volume available on

any smartphone. With dual front-facing speakers, you’ll enjoy

powerful, crystal-clear sound that envelops you from every angle.

Whether you’re listening to music, watching movies, or engaging

in video calls, the Hulk’s audio performance is unmatched in the

market, setting a new standard for smartphone sound quality.

Squircle

Meltemi User Interface is the main focus of Clipper. And UI appearance was almost

fixed from the very beginning - similar to Meego. The UI uses ‘Squircle’ as the key element,

all icons are squircle in shape, and even the visible area added four rounded corners. It is because

squircle is the Nokia signature element and Nokia wanted to keep this in all upcoming UI.

For that reason, ID used squircle as a key design element. There are 2 types of design visual

elements in Clipper: 1) Squircle, and 2) half Squircle. For example, the Clipper footprint, Display

window, back cover, camera detail, microphone and flash window are all in ‘Squircle’.

And for that Earpiece slot, the USB opening, back cover release key and side keys are all in

‘Half Squircle’. 2 visual elements for Clipper industrial design.

One of the most innovative features of the Nokia N-series was its

built-in kickstand, specifically designed to enhance the multimedia

experience. This compact yet powerful addition allowed users to

effortlessly prop up their devices hands-free, transforming the

phone into a mini entertainment hub ideal for watching videos,

making video calls, or displaying photos.

With the Hulk, this feature has evolved even further.

Releasing the kickstand transforms the device into a

portable smart speaker, taking the multimedia experience

to the next level. This allows users to enjoy their media hands-free,

with the added convenience of voice commands for seamless

control, combining entertainment and functionality like

never before.

Unfortunately, the concept never saw the light of day, as it was cancelled before reaching the production stage. It’s disheartening to see such a promising project come to an end. However, in some ways, this may be a fitting way to mark the close of the N-series legacy.

The N-series represented a golden era of innovation, pushing the boundaries of mobile technology. While this final concept never materialised, its cancellation perhaps symbolises the culmination of an era defined by pioneering ideas and bold designs. In a sense, it serves as a reminder of the creativity and ambition that the N-series embodied, even in its final chapter.