To shape the future of home networking, Swisscom once again partnered with Noto to launch a new generation of devices: Internet-Box 5, WLAN-Box 5, and their Pro counterparts. These products mark a clear evolution in Swisscom’s design ambition, delivering high performance while fitting naturally into the home.
With a refined Industrial Design Language inspired by ceramic aesthetics, the new lineup brings a sense of calm, purity, and everyday harmony to a category often dominated by technical appearance. Each device is designed not just to perform but to belong, quietly integrating into interiors while reinforcing Swisscom’s growing and future-ready product portfolio.
Swisscom aimed to move past the purely technical character of conventional network devices. The challenge was to reduce visual and physical bulk, enable efficient passive cooling without fans, and introduce greater variation in form while maintaining a unified visual identity. The WLAN-Box 5 took a bold step in this direction with its compact and distinctive silhouette. Informed by earlier generations, the team refined key details, like the pill-shaped footprint that allowed the tooling split line to follow the dot pattern, resulting in a clean, uninterrupted front surface. Each adjustment, however subtle, contributed to a stronger user-focused design.
As a long-standing design partner, Noto led the creation of a coherent portfolio vision, guiding product design, supporting engineering integration, and shaping the end-to-end experience. The design process was highly iterative and hands-on, involving rapid prototyping and continuous dialogue with Swisscom and its ODM partner. A major focus lay on usability: redesigned port bays now feature color-coded ports and cables for easier installation, while the devices themselves support zero-configuration setup, reducing user friction and aligning with Swisscom’s promise of simplicity.
Sustainability was embedded from the outset. All devices use 65% recycled plastics and ship in plastic-free packaging. In a forward-looking material trial, Noto worked with FluidSolids AG to prototype housings from a fire-grade biocomposite made from industrial waste. While not yet viable for complex molding, the experiment delivered important learnings for future development.
The final designs strike a balance between confidence and restraint. With soft surfaces, subtle material tones, and compact proportions, they avoid the cold, overly technical look of typical networking equipment. Instead, they offer a human-centered presence, something users can proudly leave in plain sight. This visible placement also improves performance, as devices no longer need to be hidden away.
This project reaffirmed the strength of an Industrial Design Language built on flexibility, clarity, and cohesion. It enables products to feel related without feeling repetitive, each one speaking in the same voice, yet expressing its own character. As the product range continues to grow, the IDL adapts seamlessly, balancing technical precision with emotional resonance. For Noto, the Series 5 development showcases that bold progress often begins with quiet refinement and that enduring innovation is made possible through close, trust-based collaboration.
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