The Community Edition project by Nothing Technology Limited is a co-creation program that empowers the brand’s regular community members to design a component of a unique edition device for limited release. Participants receive a brief from the company, which includes which existing Nothing hardware has been selected as the base model for this year's project, and submit their designs and ideas across categories such as hardware, software, packaging, accessories, and marketing. After the submission period ends, voting turns to the wider community to choose their favourite designs. Submissions then undergo an internal review, taking the community votes and feasibility of the product into consideration. Winners are selected by the team, who work closely with Nothing’s various in-house capabilities to develop, produce and release the limited edition device.^[1,2]

The Phone (2a) Plus was the chosen hardware behind the first ever Community Edition project for 2024, except for Japan, where the edition was modelled on Phone (2a). Beginning in March 2024, the project featured four stages which were spread over a period of six months:

1. Hardware Design (March) - put your own spin on Phone (2a)’s iconic hardware.
2. Wallpaper Design (May) - design a series of wallpapers to seamlessly integrate with the winning hardware design.
3. Packaging Design (June) - devise a special unboxing experience.
4. Marketing Campaign (July) - ideate and submit a creative proposal for the marketing of (2a) Community Edition.^[1]

Winners then collaborated with Nothing's internal teams, both in-person and virtually, to bring each of the ideas to life.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition was created, with a glow in the dark “phosphorescence” back panel, inspired by fireflies. The hardware design was revealed on 25 April 2024, which in turn paved the way to design materials for the remaining project stages.

• Hardware: Kenta Akasaki & Astrid Vanhuyse^[4]
• Wallpapers: Andrés Mateos^[5]
• Packaging: Ian Henry Simmonds^[6]
• Marketing: Sonya Palma^[7]

The Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition released 30 October 2024 in a 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage configuration for £399 / €429 / €449 / ₹29,999. In Japan, the Phone (2a) Community Edition launched in the same configuration for ¥55,800.^[8] The limited run of 1000 units sold out rapidly, both at in-person drop events in major cities around the world, and online.

The device went on to win a Gold iF Design Award, owing to its pioneering co-creation process, which Hardware stage winners Astrid and Kenta accepted in person alongside the Community Team.^[9]

Beginning in March 2025, Nothing announced a second Community Edition project with Phone (3a) chosen as this year's hardware, alongside an updated brief and a brand new stage - accessory. Contrary to the 2024 project, all stages opened simultaneously and required all submissions to be entered between 26 March and 23 April 2025. The four stages this year were:

• Hardware Design - dream up a new look for Phone (3a) and have your say on the look of the packaging.
• Software Design - ideate new software design elements to deliver a unique on-screen experience.
• Accessory - develop an exclusive accessory to accompany Phone (3a) Community Edition.
• Marketing Campaign - submit a creative proposal that’ll launch (3a) Community Edition to the world.

This time, winners would also receive a £1,000 prize as well as collaborating with the Nothing team on their design and trips to London for workshops and launch events.^[2]

The Nothing Phone (3a) Community Edition winners were selected on 22 May. The winning design, titled “Translucent Memories”, features a coloured back panel inspired by the bold, playful tech gadgets of the 90s. The new accessory stage introduced a set of 6 Nothing styled dice.

• Hardware: Translucent Memories by Emre Kayganacı
• Accessory: Dice (x6) by Louis & Ambrogio
• Software: Variable Watch Face by Jad Zock
• Marketing: Made Together by Sushruta Sarkar^[11]

The Phone (3a) Community Edition launched on 12 December 2025 with an in-person drop event at Nothing Store Soho on 13 December. Nothing held launch parties in various cities across Europe and Asia, including in their London store, Japan, India, Germany and Austria. Attendees to these events could experience Phone (3a) Community Edition and the dice accessory, enjoy food and drink and receive some free goodies.^[12]