Instant camera concept adds Braun minimalism to a fun photography tool

Although there seems to be a dip these days, instant cameras have become quite fashionable in the past few years. Inspired by the Polaroids of old, this new generation of cameras tries to marry the digital and analog worlds in a way that appeals to audiences of all ages. It offered the instant gratification of digital cameras while also paying homage to printed photos, tapping into the human tendency to collect limited edition items. Given the target demographic, many of these instant cameras take on designs that would be labeled as energetic and youthful, but that isn’t a rule set in stone. This instant camera design concept, for example, retains that lively spirit and mixes it with some minimalist aesthetics from an iconic consumer brand.

Designer: Arihant R Israni

Braun has become one of the most recognized brands in the consumer market, especially with its role in pushing German industrial design forward from the mid-50s onward. The company’s association with famed industrial designer Dieter Rams also helped cement that image, and the company’s products have long been hailed as examples of good design. That design language is marked by elements such as clean lines, geometric shapes, and minimalism, qualities that this instant camera concept tries to incorporate into its distinctive design.

The Braun i3 Instant Camera concept is pretty much composed of simple geometric shapes, particularly circles and rectangles, though the latter comes with rounded corners to soften their appearance. The lens, which you can twist to turn on or off, is made up of concentric circles that expand or contract to zoom in and out, respectively. The main body, the 4-inch QHD display, and the shutter are the only rectangles that can be found on the camera’s surface. The rest of the interface, like the buttons and especially the dial, are all circles.

In terms of functionality, the Braun-inspired instant camera is like every other one of its kind, which is to say there are no corners cut. It would be able to take high-quality pictures and then print them out as desired or share them instantly on social media. There might be some doubtful specs, like a 4-inch screen with 1440p resolution, but others, like the 18MP sensor, are definitely within the realm of possibility. There is no mention of the type of “zero ink” technology to be used, but that will mostly depend on Braun licensing it from companies like Fujifilm.

Technical details aside, what really makes this instant camera stand out is its unique appearance, a cross between a toy-like instant camera and a professional point-and-click shooter. The design demonstrates how Braun’s design language, built on the foundations of Dieter Rams’ principles, is not only timeless but also universal. It can be applied to a “grownup” product such as a shaver as well as to a joyful and engaging instant camera made for fun-loving shutterbugs.