HTC acquires One & Co. for iconic handset designs

Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 8:54
Technology
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Furthering its repute as a worldwide leader in mobile design and innovation, HTC is said to have been on something of a hardware-blitz. The HTC Touch Diamond & HTC Touch Pro stand for a typical exit from HTC’s conventional design philosophy. But, just how did HTC manage to force out one of this year’s most iconic cell phone designs? HTC got San Francisco-based lifestyle consultancy firm One & Co. design the sleek, faceted lines of the latest Touch lineup.

One & Co. did such a hitting job with the novel wave of Touch handsets that HTC had to purchase the company, and declares to keep them on as a design consultant. As a result of the acquisition, the One & Co. team will have to work in tandem with HTC development engineers, while providing HTC the liberty of exploring other lifestyle products.

Horace Luke, Chief Innovation Officer, HTC Corporation, was quoted as saying, “Design is key, it is why you love or hate something. Integrating iconic design into HTC products is an inspiring and dynamic challenge that requires a unique combination of consumer insight, creativity, innovation and an appetite to take risks; attributes that embody One & Co. If the success of the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro’s design aesthetic is any indication of what to expect from the new partnership, HTC likely won’t have too hard a time keeping smartphone competitors at bay in the coming year.”

One & Co, besides its work with HTC, has wide design experience in an assortment of industries that starts from snowboarding, footwear and skiing, packaging, houseware, furniture, timepieces and many more. One & Co has been acknowledged by the design and business communities by winning many Business Week/IDSA IDEA Awards, the Good Design Awards, CES Innovation Awards, and ID Magazine awards.