au "G'zone" revives!What is the back of the backstage and the design of the design of Tough Nes Cathage's Resurrection | Time & Space by KDDI

The origin of au's toughness mobile phone, "G'zone", has revived for the first time in nine years.On December 10, 2021, a special project model "G'zone Type-XX" commemorating the 20th anniversary of the series was released.It is a two -fold mobile phone that supports au 4G LTE.

The colors are solid black and liquid green.The designers of the Casio Calculator, who were once in charge of the G'zone series design, re -together and worked on the design of this model.

In terms of toughness, in addition to waterproofing, dustproof, impact resistance, it complies with 19 items of the Mil-STD-810H, the US Department of Defense, such as temperature endurance and freezing.G'zone, the strongest in history, with unprecedented durability.

Looking back on the history of the G'zone series, it has evolved steadily with the birth of the first aircraft in 2000.Toughness, the biggest feature, is polished, and the functional aspect is improved by installing a camera and Osaifu -Keitai.In 2005, the first two -fold model appeared, and in 2011, the smartphone version of the IS11CA appeared.However, as the manufacturer Casio Computer has finished his mobile phone business, the G'zone series has ended in 2012, despite regrettable.

AU's commitment to au toughness cultivated in the G'zone series has been inherited by the TORQUE series, which started in 2014.In March 2021, the latest model "TORQUE 5G", which supports the next -generation communication service "5G", appeared.It is loved by users who are more durable on smartphones and mobile phones.

Why did G'zone, the starting point of au tough tough mobile phones, have been revived in 2021?Why did you develop a new mobile phone at the moment of your smartphone?We spoke to KDDI's planning staff and Casio Calculator designers who designed the new model "G'zone Type-XX".

――Could you tell us how G'zone was revived?

Kondo: "It was 2017 that we started studying a new G'zone project. It was four years ago. From that time, KDDI ends the au 3G service scheduled for March 31, 2022. We were preparing to ask customers who use 3G mobile phones to switch to 4G smartphones and mobile phones. At that time, we talked to customers who use 3G mobile phones, especially. The request is that I want you to release the successor model of G'zone. au has been developing the TORQUE series as a toughness terminal following the G'zone series since 2014, but there are few customers who say, "I want to continue using G'zone that I am used to in the future" and "I have a mobile phone better than a smartphone." There was not. G'zone was so popular. In the KDDI company, I was considering leaving toughness mobile phones even after the end of au's 3G service, and personally, I wanted to create a successor model of G'zone. However, since Casio has already ended the mobile phone business, it is actually a high hurdle to revive G'zone. Can you still do something? With that in mind, I consulted with Mr. Casio's well in the middle.

Ido "I and Kondo are related to the old knowledge. I have been interacting with public and private for some time. Mr. Kondo is an enthusiastic Casio fan and has used many Casio products for a long time."

Kondo "Yes, I love Casio's products. I have a lot of wristwatches and digital cameras in addition to G'zone. Also, Casio can't remove the calculator. Recently, 30,000 yen premium calculator.I bought it (laughs). "

Well, "The consultation received from Mr. Kondo is a vague thing," If you had G'zone now, what kind of design would it be? " It was a chat base rather than a smart consultation. At that time, my head immediately came to my mind, "Is it like this now?" We stopped making mobile phones, but we didn't forget the mobile phone design at all, we were in one corner of our head. However, the current Casio cannot manufacture mobile phones. Still how can I revive G'zone? As we talked about, Mr. Kondo suggested, "I would like to ask another manufacturer for manufacturing, so Casio would do it alone?" To be honest, when I heard it, I thought, "Can you really do that?" "

――Are you who do not work on the design and only in charge of design?

Well "No, there are many designers in Casio in -house, but there was no example in the past to design something other than our own products.After the internal adjustment, I managed to realize it. I myself have been away from the design of the mobile phone for a while, but that's why I felt like "I want to try it for the first time in a long time!"I wanted to respond to the passion of "I want to revive G'zone!""

――Please tell us the points that you were particular about when designing “G'zone Type-XX”.

Well, "I had an image of the overall form, so I thought," What should I change from the design of successive G'zone and what should I take over? "The members discussed, and all the designers agreed, saying, "The round subtissive play cannot be removed."In addition to the first model "G'zone C303CA", the round-shaped tea play used in the "G'zone Type-R" and "G'zone Type-X" is important that symbolizes G'zone.Because it is one of the elements.In addition, the shape of the key is evolved after taking over the first "G'zone C303CA" round shape.

Sugioka "" G'zone Type-XX "has raised" Motor Sports "as a design concept.What I aimed for was the expression of the strength and dynamism of bending a thick iron plate, and the rigid image of a car frame (frame) was incorporated into the mobile phone design.For this reason, after thoroughly studying various cars and motorcycles, we will refer to attractive curved surfaces, tension of edges, how to add shadows, etc., and incorporate the production of sporty design as a design element.I did it."

If you look at the body of "G'zone Type-XX" from various angles, you can see that it has a dynamic streamlined design that uses a lot of curved surfaces.This was inspired by the design of cars and motorcycles.

This is the rough sketch I drew when I started the design.I brushed up this rough sketch as a hitting table and discussed with the designers.

This is a mock -up.It is made by an in -house 3D printer.Now I checked the balance of the actual shape, touch, and unevenness, and packed the details.

――The color is solid black and liquid green.Especially the bright color of the liquid green is impressive.

Hishiyama "Green is one of the key colors in the past G'zone series. It is very popular among customers and has been adopted in" G'zone Type-XX ".What we aimed for this time is a vivid color that surpasses the green of the successive G'zone."

Although it is a color name liquid green, this Type-XX has a "motor sports" design concept, so it expresses a fluorescent color inspired by the engine coolant.A bright green was realized enough to make the G'zone greens look dull.

We have repeatedly repeated meetings with model manufacturers and paint manufacturers who have been dating for many years.In the final adjustment, we were able to finish the convincing color and texture through the witness to the painting line on the paint line.

Why did you express such a bright green?The paint itself has not evolved in the last 10 years, but we have devised a combination of light shine used.In addition, the high saturation of the base resin pigment has evolved dramatically in the last decade.They are the reason why we can get this vividness.

If you take a closer look at the liquid green surface, it will be a mirror surface like a polished, and a beautiful contrast is created on the part where the light hits and the shadow.I would like you to pick up the actual thing and see it.

In addition, the other solid black has a matte texture in contrast to the liquid green, but has a soft touch like a polished stone.The color is used as a luxurious atmosphere.Liquid green is a key color, but solid black is also a confident.I hope you can choose it as you like.

――How about screen design?

Sugioka "Like the exterior design, I designed with the concept of" motor sports ".For example, five types of original wallpapers are designed with motifs of motor sports, such as engine rooms and disk brakes as motifs, and those with a fictitious racing car maker logo called "G'zone Motors".It is incorporated in."

Sugioka "In addition to wallpapers, stopwatches and alarms, Cassiopengin, commonly known as" Kasipen ", secretly.This is a little playfulness, but it was actually Kondo's hope."

Kondo: "Yes, I'm sorry to say selfishly (laughs). There was a series called" Kashipen Metropolitan "where the penguin characters were popular besides G'zone. Actually, the past G'zone series has never been Kashipen.Has never appeared, but this time I asked him to put it as a hidden character. I want you to use it while using it. "

―― G'zone has been revived after a long time.What kind of person do you want to use?

Kondo: "G'zone Type-XX" is confident in customers who are looking for durability from mobile phones, from those who enjoy outdoor activities such as camping and mountain climbing to those who work in tough sites such as fisheries and agriculture.I can recommend it.Especially this time, Kyocera, who works in the TORQUE series, is in charge of manufacturing.I would like people who have never used TORQUE to realize the greatness of durability.If you frequently call, you may want to bring it as a calling machine.Above all, I would like to pay attention to those who want to use G'zone again, like Casio, do not know G'zone but have a unique design."

Ido "I'm far from the outdoors, but I'm going to buy" G'zone Type-XX "as a design.The work of the mobile phone design was very exciting, and I think it was possible to make it a product that was very highly motivated not only by designers including me, but also for designers."

Although it is a smartphone heyday, there are a certain number of people who say, "I want to keep using a durable and unbreakable mobile phone.""G'zone Type-XX", which has been long-awaited with the strongest toughness in the series, is a model that responds to the voices of such users.

文：TIME&SPACE編集部撮影：正慶真弓

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