Project 1 - Clock

Intention

Write about the big ideas behind your project? What are the goals? Why did you make it? What are your motivations? 

The goal of this project was to explore laser cutting techniques and create an aesthetically pleasing clock that also clearly indicates time. Every time, I was distracted from looking at a clock when it is with all the numbers on or no numbers on. Therefore, my intention to this design was to create a clock that informs time clearly by using simple forms.

Sketch

[Include sketch with as much details as possible, like: approximate dimensions, materials, layers, textures, colors, and aesthetic influences.]

For the initial version, I planned to have three squares overlapped together and use their interactions to describe each number of clock. 

Research & Context

[How does your outcome relate to other work in the field? What makes it similar or different to other objects of the same genre? How have other objects failed to solve the problem you have identified?]

When I search to look at other "aesthetic" clocks, most of the clocks look like the image above. With a circular shape without numbers on and have some aesthetic features on. While enjoying looking at those clocks, I wanted some features describing time instead of numbers. Therefore, I tried to use a simple geometric shape with some features clearly showing time. 

Aesthetic & Inspiration

[What influenced your design? Is there a specific style, art movement, or natural phenomena? Include at least one example. Can be a still image, video, or music.]

This image is the most similar look image with my initial sketch. Instead of making clocks to move by making clock hands out of them, Instead, I only planned to have three squares at the right place for describing time. 

Process & Procedure

[Outline your approach to the project. What steps did you take to design, model, sketch, and prototype this projects? What ideas did you generate and how did you refine or reject them? How did you use cutting, etching, scoring? What challenges were encountered and how did you resolve them? Include photos of prototypes, redesigned sketches, design worksheets, and failed trails.]

First, I did sketch three squares that overlapped together. Since the design is way too simple, I considered how to use geometric figures to describe time in interesting ways. Because 2 and 5 are the most confusing numbers, I ended with cutting out the numbers and put a new feature on the left side to describe all the numbers instead and keeping it aesthetic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Two Renderings

[Two renderings on complete project styled with finished background, lighting, positioning, reflection]

Five semi-pro photos

[Five semi-professional photos with care given to context, lighting, staging, scene]

Reflection

[Reflect on the process of making this project. What did you learn? What would you do differently?]

The laser cutting experience for the project was quite different from the laptop holder experience. It is because I had to design a clock myself and it was very frustrating when I had to change my whole idea  after cutting it. The result comes out very differently from what was in my head. Also, cutting and replacing with another colour of acrylic was very hard to do because of the thickness of outlines. Next time, I will think of it and put more thickness to the outlines for avoiding to break it.