Dubbed the HTC One M9 Ink, the special design was the result of a collaboration between HTC, supermodel Jourdan Dunn, and British tattoo artist Cally-Jo Pothecary. More specifically, Dunn acts as HTC’s “global HTC Ink ambassador,” while Pothecary was in charge of design.
The main, and seemingly only, difference between the original One M9 and the One M9 Ink is the engraving on the back that resembles an eye and a hand. The eye, according to HTC, represents strength and sincerity, while the hand represents protection and positivity.
In the announcement post, Pothecary talked about the inspiration of the One M9 Ink design and how she worked with Dunn to create it. “[Jourdan Dunn’s] a big fan of body art already and she knew the type of visual she wanted to create, and the images that would go into it,” said Pothecary. “We also worked through what she wanted to say with the artwork and how it would reflect important things that she’s excited about doing and being more creative herself — and to make it really personal to her.”
This isn’t the first time HTC decided to go to the tattoo parlor with its handsets. Last year, the One M8 got quite the engraving from Singapore-based design collective Phunk Studios. The One M7, meanwhile, received an engraving from U.K. designer David Koma.
Unlike those two handsets, however, the One M9 Ink will be sold to customers, though HTC didn’t reveal how much it would cost or when it would be available for purchase. Regardless, this comes at a bad time for the Taiwanese company, which had to revise its revenue estimates to reflect weak sales. In particular, the One M9’s low demand contributed to HTC’s depressing April, and even if the One M9 Ink does look quite alluring, we’re doubtful it will be enough to turn things around.
