Exploration of Time – A Clock Design

As a designer, aesthetics become an important part of every creation as you want to make something that resembles what you (as a designer) have to offer, and to please the client. For me, these choices typically align with values – this being contemplation and curiosity. Whether my designs are residential, commercial, mixed-use or cultural, I always explore design implications and impacts on the human experience. Being less practical and always asking the audience a question, this style is referred to as speculative design. 

Some examples of speculative architecture include NEOM’s “The Line” located in Saudi Arabia. Initially, this project was never intended to be built because of its speculative nature around advanced technology, new philosophies of planned cities, and its very abrupt form. Nevertheless, it is currently under construction and is one of the most well known speculative designs.

Image: NEOM Website, The Line Design Vision

Beyond just the architectural field, speculative design exists in sculptures and other forms of fine art and literature. Typically it is related to life philosophy and very commonly connected to nature or biophilia. 

Within philosophical thought and contemplation, I often explore dramatic aesthetics that are high contrast, moody or ethereal. I often work with the ideas of movement, flow, time, and light. I do not know exactly what this aesthetic would be, however I hope to bring some of these guiding principles into my final project design. Within this project, I know I want to explore the concept of time and memory through the creation of a clock. This started with the idea of wanting a product humans do not need to touch in order to interact with. Time and the movement with time seemed like the perfect idea.

Currently, I am in the ideation phase, exploring different types of clocks, materials, sounds, movements, and more. One of my larger inspirations at the moment is Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory. 

Image: Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931

I am experimenting with possibilities of creating a clock that plays with revealing and concealing, or even bringing in the ideas of uncertainty through a melting clock – Like in Dali’s work. Additionally, I would like to iterate on the sizing, components (like the inclusion of a pendulum) and where the clock may be situated – on the wall, on a desk, on the floor, etc. 

Images: Pinterest

Outside of these thoughts, my next step will be to iterate through sketching, researching clock functionality, and finding inspiration for styles or aesthetics that may emerge for this design. 

Sources:

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79018

https://www.neom.com/en-us/regions/theline

https://www.pinterest.com/