Nose designs new Internet box from Swisscom

"Because the Internet is increasingly at the center of all home electronics, customers also attach great importance to an attractive appearance for the router as an access point to the Internet. We therefore created an implementation that discreetly embodies Swisscom's brand values in customers' living rooms," Christian Harbeke, Head of Industrial Design at Nose, explains in a statement. In addition to the durable aesthetics with a seamless white base body and a black cover plate as well as the high-quality finish, the designers also attached importance to simple user guidance.

As part of the intensified expansion of its broadband network, Swisscom has developed an Internet box. Nose contributed the design as well as the user guidance. In summer 2012, Nose won a tender against 4 design agencies from Switzerland and abroad.

"First, we asked all our employees to photograph their router at home in their living situation. Through this contextualization, we came to the conclusion that we didn't want to create just another device, but an intelligent and communicative brand ambassador for Swisscom," Harbeke elaborates. The designers opted for a restrained and aesthetically durable design language, which also exudes high quality thanks to a seamless white base body and a black cover plate. In addition, the Internet box has a surprisingly simple user interface and limits the dialog to the essential topics. For example, a guest WLAN can be activated at the touch of a button and the visitor's password is then shown on the display.

"Archetypal for a Nose solution, we have created Internet access that fits perfectly into all living situations, taking into account the cultural and contextual environment as well as the Swisscom brand," Harbeke specifies. In terms of a modular overall concept, Swisscom would soon like to offer its customers other devices based on the Internet box. Already in the realization phase is, among other things, a wireless landline telephone, which is also being designed by NOSE. The Internet Box is currently being tested with several thousand selected Swisscom customers. From the end of this year, it should be available to customers with a fiber optic connection (FTTH).