RIM has snapped up Swedish design company The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) in an effort to enhance the look and functionality of its future platforms.

“Today we are pleased to confirm plans for The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) team to join Research In Motion (RIM),” said David Yach, Chief Technology Officer at RIM.

“We’re excited that the TAT team will be joining RIM and bringing their talent to the BlackBerry PlayBook and smartphone platforms.”

Yach says that TAT is renowned for its innovative mobile user interface designs and has a long history of working with mobile and embedded technology.

“TAT focuses on delivering great user experiences, from a design, technology, and usability perspective. Their design technology is used today in a variety of industries including the consumer electronics and automotive sectors.”