Turning Recycling Into Art With Collectible Phones

What can you do with old smartphones? The practical answer is to recycle materials, recover rare earth metals and re-use parts wherever possible. There are other answers… with a bit of flair, these older phones can elevate those parts to art.

Step forward, Sonny Dickson. He is a recognisable name in the tech industry, has a keen eye and ear on the supply chain and a reputation for picking up details on many smartphones ahead of their release. Now, he’s looking at phones released years ago to bring a new angle to their design through Collectible Phones.

I sat down with him following the launch to find out more.

Something Old, Something New

First of all, I ask why this and why now?

“Well, personally, I believe it is because we need to remember & cherish the past ones with respect and honor. I intend to create a way for people to display these products in their homes and offices in an artistic manner.”

As the world moves towards physical content transforming into digital, the smartphone remains one of the physical constants. Very few of us use the same phone as we did twenty years ago, so those first phones are connected to the past. It’s why projects such as The Mobile Phone Museum exist, to “safeguard this important collection of mobile technology heritage and help fund further growth”. It should come as no surprise that there is a desire to celebrate our personal history.

This is the beginning of Dickson’s project. “Yes, this all started as a personal project. Working closely with my design team, we conceptualized unique ideas and moved forward with our vision. I had established connections within the used market to ensure that my approach would be better all around.”

The First Collectible Phone

There’s a certain emotional connection that many will have with the first-generation iPhone released in 2007. For some, it will be their first smartphone, for others, it will be the personal impact of the device. Perhaps the place of this iPhone in the history of smartphones will be enough of an allure. There’s no doubt that the influence helped in the choice of making this the first product.

“We decided on choosing the first iPhone because it was the very first groundbreaking device that impacted so many lives in the landscape of phone evolution.”

One aspect that was overlooked at the time was the actual design of the iPhone, which was perceived as evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The Design Museum’s Design of the Year in 2007 was awarded not to the iPhone, but the XO-1 from the “One Laptop Per Child” program.

Director Deyan Sudjic acknowledged this a year later as a “howling error,” and the original iPhone design is now lauded around the world. Sometimes art is not recognised immediately. Now, in 2025, it is, as Dickson highlights to me, “This art piece truly highlights the ingenuity of Steve Jobs with Apple on the First Generation iPhone.”

Neither will the project be limited to the iPhone. More phones are being considered to expand the history of the smartphone in popular culture. “We will continue to expand our offerings and explore additional devices that would further contribute to the rich tapestry of history. Dickson reassures me. “We aimed to ensure a comprehensive selection that highlights the evolution of technology over time.”

What’s Next For Collectible Phones?

In the fast-moving world of consumer electronics, Collectible Phones hopes to build on emotional connections to the past. ”We envision a world where these cherished products become celebrated art pieces displayed in offices and homes worldwide.”