London-based smartphone maker Nothing has announced its Community Edition Project to allow Nothing fans to design the "ultimate" Phone (2a). The company will collect entries over the next six months spanning across hardware, wallpapers, packaging and marketing categories. The winners at every level will get a chance to engage directly with the brand's team to implement their ideas.
The move comes after Nothing teased an "industry first" announcement for March 20. While fans on X (formerly Twitter) were speculating hints about the Phone (3) or Ear (3), it turned out to be a product co-creation program. In the first stage, the company will accept ideas to "reimagine the colours, materials and finishes" of the Phone (2a).
The submissions will open on March 26, and the brand will share a set of rules, tips and more to help you submit a valid entry. "Six months, four stages, one phone. Spanning hardware, wallpapers, packaging and the marketing campaign rollout, four winners will engage directly with the Nothing Team to bring their creative ideas to life," @nothing said.
Once the project ends, winners will be invited to London for the Community Edition launch event, showcase their work and launch the device. In the first stage (Hardware Design), the community can put their "own spin on Phone (2a)'s iconic hardware". The second stage involves wallpaper design to match the winning hardware.
The wallpaper series will ship on the Phone (2a) Community Edition. In the third stage, members must design a package for a "special unboxing experience" linked to the previous stages. In the final stage, members shall submit a marketing proposal for the Phone (2a) Community Edition with the help of the brand's creative team to build a visual identity and asset bank to market the product once it goes on sale.
People can participate in any of the stages that suit them best based on their skills and interests. "Once submissions open, upload images, video and/or other supporting media that best showcases your ideas," Nothing said. Besides voting, the submissions will be judged by a Nothing panel.