This iMac G4-inspired concept Mac is a futuristic blast from the past

Albanian-Italian Apple fan and 24-year-old designer Xhakomo Doda went back to the past for his latest concept, showing one possible direction Apple could take when it eventually releases a redesigned iMac. All the way back to 2002, specifically.

Doda’s iMac G4 New Edition is, as its name suggests, a refreshed take on Apple’s iMac G4: the sunflower-inspired iMac with a floating display on an adjustable arm. And it’s pretty darn stunning.

“Designing is always a challenge,” Doda told Cult of Mac. “Trying to create something new from something that, in the past, worked and looked good is even more difficult.”

As such, Doda said that he set out to retain the broad design aesthetics of the iMac G4. However, he wanted to update them to reflect Apple today.

“[I wanted to keep] the same shape of the semi-spherical case on the bottom, and the flat monitor held by the tubular stand,” he said. “I implemented the aluminum and glass, materials that currently are [synonymous with] Apple.”

iMac G4 concept: Reinventing the iMac keyboard?

Perhaps the boldest — and, likely, controversial — part of the redesign is the keyboard. Doda imagines it as a touch keyboard, which would bring some of Apple’s mobile innovations across to iMac. While it might look stunning, however, it could also prove a lot tougher to type on than Apple’s current physical keyboards. If we’ve learned anything from Apple’s botched butterfly keyboards, it’s how passionate Apple fans are about the accessory they type on.

“The implementation of a full touch screen keyboard comes from the idea to have an extension of the screen close to your hands,” he explained. “In this way, it is possible to swap from writing [to] something else, creating the perfect machine for all your needs. I think this is the most [innovative] part of this concept.”

Xhakomo Doda studied industiral design and graduated in 2018 from the IUAV University of Architecture of Venice. At present, he’s working as a CAD designer at Burberry, and living in London. Remember the name, though: You never know when this Apple fan could make the move to Cupertino!

What do you think of this iMac G4-inspired concept? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.