That’s it for TAT: Designers split with BlackBerry for new startup

Several years ago, BlackBerry acquired The Astonishing Tribe (TAT), a team that was well known in the mobile industry for designing gorgeous user interfaces. Less than two years later, as the team was hard at work on the BlackBerry 10 UI, TAT founder Hampus Jakobsson jumped ship to start a new company — and now it would appear a large portion of the group is following in his footsteps now that BlackBerry is on the verge of a major transformation. CrackBerry reports that seven of the original TAT members have left BlackBerry to found TOPP, a new design studio that hopes to “craft new products and breathe life into innovative ideas through design, prototyping, and technology,” according to the company’s website. More information is available on the website, but there is no indication yet of exactly what the next project will be for these nomadic designers.