Prototypes/1984

In the early 1980s, noted industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger began working with Apple where he and his consultancy firm "Frog Design" helped shape the look and feel of Apple products for a number of years. Most notably, Esslinger is credited with shifting the aesthetic of Apple computers from beige to the once-ubiquitous Snow White design that graced a number of Apple desktops beginning with the Apple IIc.

In addition to influencing the look and feel of Apple's product line, Esslinger during his tenure at Apple helped develop a number of interesting prototypes across multiple product lines that never made it to market. Just last week, we highlighted one such product, a "smartwatch" Esslinger designed in the 80s. Not to be outdone, Esslinger in 1983 also protoyped an Apple fliphone (viewable above) that was ridiculously thin by even 1990 standards. That cellphones nearly two decades later would so closely resemble Esslinger's 1983 prototype really speaks to his vision and design prowess.