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TCL 41 Years History & Design
TCL was founded in 1981, now it operates in over 160 markets globally. The past four decades have witnessed TCL’s rapid growth to become one of the leading global consumer electronics players with vertical integration capabilities.
TCL Design Innovation Center (DIC) was founded in 2020, it's an official corporate design center assembling all design-related departments to provide a unified design language to show one brand image in all category products.
Now DIC accelerates TCL’s diversified product portfolio with award-winning design driven by a deep understanding of consumer insights. A multidisciplinary group of designers shares a singular mission to conceptualize outstanding industrial design, intuitive user experience & best aesthetic visual design for all our users, and demonstrate TCL’s brand spirit of INSPIRE GREATNESS.
TCL 41 Years History & Design
TCL was founded in 1981, now it operates in over 160 markets globally. The past four decades have witnessed TCL’s rapid growth to become one of the leading global consumer electronics players with vertical integration capabilities.
TCL Design Innovation Center (DIC) was founded in 2020, it's an official corporate design center assembling all design-related departments to provide a unified design language to show one brand image in all category products.
Now DIC accelerates TCL’s diversified product portfolio with award-winning design driven by a deep understanding of consumer insights. A multidisciplinary group of designers shares a singular mission to conceptualize outstanding industrial design, intuitive user experience & best aesthetic visual design for all our users, and demonstrate TCL’s brand spirit of INSPIRE GREATNESS.
Establish TV & Smartphone Design
1981 - 2010
Establish TV & Smartphone Design
1981 - 2010
1981
- TCL, originally registered as TTK Home Appliances Co. Ltd., was founded.
- The company produced and sold audio tapes.
1985
- Entered the telephone sets business.
- Filed for TCL trademark in 1986, which marked the official launch of the TCL brand. The TCL brand is the first and currently only firm to have its brand name registered in English.
1994
- TCL took the lead in launching China's first cordless phone.
2000
- Launched: 11 Series Audio CRT TV and the 430 Rear Projection TV.
- TCL 999D Gemstone Phone which launched the following year, was a hit in the domestic market.
2004
- Acquired Alcatel mobile phone business and setup joint venture TTE (TCL-Thomson Electronics) with Thomson Multimedia.
2006
- TV industry was rapidly transforming from CRT to flat panel era.
- TCL Chairman Li Dongsheng launched “Rebirth of the EAGLE” transformation project to become a world leading enterprise.
2009
- Became No. 1 TV exporter in domestic market.
- Launched First TCL Smart Phone Alcatel One Touch 708 for Vodafone, entered Latin America with QWERTY Phone Alcatel One Touch 800.
- Introduced the World’s First 3D Internet TV and award winning X10 & C10 LED TVs.
1983
- Moved to new company building, which has been preserved to this day.
- The first production line was established and put into operation by 1984.
1991
- Set up the first sales branch and opened an offline sales store in Shanghai for TCL TV.
1999
- The TV Design team & Mobile Phone Design team was setup.
- First TCL 9910 WAP mobile phone was launched.
2002
- Became the No. 1 Mobile Phone Brand in China market.
2005
- Design Internationalization: Established TTE Global Industrial Design Center by integrating the Tim Thom Design Team (a phonetic contraction of “Team of Thomson”) originally established by Philippe Starck.
2007
- TCL E72-Arboria Flat LCD TV wins global recognition with iF Design Award China & Red Dot Award.
2010
- Launched Alcatel One Touch 980, TCL’s first 3G Sliding QWERTY Android Smartphone with touchscreen and social networking companion Alcatel One Touch 806.
- Award winning Z11 Glory, Z11 LED & X10 LED TVs.
1981
- TCL, originally registered as TTK Home Appliances Co. Ltd., was founded.
- The company produced and sold audio tapes.
1983
- Moved to new company building, which has been preserved to this day.
- The first production line was established and put into operation by 1984.
1985
- Entered the telephone sets business.
- Filed for TCL trademark in 1986, which marked the official launch of the TCL brand. The TCL brand is the first and currently only firm to have its brand name registered in English.
1991
- Set up the first sales branch and opened an offline sales store in Shanghai for TCL TV.
1994
- TCL took the lead in launching China's first cordless phone.
1999
- The TV Design team & Mobile Phone Design team was setup.
- First TCL 9910 WAP mobile phone was launched.
2000
- Launched: 11 Series Audio CRT TV and the 430 Rear Projection TV.
- TCL 999D Gemstone Phone which launched the following year, was a hit in the domestic market.
2002
- Became the No. 1 Mobile Phone Brand in China market.
2004
- Acquired Alcatel mobile phone business and setup joint venture TTE (TCL-Thomson Electronics) with Thomson Multimedia.
2005
- Design Internationalization: Established TTE Global Industrial Design Center by integrating the Tim Thom Design Team (a phonetic contraction of “Team of Thomson”) originally established by Philippe Starck.
2006
- TV industry was rapidly transforming from CRT to flat panel era.
- TCL Chairman Li Dongsheng launched “Rebirth of the EAGLE” transformation project to become a world leading enterprise.
2007
- TCL E72-Arboria Flat LCD TV wins global recognition with iF Design Award China & Red Dot Award.
2009
- Became No. 1 TV exporter in domestic market.
- Launched First TCL Smart Phone Alcatel One Touch 708 for Vodafone, entered Latin America with QWERTY Phone Alcatel One Touch 800.
- Introduced the World’s First 3D Internet TV and award winning X10 & C10 LED TVs.
2010
- Launched Alcatel One Touch 980, TCL’s first 3G Sliding QWERTY Android Smartphone with touchscreen and social networking companion Alcatel One Touch 806.
- Award winning Z11 Glory, Z11 LED & X10 LED TVs.
Expand to Consumer Electronics Design
2011 - 2016
Expand to Consumer Electronics Design
2011 - 2016
2011
- Air Conditioning Design team setup at Zhongshan.
2013
- White Household Appliances Design team setup at Hefei for refrigerator and washing machine.
- TCL Group Industrial Design Center awarded the status of National Industrial Design Center.
- Entered North America market and secured rights for TCL Chinese Theatre at Hollywood.
- Launched V101 World’s Thinnest LCD TV, Dream AC, and Alcatel Idol 1 Smartphone series which went on to become superhit series.
2015
- Second TCL Transformation and Upgrade EAGLE Project by TCL Chairman Li Dongsheng.
- TCL enters Global 100 Billion Club, Global Top 20 TV & Top 50 Consumer Electronics Brand.
- Launched XESS Brand with Smart Home Tablet, Alcatel Idol 3 series and Artistic Evian AC.
2012
- "The EAGLE's Rebirth: Thirty Years of TCL's Dream Chasing 1981-2011", a book documenting TCL's growth story published by CITIC Press in Beijing.
- Launched Athena Tower AC which used industry’s first curved steel glass printing technique.
2014
- First TCL 4G Smartphone Alcatel Pop S7 & Alcatel Idol 2 series launched.
2016
- Launched award winning mainstream products: XESS X1 TV, QDH9700 TCL’s First Generation Quantum Dot LCD TV, Air Healthy Refrigerator, Arc Blue Top Load Washing Machine, Big Eye Crystal Front Load Washing Machine.
2011
- Air Conditioning Design team setup at Zhongshan.
2012
- "The EAGLE's Rebirth: Thirty Years of TCL's Dream Chasing 1981-2011", a book documenting TCL's growth story published by CITIC Press in Beijing.
- Launched Athena Tower AC which used industry’s first curved steel glass printing technique.
2013
- White Household Appliances Design team setup at Hefei for refrigerator and washing machine.
- TCL Group Industrial Design Center awarded the status of National Industrial Design Center.
- Entered North America market and secured rights for TCL Chinese Theatre at Hollywood.
- Launched V101 World’s Thinnest LCD TV, Dream AC, and Alcatel Idol 1 Smartphone series which went on to become superhit series.
2014
- First TCL 4G Smartphone Alcatel Pop S7 & Alcatel Idol 2 series launched.
2015
- Second TCL Transformation and Upgrade EAGLE Project by TCL Chairman Li Dongsheng.
- TCL enters Global 100 Billion Club, Global Top 20 TV & Top 50 Consumer Electronics Brand.
- Launched XESS Brand with Smart Home Tablet, Alcatel Idol 3 series and Artistic Evian AC.
2016
- Launched award winning mainstream products: XESS X1 TV, QDH9700 TCL’s First Generation Quantum Dot LCD TV, Air Healthy Refrigerator, Arc Blue Top Load Washing Machine, Big Eye Crystal Front Load Washing Machine.
Accelerate Innovation to be Global Leading
2017 - Present
Accelerate Innovation to be Global Leading
2017 - Present
2017
- Launched high-end lifestyle products: XESS X2 & X3 Curved TV, XESS X6 Private Cinema TV, Blackberry Keyone, Impression Rome AC.
2019
- Unveiled TCL DragonHinge, a family of fully foldable devices.
- Launched TCL PLEX, First Self-branded Smartphone to bring moments of DISPLAY GREATNESS to users powered by NXTVISION Technology.
2021
- Launched Full-set AI×IOT C12 & P12 product series based on HORIZON Design Language.
- Won 21 International Design Awards across Product Design & User Interface Design, an all-time high.
2018
- Expanded lifestyle IoT products: XESS A100 Living Window TV, XESS Smart Toothbrush, Blackberry KEY2 & KEY2 LE, T Rui Artistic AC series, Crystal 4 Door & Young Noble Refrigerator.
2020
- TCL Group renamed TCL Technology to highlight the company's strategic positioning as a “Global Leading Technology Enterprise”.
- TCL Design Innovation Center (DIC) established.
- Launched TCL’s First 5G Smartphone TCL 10 Series, XESS A200 Pro Rotating TV.
2022
- TCL Design Innovation Center (DIC) Logo was created.
- Won 28 International Design Awards across Product Design, User Experience Design, Visual Communication Design.
2017
- Launched high-end lifestyle products: XESS X2 & X3 Curved TV, XESS X6 Private Cinema TV, Blackberry Keyone, Impression Rome AC.
2018
- Expanded lifestyle IoT products: XESS A100 Living Window TV, XESS Smart Toothbrush, Blackberry KEY2 & KEY2 LE, T Rui Artistic AC series, Crystal 4 Door & Young Noble Refrigerator.
2019
- Unveiled TCL DragonHinge, a family of fully foldable devices.
- Launched TCL PLEX, First Self-branded Smartphone to bring moments of DISPLAY GREATNESS to users powered by NXTVISION Technology.
2020
- TCL Group renamed TCL Technology to highlight the company's strategic positioning as a “Global Leading Technology Enterprise”.
- TCL Design Innovation Center (DIC) established.
- Launched TCL’s First 5G Smartphone TCL 10 Series, XESS A200 Pro Rotating TV.
2021
- Launched Full-set AI×IOT C12 & P12 product series based on HORIZON Design Language.
- Won 21 International Design Awards across Product Design & User Interface Design, an all-time high.
2022
- TCL Design Innovation Center (DIC) Logo was created.
- Won 28 International Design Awards across Product Design, User Experience Design, Visual Communication Design.
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If you want to know more about the winning products
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