Simplications: A Collection of Innovative Watchfaces

Redesigning Timekeeping with Rajendra Serber

The inspiration behind Simplications was to create a watchface that eliminates the need for extraneous numbers and markers, focusing instead on the relative nature of time. Serber recognized that when it comes to time, we often rely on approximate measurements rather than precise seconds or minutes. We commonly refer to time in 15-minute increments, such as "quarter past" or "half past," even when we know the exact minute.

Traditional analog clocks provide a relative representation of time, but the similarity between the hour and minute hands can lead to ambiguity. On the other hand, digital clocks offer precise minute readings but lack the relative representation that aligns with our natural way of talking about time.

The Simplications collection bridges the gap between analog and digital timekeeping, combining the best of both worlds. Each watchface in the collection presents a unique representation of time:

"Simplication" features a number for the hour that gradually turns to point towards the current minute.

"1 Hand" is a digital-analog hybrid, with each hour displayed as a digital number and the minute represented by an analog hand.

"UPtime" starts with a large number for the hour, which progressively shrinks as the minutes pass.

"Fingers of Time" uses a finger for each hour, with the tips of the fingers rotating to point to the minute.

What sets the Simplications collection apart is its ability to convey the relativity of time while remaining minimal and easy to read. These patented designs leverage modern display technology to enhance readability, even on small, low-resolution screens found on monochrome smartwatches.

Currently available for Pebble smartwatches, the Simplications collection supports display sizes of 144 by 168 or 180 by 180 pixels in black and white or 64 colors.

The Simplications project began in 2013 as a napkin sketch in a cafe at the San Francisco International Airport. It underwent development in Cleveland, Ohio, Münsingen, Germany, and Oakland, California. The collection was successfully launched in 2016 and received funding on Kickstarter.

Rajendra Serber's innovative approach to timekeeping has not gone unnoticed. The Simplications collection was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in 2017 for Interface, Interaction, and User Experience Design. This prestigious accolade recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements, contributing to a better world.