ThinkPad is a line of laptop computers and tablets by Lenovo. The series was designed, developed, and sold by IBM until Lenovo acquired the brand in 2005. ThinkPads are known for their minimalist, black design which was initially modeled in 1990 by industrial designer Richard Sapper based on the concept of a traditional Japanese Bento lunchbox revealing its nature only after being opened. According to later interviews with Sapper, he also characterized the simple ThinkPad form to be as elementary as a simple, black cigar box and with similar proportions that offers a 'surprise' when opened.