Seymourpowell's Fairphone 2 design has been awarded a GOLD Product Design Award for Sustainability & Environmental Impact at the 64th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Aware of the moral shortcomings of the consumer electronics industry, the London-based design agency and Fairphone joined forces to create the world's first modular smartphone. Due to its modular build the Fairphone 2 can be used for longer and has reduced CO2 emissions by 30%. The modularity of the final product means it can be repaired and adapted as easily as changing the batteries in a child's toy. For example, the screen can be replaced in under 20 seconds without the use of tools.
An overarching aim of the project was to introduce a rhetoric that would help change the way products are conceived, made and used. "We created the device to be a kind of storytelling tool," explained Matthew Cockerill, Creative Director at Seymourpowell. "People become advocates for the brand simply by owning the device as it sparks conversations about how phones are produced and issues around fair mining, supply chains and production. We're delighted to win such a prestigious award for the product and experience we helped Fairphone create. We hope that the project continues to have a positive impact on people's attitudes to consumer electronics, their supply chain and influence the industry to change the way products are made in the future."
