The time is, NOW

I found a great article at the DesignBOOM weblog, on how even bad design serves a purpose. I think the NOW watch is flipping cool, esp since I recently did a clock design for my B.tech/Degree, using the clock as a call to action : "Its About Time".

The "hands" are clear discs (with the type printed onto them) that rotate. And the "issue" is interchangeable. Highlighting issue like Climate Change and Deforestation.

As an aside, most people that I've showed them to don't realize that they DO work, probably because they don't have a continually moving seconds hand. But I promise they are fully functional (It was bloody hard to do).

Orange

Ok I blame Denise of Freshly Found for my current addiction to orange, Its one of those obsessions that slowly you manage to get under control until someone (ahem) brings it to the fore again. Anyway I asked Denise if she'd mind me continuing from where she left off by posting some things (orange) that are super cool.
Above are really cool, scarab beetle room dividers by EggDesigns, a South African Industrial and Interior design company. The do some Brilliant stuff.

And I'm very lucky in that the new Alba by Furni Creations also happens to be orange, so I can add it to this post. I love every single clock that these guys produce, they're brilliant.

And heres a new find, via NotCouture (in a roundabout way) these marbled resin rings by Free People are really cool, very simple, but very cool.

I can think of a few more people that have either very cool orange (ahem, Skinny laMinx) tea-towels or other people who have a similar love of the colour (ahem, Orangebeautiful/The SCOOP).

Tokyoflash Watches

I most definitely have a (very) soft spot for time pieces that convey the time of day in a way other than the usual. And recently (thanks to Andrew) found Tokyoflash, a website dedicated to showing the many fantastic and somewhat weird watches produced in Japan. Most of the cool ones are sold out, but there are still some really cool ones.
Like the one above, the Mugen by Futara Studio, for only US$56, I'm seriously considering buying one.

Nooka Zen Watch

Flipping awesome watches from NOOKA, available from Elsewares for $250.
I'm not such a fan of their brightly coloured watches, but these are perfect, The Nooka Zen Horizontal.

Uniqlo's UNIQLOCK Viral Advertising

"The theme of this campaign is to spread the approach of Uniqlo globally through communication in fashion, music and dance beyond the language barrier." Shift

I don't even know where to begin... I am totally disgusted, amazed and intrigued that I am even posting this. On the one hand, this albiet viral advert for Uniqlo, is brilliant. I first saw it at Netdiver, a small unobtrusive moving advert. But I was hooked, I spent the next 2 hours of my day tracking down where it came from, what its purpose was etc. Then 1 more hour trying to get the code so that I could post in here.

Supposedly by posting it I stand a chance of winning a G-shock watch with their logo emblazoned on it, but I can't honestly say I want one.

"Already 5 428 users with 7 503 uniqlocks from 59 countries, and 6 472 263 views from 176 countries. " Rxbbx

The part that I can't even believe, is that I've been sucked into advertising for Uniqlo for free, even though i know that I'm doing just that. And no matter how much i justify it by saying that I think it's wonderful to look at, and a brilliant piece of motion graphics, I'm just another sucker/victim of the brilliant designers/marketers.

"The clock sound on the dance video uses original Fantastic Plastic Machine sound from Tomoyuki Tanaka." Fast Retailing

Polar Clock by Pixelbreaker

This is I'm afraid, not a clock, it is infact a digital screensaver for mac OSX and Windows computers. But isn't it brilliant. I wish someone would manufacture this clock as a wall mountable display. A brilliant piece of graphic/information design by Pixelbreaker

Around About clock

Anthony Dickens' Around About clock, "a clock that works by the numbers rotating clockwise behind the static red arm.". Via Design Milk.

Another great Furni creation

Yet another great creation the ALBA by furni creations.
The guys at furni manage to create items that are the epitome of minimalism, without the lack of content. I love their use of digital/metalic and wood, brilliant.
It was a last minute addition to their spring 2007 lineup and "is the epitome of good things coming in 'small packages' and 'last but not least' all rolled up in one.".

Open Ed. LED Clock by Jonas Damon

This clock, is a brillant peice of design by Jonas Damon, from You Say Tomayto
The Open Edition is the perfect clock for lounges, bedrooms, kitchens, yachts, throne rooms or just about anywhere you'd like something that's as much of a talking piece as a time piece.

Designed by Jonas Damon and made by Areaware.