Beocom 2

When joining David Lewis Designers in the mid-nineties, the first project Torsten Valeur worked on was BeoCom 2. A cordless phone for the homes. A standing stick, easy to grab and occupying only a tiny space on your shelf or table became the result.

The inspiration for this came from table top accessories like writing tools that are standing ready to be used. A slim tube has the advantage that you can easily hold it in many different ways and thereby make long phone conversations a more comfortable experience. The idea behind the shape was inspired by the Japanese woodcutter. With its long stick handle, you can hold in different ways depending on what you are cutting as well as the cutting process.

Design depends on a strong collaboration between designers and engineers. A fact that is misunderstood far too often. With BeoCom 2, the wish was to come up with a clean, resilient and high quality surface. We achieved this by using hydroforming aluminum, a process that can shape aluminum tubes into new shapes but with many restraints to the form possibilities. We had to twist the design so these restraints were not seen at all.

BeoCom 2 is a phone not like any other. It is an original with a design that refers to its own.

When you look at it directly, it has a strong attitude with a clear statement. At the same time, it can almost disappear into the surrounding environment when out of focus. “This dual wish to achieve both boldness and invisibility is a thing I have intended to bring to all my works,” says Torsten Valeur.