To commence this year’s illustrious Swiss watch and jewelry fair, Baselworld, veteran watchmaker Christophe Claret announced the release of Margot, a magnificent, limited…
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A watch that uses ball bearings to create a face that can be read by the visually impaired is one of the front-runners for Designs of the Year 2014, but has also proven popular with a broader market (+ interview).
Built from solid titanium, the Bradley Timepiece was designed by the team at new watch company Eone. It creates a tactile experience with ball bearings that rotate around the face on two tracks instead of hands, creating a braille-like experience for reading hours and minutes.
The idea for the watch came out of research showing that partially sighted and blind people were buying designer timepieces that they couldn’t use and then using their phone to tell the time or relying on obtrusive talking watches.
“We thought about how we could make a fashionable watch that would also work for tactile users and hopefully appeal to a larger audience of everyday users,” lead designer David Zacher told Dezeen at last night’s Designs of the Year 2014 exhibition launch.
“If you respect the user group you are designing for and keep in mind that you are trying to design something that is superb, not just for that user group but for mainstream use, I think that the result is exemplary design,” he said.
Although the watch was originally designed with the visually impaired in mind, the majority of responses the designers have received don’t have anything to do with vision impairment, according to Amanda Sim, head of graphic design and marketing for Eone.
“People just think it’s a beautiful and eye catching watch,” she said.
Having fulfilled the orders from the watch’s original Kickstarter funding drive, it is now available to pre-order in the UK, US and Canada. But demand has been so high that it will also soon be available across Europe and in Asia as well.
Discover more innovative watches with Dezeen Watch Store.
Below is an edited transcript of the interview with David Sacher and Amanda Sim of Eone:
Marcus Fairs: So tell us what this product is and how the idea came about.
David Zacher: It’s a tactile watch that was designed with users who are blind in mind. We started out thinking about what kind of watch or time keeping device would work for blind users and we struck upon this idea of using ball bearings rotating around a track to indicate the minutes and the hours on the dial.
Marcus Fairs: I heard you saying before how blind people would buy fashionable watches and then listen to their SIRI reading out the time.
David Zacher: We did a tremendous amount of user research. We found users who had a talking watch which is quite loud and a little embarrassing to use in a public place like a classroom say. So that was one piece of intel that we gained and as we went further into it we found users who were wearing fashion watches, even though they couldn’t tell the time. They were using their iphones to tell the time. So we thought about how we can make a fashionable watch that would also work for tactile users and hopefully appeal to a larger audience of everyday users.
Amanda Sim: The watch is built from solid titanium, it comes in a range of different watch bands in stainless steel as well as canvas and leather. It’s built for durability, its easier to clean, easier to fix, but we’re marketing it as the gentleman’s watch. So it’s built for discretion and it’s all about the modern man who needs to be couth and gentlemanly but somehow always knows where he needs to be and what time it is.
David Zacher: So check whether he needs to leave without letting anyone know.
Amanda Sim: Exactly.
Marcus Fairs: So you developed this when you were at RISD. Is that right?
Amanda Sim: Yes in graduate school, at the Rhode Island School of Design. We were randomly approached by our founder in the MIT MEA program at the time and he’s very much interested in projects for social good. But Eone timepieces is a for profit company because we believe the proceeds of what we make from this watch can be fed into improving innovation and products for impaired users.
David Zacher: And we worked really hard to try and keep the price point of it as low as possible. To keep it as accessible as we possibly can. That’s where we see the social bit.
Marcus Fairs: Where is it out in terms of development? Is it a product that is available and ready for order?
David Zacher: We recently finished fulfilment on our Kickstarter orders so it’s in production and it’s currently available for preorder in the UK, US and Canada with delivery in June.
Amanda Sim: But in June it will be available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea, the US, Canada and throughout Europe.
Marcus Fairs: And what has been the response so far from blind people and non blind people?
David Zacher: Oh it’s been wonderful, we’ve gotten great response from all over the world from our Kickstarter funders and the community that has come to support us has been amazing.
Amanda Sim: And a majority of the responses don’t have anything to do with vision impairment, people just think it’s a beautiful and eye catching watch.
Marcus Fairs: Do you think this is a kind of philosophy that could be expanded, designing things for people with some kind of impairment but aimed at a wider market?
David Zacher: Definitely, we never would have hit on this idea of using ball bearings to tell time if we hadn’t been solving for that problem, so I can see a broader application in products that follows that same approach, of inclusively designing something.
If you respect the user group you are designing for and you are keeping in mind that you are trying to design something that is superb not just for that user group but for mainstream use, I think that the result is exemplary design and the key word that always comes around in our design critiques is ‘inclusive design’. It’s all about the best, for the most, for the least. It’s the Eames model.
The post Bradley Timepiece proves inclusive
watch design has wide appeal appeared first on Dezeen.
A tactile watch designed for blind people by a group of students has gone into production after strong demand from sighted consumers (+ interview).
The Bradley watch, which displays the time via a ball bearing that moves around the face, has also emerged as a frontrunner for the Design of the Year 2014 award, organised by the Design Museum in London.
“It’s a tactile watch that was designed with users who are blind in mind,” said David Zacher, lead designer at Eone timepieces.
“We started out thinking about what kind of watch would work for blind users and we struck upon this idea of using ball bearings rotating around a track to indicate the minutes and the hours on the dial,” Zacher told Dezeen at last night’s Designs of the Year 2014 exhibition launch:
The product was designed by Zacher and a group of fellow graduate students while studing at RISD but it will go on sale in June after a successful Kickstarter funding drive showed that non-visually impaired consumers wanted to buy the watch.
“A majority of the responses don’t have anything to do with vision impairment,” said Amanda Sim, a former RISD student who is now head of graphic design and marketing for Eone, which is manufacturing the timepiece. “People just think it’s a beautiful and eye-catching watch.”
The idea for the watch came from research showing that partially sighted and blind people were buying designer timepieces they couldn’t use and then using their phone to tell the time or relying on obtrusive talking watches.
The product is now being marketed as a “gentleman’s watch” that is “built for discretion” – since wearers can check the time without anyone noticing.
Zacher described the process of designing the watch as “the Eames model” and said his team would embark on more “inclusive design” projects in future.
“We never would have hit on this idea of using ball bearings to tell time if we hadn’t been solving [the problem of designing a watch for the visually impaired],” he said. “So I can see a broader application in products that follows that same approach, of inclusively designing something.”
The Bradley is named after Bradley Snyder, an ex-naval officer who lost his eyesight in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2011 and who went on to win gold and silver medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
A magnet inside the titanium watch moves a ball bearing around the track. Because the bearing is raised, wearers can feel its position with their fingers.
The watch is now available to pre-order in the UK, US and Canada. But demand has been so high that it will soon be available across Europe and in Asia as well. It will soon be available at Dezeen Watch Store.
Dezeen is media partner for Designs of the Year. Readers can get 25% off the regular admission price when booking online.
Below is an edited transcript of the interview with David Zacher and Amanda Sim of Eone:
Marcus Fairs: Tell us what this product is and how the idea came about.
David Zacher: It’s a tactile watch that was designed with users who are blind in mind. We started out thinking about what kind of watch or time keeping device would work for blind users and we struck upon this idea of using ball bearings rotating around a track to indicate the minutes and the hours on the dial.
Marcus Fairs: I heard you saying before how blind people would buy fashionable watches and then listen to Siri reading out the time.
David Zacher: We did a tremendous amount of user research. We found users who had a talking watch which is quite loud and a little embarrassing to use in a public place like a classroom say. So that was one piece of intel that we gained and as we went further into it we found users who were wearing fashion watches, even though they couldn’t tell the time. They were using their iPhones to tell the time. So we thought about how we can make a fashionable watch that would also work for tactile users and hopefully appeal to a larger audience of everyday users.
Amanda Sim: The watch is built from solid titanium. It comes in a range of different watch bands in stainless steel as well as canvas and leather. It’s built for durability, it’s easier to clean, easier to fix, but we’re marketing it as the gentleman’s watch. So it’s built for discretion and it’s all about the modern man who needs to be couth and gentlemanly but somehow always knows where he needs to be and what time it is.
Marcus Fairs: So he can check whether he needs to leave without letting anyone know.
Amanda Sim: Exactly.
Marcus Fairs: So you developed this when you were at RISD. Is that right?
Amanda Sim: Yes in graduate school, at the Rhode Island School of Design. We were randomly approached by our founder on the MIT MBA program at the time and he’s very much interested in projects for social good. But Eone is a for-profit company because we believe the proceeds of what we make from this watch can be fed into improving innovation and products for impaired users.
David Zacher: And we worked really hard to try and keep the price-point of it as low as possible. To keep it as accessible as we possibly can. That’s where we see the social bit.
Marcus Fairs: Where is it at in terms of development? Is it a product that is available and ready for order?
David Zacher: We recently finished fulfilment on our Kickstarter orders so it’s in production and it’s currently available for preorder in the UK, US and Canada with delivery in June.
Amanda Sim: But in June it will be available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea, the US, Canada and throughout Europe.
Marcus Fairs: And what has been the response so far from blind people and non-blind people?
David Zacher: Oh it’s been wonderful. We’ve gotten great response from all over the world from our Kickstarter funders and the community that has come to support us has been amazing.
Amanda Sim: And a majority of the responses don’t have anything to do with vision impairment. People just think it’s a beautiful and eye-catching watch.
Marcus Fairs: Do you think this is a kind of philosophy that could be expanded, designing things for people with some kind of impairment but aimed at a wider market?
David Zacher: Definitely, we never would have hit on this idea of using ball bearings to tell time if we hadn’t been solving for that problem, so I can see a broader application in products that follows that same approach, of inclusively designing something.
If you respect the user group you are designing for and you are keeping in mind that you are trying to design something that is superb not just for that user group but for mainstream use, I think that the result is exemplary design and the key word that always comes around in our design critiques is ‘inclusive design’. It’s all about the best, for the most, for the least. It’s the Eames model.
The post Bradley timepiece for the blind proves
inclusive design has wide appeal appeared first on Dezeen.
Seven years ago Swedish industrial designer David Ericsson left his industry behind to find himself in Hong Kong, steering one of the most stylistically interesting modern watch brands: Void. It’s a…
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Bradley Price, founder of Officine Autodromo, not only recognizes the romanticism and beauty of early automobile racing, he also captures it in his design work—across gloves, sunglasses and watches. His two latest releases in the
Dezeen Watch Store: thanks to everyone who came to visit our augmented reality watch store at Hackney House Austin during SXSW. Since getting back to London we’ve been busy putting together photos of all our visitors wearing their favourite watches from our collection. Browse the gallery on the Dezeen Watch Store blog »
The post Photos from augmented reality watch store
at Hackney House Austin now online appeared first on Dezeen.
Dezeen Watch Store: stuck for Mother’s Day gift inspiration? Dezeen Watch Store has the solution.
We’ve hand picked a selection of ladies’ designer timepieces that would make perfect Mother’s Day gifts, and don’t forget we’re including free shipping on all orders over £60.
The Record watch designed by Achille Castiglioni for Alessi features a striking black face with white markings and hands, and a second interchangeable purple leather strap.
For those after something different, the Cyclops by Mr Jones dispenses with tradition time-telling by using coloured circles and a black rotating hoop that gradually passes over each circle to indicate the time.
Inspired by iconic Swiss railway clocks, the Simply Elegant by Mondaine has an easy-to-read face, a slim six-millimetre profile and the famous red ticker.
Finally, for those looking for a traditional timepiece, the Classic Swansea Lady by Daniel Wellington comes with a slim 36-millimetre case, a replaceable fabric Nato strap and a choice of either a silver or rose gold finish.
To ensure UK delivery in time for Mother’s Day please place orders by Tuesday 25 March.
You can buy all of our watches online and you can also visit our showroom in Stoke Newington, north London – contact us to book an appointment.
The post Mother’s Day gift ideas
from Dezeen Watch Store appeared first on Dezeen.
There is a very inspirational story behind the creation of the Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang Watch by MB&F. It all began when the Legacy Machine N°1 was conceived by Maximilian Büsser, the force behind the enchanting MB&F Watches. Daydreaming how he would radically design a three-dimensional machine for the wrist, Max dreamt of including Eiffel Tower and Jules Verne to its design.
Fast-forward to today, the Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang (LM1 Xia Hang) bears all the nuances of a 19th century pocket watch and takes inspiration from the LM1. What this means is that the central theme of the design is ‘Mr. Up’ and ‘Mr. Down’. Typically you find the Power Reserve of a watch being a hand indication that simply points out to how much energy is left in the timepiece, before you can wind it.
In the LM1 Xia Hang, ‘Mr. Up’ and ‘Mr. Down’ are the representation of the power reserve. So after working non-stop for 45-hours, the iconic statue seems to be drained off his energy and bends his head to his lap. The minute the movement is wound and the energy returned, the icon peps back to life and is ‘Mr. Up’ once again.
The talented Chinese sculptor, Xia Hang, designs the power reserve indicated as a miniature, highly polished aluminum man. The man sits up straight when the movement is fully wound (Mr. Up) and gradually slumps over as the power diminishes (Mr. Down).
Hang calls them his ‘comma men’, and their distinctive shape comes from a selection of art that created from 2005 to 2008. Commas do exist in Chinese writing and for Hang, the ‘comma man’ represents a chubby boy.
Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang is a limited edition of 12 pieces in red gold and 12 pieces in white gold. A pair of stainless steel sculptures accompanies each Machine: large-scale versions of Mr. Up and Mr. Down signed by Xia Hang.
Designer: MB&F Watches [ Buy it Here ]
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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Story of ‘Mr. Up’ and ‘Mr. Down’ was originally posted on Yanko Design)
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Being practical is the main reason behind shunning Siri, speakers and mobile connectivity in this new iWatch concept. As a typical SmartWatch, this concept hosts some very non-typical features. For example, to save on battery consumption, the design includes solar energy and wireless recharging. Siri and cellular connectivity are not included because of their power draining capabilities.
The designer hopes that the imaginative iOS 7 will have off-line Maps integration. Design-wise buttons and holes are not a part of the deal. This is because watches are used to rough usage; fewer buttons and slots mean lesser damages and more room for the battery. A notification via vibrations is perhaps its best feature and something most SmartWatches should consider. Overall a near representation of time!
Designer: Cristian Tomas Moyano
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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(The New iWatch With iOS 7 And No Siri was originally posted on Yanko Design)
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Three years ago we decided to design and produce a great wooden watch. Wooden watches were not a totally new idea and there were a few around; but we..
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