Early Mac Designs Shown Off in New Book

Frog Design's Hartmut Esslinger created several possible designs for what eventually became the first Macintosh computer, and they're finally getting to see the light of day in his new book, Design Forward. His prototype designs for Apple also included tablet computers, a laptop, and even a telephone device dubbed "Macphone."

One of Hartmut Esslinger's Macintosh concept designsOne of Hartmut Esslinger's Macintosh concept designs

In the book, Mr. Esslinger talks about his involvement in creating Apple's "design language," or the framework the company used to give all of its products the same aesthetic look and feel, according to designboom. He also shows off several of his design concepts, including early Macintosh ideas, the Macphone telephone and tablet hybrid, and stylus-based Mac tablets.

The early 1980's concept designs are fascinating to see, and show the foundations of what was to become Apple's signature look for years to come.

Design Forward is published by Arnoldsche Verlagsanstalt and will be available in January for about US$40.