Innovative tech brand Nothing has revealed a unique, glow-in-the-dark edition of its Phone 2A Plus, crafted in collaboration with some of its most creative followers. This Phone 2A Plus Community Edition model was developed through a design competition inviting users to help shape the phone's appearance and packaging. This release marks Nothing's first major foray into community-co-designed hardware, creating a phone that is as distinctive as it is collaborative.
The new version of the Phone 2A Plus, priced at US$399, will be available starting November 12 through Nothing's website. However, with only 1,000 units being produced, fans will need to act fast to secure this limited-edition piece.
A design by the community for the community
The Phone 2A Plus Community Edition journey began with Nothing's open call for creative submissions. The brand encouraged participants to “imagine their own dream smartphone,” and more than 900 entries poured in, offering diverse ideas on aesthetics and branding. Designers Astrid Vanhuyse and Kenta Akasaki were selected to lead the visual redesign, working closely with Nothing's team, including Adam Bates and Lucy Birley, to bring this phone's bold concept to life.
The resulting design features a green phosphorescent coating that, when exposed to daylight, absorbs energy and glows softly in the dark for hours. This subtle glow effect, highlighted by three light strips surrounding the rear cameras, creates a unique visual appeal without altering the phone's core functionality. The glow also extends to the packaging, which Ian Henry Simmonds reimagined. With reflective elements and a close-up macro shot of the phone's design, the packaging enhances the visual impact and feel of the product from the moment it's unboxed.
Exclusive wallpapers and a fresh marketing campaign
Complementing the new look, the Phone 2A Plus Community Edition includes a custom collection of wallpapers named the “Connected Collection.” These six wallpapers were crafted by designer Andrés Mateos and Nothing's in-house software team, blending creative design tools and AI for a series that matches the phone's sleek glow-in-the-dark style. Inspired by the phone's aesthetics, the wallpapers offer users an immersive visual experience on the home screen.
Nothing has also launched a fresh marketing campaign to promote the Phone 2A Plus Community Edition. The “Find your light. Capture your light” campaign conceptualised by Sonya Palma, aims to highlight the phone's unique glow-in-the-dark feature and reflect the creativity that went into its design. This campaign is a nod to Nothing's goal of empowering users to add their personal touch to technology, making it feel like an extension of themselves.
A new approach to collaborative hardware design
While this marks Nothing's first attempt at community-led hardware, the brand has previously explored similar collaborations. Its affordability-focused sub-brand, CMF, recently teamed up with Bambu Lab to encourage CMF Phone 1 owners to create 3D-printed device accessories and enhancements. These ventures underline Nothing's commitment to fostering an interactive relationship with its community, allowing users to use technology and play a role in its development.
With the Phone 2A Plus Community Edition, Nothing is embracing a trend where companies actively involve their audience in product creation, tapping into the creative energy of their user base. By releasing this limited-edition phone, Nothing is allowing its fans to take part in a unique, interactive experience and, for a lucky few, to own a piece of technology they helped bring to life.
