Hoping to reclaim his time from the grip of social media and smart technology, Berlin-based architect Marko Lazic wanted an alternative. “The solution was buying a dumbphone, but the market was full of badly designed devices with bad UX,” Lazic tells VML Intelligence. Instead, he wanted to create a new marketplace for a “wisephone” that allows him to “think outside the screen box.”
The next frontier of tech harks back to basic features for inspiration.
Offone by Marko Lazic
Launched in Spring 2024, the Offone is a 3D-printed prototype with e-ink display that was born from an early concept Lazic created in 2016 under the name O Phone. The wisephone incorporates the simplicity of analog design with modern necessities, allowing people to reconnect with life’s simple pleasures. “Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-tech,” explains Lazic. “The Offone has Google Maps, Waze, Uber, Notion, and other apps” that are compatible with e-ink display and considered necessary apps.
Lazic’s approach resonates with gen Z Luddites' desire to be liberated from social media and always-on tech. Today, there are 5 billion social media users, spending on average 143 minutes a day on social platforms according to research company GWI’s recent global survey. There is a demand from people seeking a simpler lifestyle for mental clarity and boundaries.
In April, Heineken and marketplace Bodega wanted to “help people discover there is more to their social life when there is less on their phone,” with the launch of the Boring Phone during Milan Design Week. The “no-frills” phone takes the design and user-interface back to basics with a classic feature phone and is created for people to take on nights out. Heineken’s press release notes that the Boring Phone was conceived in response to research revealing that 90% of people admit to habitually scrolling on their phones during nights out.
There are more tech start-ups offering people smartphone-free alternatives too. Terra AI is a compass by design studios Modem Works and Panter & Tourron. The pocket-size AI gadget allows people to go for walks and navigate without the distraction of the smartphone. Panter & Tourron founder Stefano Panterotto told Dezeen, "In a world overwhelmed by the constant distractions of our smartphones, the need for a mindful connection with our surroundings has never been more pressing.”
Similarly, Rabbit R1 which debuted in January at CES 2024 and is described as a “pocket AI companion,” distils necessary information from smartphone apps and allows the user to issue simple, natural language instructions to get things done, such as ordering a cab, or booking a restaurant, all without needing to open their phone.
A new approach to digital detox is on the horizon when everyone, not only gen Z, is reassessing their lifestyle choices and relationship with technology. The launches of devices that lead with new technology and retro designs (newtro tech) are starting to shake up the possibility of reducing smartphone usage in favor of engaging with the world around.
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