What is it with mobile phone companies and designers these days? We’ve had all sorts of tie-ups – LG have worked with Prada and Roberto Cavalli, Motorola with Dolce & Gabanna, Samsung with Jasper “who is he?!” Morrison.

Now Nokia’s jumping onto the designer-name bandwagon with a new “exclusive” version of its latest N-Series mobile phone, the Nokia N76.

The N76 was never meant to be a top-end N-Series phone, and like many Nokias these days, it can’t exactly be called beautiful. Nokia have clearly decided it needed a bit of tarting up, though, and so have recruited Finnish artist Bjorn Weckstrom to add a bit of culture. He’s come up with a new sculpture that’s been grafted onto the back, together with a set of jewelery that can be bought separately and attached to the device.

Call me a philistine, but it’s all lost on me I’m afraid! If you want one, you’ll have to travel to Nokai’s flagship Helsinki store, so I guess when they say exclusive, they really mean it.

Read Nokia’s florrid and horrid artsy press release after the jump.

Nokia today announced that they are working with noted Finnish artist Björn Weckström to offer a customized, limited edition Nokia N76 multimedia computer available only at the Helsinki Nokia Flagship store.

Inspired by natural forms made when the wind, together with the high tide broke up the ice along the Finnish sea shore; the miniature sculpture relief, hand-crafted by leading Finnish art jewelry house Lapponia Jewelry is permanently attached to the back of the Nokia N76. Other pieces will be sold as handset jewelry and can be attached to devices already purchased. The N76 Signature Edition by Björn Weckström has a special user interface inspired by his art.

“Working with the physical limitations of the Nokia N76 made the work both inspiring and challenging.” said Mr. Weckström, adding “In my opinion it is fantastic that Nokia is the first handset manufacturer combining visual arts into an industrial design object.”

“The ways that Mr. Weckström was able to add to the already outstanding design of the product says a lot of his talent.” said Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice-president and general manager, Multimedia, Nokia. He continued, “We are delighted that we were able to collaborate with one of Finland’s most treasured artists on this project, and we are even more thrilled that we are able to display some of the more prominent pieces from Mr. Weckström’s collection that have not been displayed in 25 years in our Helsinki Flagship store. ”

The Nokia N76 multimedia computer blends style and substance to bring the complete Nokia Nseries experience to a sleeker body, with very little compromise.