Raun Forsyth leaves HMD Global (the end of Nokia blue)
It seems another chapter is closing at HMD Global. Raun Forsyth, VP and Head of Design at HMD, has quietly left the company back in September after being there for almost 9 years. Forsyth was one of the key people behind the design language that carried some of that good old Nokia spirit — simplicity, durability, and functionality wrapped in a clean, Scandinavian look.
I can’t say I didn’t have high hopes for HMD to bring Nokia back on track. That’s how it all started, after all — with the promise of a rebirth, of keeping the spark alive. But lately, I can’t shake off the feeling of disappointment. HMD seems to be shaking off that bit of Nokianess it once proudly carried. The Nokia blue no longer flows through their veins. The company’s colours are now black and white — and that, in a way, perfectly reflects their current state. You don’t know whether HMD will be dead or alive next year.
The slow departure of former Nokia people, like Forsyth, sends a clear message. The company that once had ambitions to revive the Nokia legacy is turning into something different — a small, specialised player trying to find its niche in a crowded market. But in today’s world, being a specialist isn’t necessarily an advantage. It’s the generalists — the adaptable, broad-minded innovators — who tend to survive and thrive.
What’s a bit ironic is that Nokia even extended its licensing deal with HMD, as Nokia feature phones are still standing for something in many big markets. That name still means reliability, simplicity, and value — the very things that once made the brand iconic.What’s a bit ironic is that Nokia even extended its licensing deal with HMD, as Nokia feature phones are still standing for something in many big markets. That name still means reliability, simplicity, and value — the very things that once made the brand iconic.
HMD may still surprise us, but right now, it feels more like the end of an era than the start of a new one.
Thanks Luke for bringing this up.
