Tabletop Clock
Balancing Externally-Inspired Form with Function
4-week individual study of visual character
Project Overview
The goal of this project is to learn to draw from, articulate, and expand upon an external inspiration source, distill the values and character from that source, then design a human-interface product using these values and character.
"Delicate" | Capturing Visual Essence
Through mood boards, I began developing my definition of delicate for form inspiration as elegant, fragile, lightweight, thin, and dainty.
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By curating images that express delicate form, I learned about how an object's stance, texture, and visual weight can mold its character, thus creating a visual brand language for the product that changes its influence on the user.
Exploratory Sketches
integrate 3-legged stance
tapered legs for delicate stance
needs a more unified form
move forward and add detail to this form
Iteration Models
body is too thick
legs need to be thinner
good thickness, but not enough space for clock face
good material, but needs better surface details​
Heavier to lighter
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My material was looking too heavy, taking away from the details that were trying to express delicacy. I decided to try out modeling clay.​
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This material change brought my tabletop clock the light foot-stance, airy body, and elegant material it desperately needed.
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From here, I needed to plan my construction process for a final model and add finishing details.
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Refining Form
consider the verticality of the surface that the clock face sits on
too curved
control arcs and foot print
indent clock face
hour hand
minute hand
Because I was using modeling clay, I had to create a base to lay the clay on as it dried in order to prevent gravity from affecting the thin legs and curved detail I needed to preserve. This structure allowed me to control the drying process to achieve the intended form. ​
Final Results
Careful crafting allowed me to achieve elegant curves and tall, thin legs that communicate delicate form character. The minimalistic footprint, slim body, and simple clock face combine together and balance each other out. Overall, the smooth surface of the clay created an opportunity to handcraft a delicate tabletop clock by highlighting soft, sweeping edges in a muted eggshell color and satin finish.
