Love it or hate it – do or don’t – but many of us Personalise and Customise our phones – whether it be internalised modification – wallpapers, ringtones, screensavers, or through external modification – stickers, express-clip on covers, mutilation (yes in Tokyo I met a guy who melted his phone “making it individual” and it still works), graffiti tags, mutation (by gluing or sticking extras on to the gadget), to one of the most prevalent forms of individualisation – the strap attached to the phone, “keitai
strapu” – (branded by Chupa Chups!)
…or even leaving the mobile in a “pure state” as it was when the mobile was box fresh – we all express ourselves – the mobile is an expression of our innate need for tribalism or individualism – the mobile is an extension of ourselves – a reflection of our persona…
In today’s global village whether you are on the fashionable streets of Cheongdam-dong/Apgujeong – Seoul, Sibuya/Aoyama – Tokyo, Fashion Street – Mumbai, or Sloane Street – London the mobile phone has become the most personalised gadget ever and has become the defacto device we use to show off our style and cultural identity.
So what’s out there?
What are you all doing with your mobiles to personalise and customise it into something intimate, individual or tribal?
Here are a few examples of what is going on out there on the streets of the global mobile village…whether you call it a mobi., handy, cell phone, handphone, or keitai we are expressing ourselves through this digital
“remote control of life”
EXAMPLES
Sticker-Flashers
In some circles such as with P.Diddy it’s all about the Bling Bling
Mobile design is advancing further into style and trends – and many of the mobile phone brands have spotted the trend of consumers personalising and customising – the “Fashionista” designs – with an array of styles from urban street to the luxury sector – we have the fashion phones from Vertu, BenQ Siemens (ooops!), Apple, Nokia, LG and Samsung – and at the top end of the mass market we have the Samsung/Bang&Olufsen phone – followed by LGs Chocolate range and their ultimate trend setting latest creation to hit the urban catwalks with the LG Prada – mobile has become style ubiquitous and with it comes the desire to use it as a social device not only in communication but as a symbol – a symbol of who I am – a signal to the culture around…
“I like modern design aesthetics” – the Samsung/Bang&Olufsen Serene
“I am a Fashion whore” – The Devil carries an LG Prada
“I am a Design guru” – Apple iPhone
“I am affluent and super rich” – Vertu’s “signature Cobra”
“I am all bling bling” – Motorola D&G V3i – also now with Fashion icon – Kate Moss as their new “role model” for the Razr range. Hellooooooo Moto 
“I am off-the wall and unconventional” – Hulger (formerly Pokia)accessorise the Mobile
The trend-setters and the fashionistas out there are setting the pace in mobile Fashion – mobile has become the “Fashion accessory” with personalisation and customisation at the forefront of the trend. The fashion houses are now carving out a position in the markets as with sunglasses, parfums, the “you name it stick my name on it” approach – now mobiles are becoming the desirable accessory fashion brands want to own – the ultimate brand icon – that the consumer wants to worship!
Personalising the mobile with a “fashionable and trendy” ringtone is a social bonding mechanism (even those more obscure ringtones) – are a mating call – to bond with those around us – this is my ringtone – you like it – we are part of the same tribe! “Social audio branding”
Whether you get “crazy frog” on Jamba – the hottest ringtone in S.Korea/Japan Rain – or seek something more exclusive or obscure by Brian Eno or Ryuichi Sakamoto – ringtones are a social tagging system – like or not you are carrying the modern equivalent of a “brixton briefcase” – you are an urban “ghetto blaster” you are making a statement
just it’s miniaturised…
We make the mobile become an extension of ourselves – the “Brand You”
Whether you hang them round your neck – make it bling bling – strap it to your belt geek stylee (a fashion no-no!) – or simply “slap-out” your mobile on the table at meetings – you are using your mobile to make a “fashion” and “social” statement…
So I am curious: What have you done to your phones out there?
save your comments with examples if you think you are making a statement!
UPDATE 1: the next speculation hype will be whether those smart guys over at BMW Design Works will design a “fashion” mobile/gadget to compliment the luxury lifestyle of the post-modernist mainstream 30something!?
UPDATE 2: the New Zealand Herald has an interesting report: ‘What does your mobile say about you?’
