In a historical perspective, the flat panel TV is still a relatively new thing, even though most of us own one or maybe even a few. But how did our TVs look 5 years ago? In a series of galleries FlatpanelsHD takes a look at 5 years of TV design by every major TV maker. Last time we featured Philips. Today we look at Panasonic.

Every Friday FlatpanelsHD takes a look a TV makers’ design tradition. Check back in again on next Friday.

Panasonic: 5 years of television design
In this Friday’s TV design gallery we take a look at Panasonic’s recent TV design history. Panasonic has a long history in the plasma field and has always been regarded as a TV brand for home cinema enthusiasts or people seeking large-size screens. Panasonic’s design tradition is strongly influenced but its Japanese roots where technology comes first.


Panasonic’s latest LED models have taken them in a new design direction

Panasonic jumped on the minimalist-bandwagon later than most and in the past Panasonic had relied on heavy and solid TVs. The glossy black look was used in several generations but Panasonic also experimented with silver and a brown TV in 2010. Over the years, Panasonic has also made exclusive-looking TVs in sleek metal design and with one-sheet-of-glass designs as well as a 152-inch TV.
 
A few years ago Panasonic started to bet on LED models and last year Panasonic went ahead with a big LCD-TV push that also made their designs more European. Panasonic’s latest LED models are elegant and have extremely slim cabinets and bezels as seen in the picture above. But where will it take Panasonic from here? More LEDs? Or perhaps super thin OLED TVs?

Go to the Gallery section and see 5 years of Panasonic TV design, and come back every Friday to see new galleries.