Naoki Terada's "Carved" Clock: A Fusion of Art and Time

Exploring the Unique Design and Inspiration Behind the Award-Winning Wall Clock

Naoki Terada, a renowned designer, has created a unique wall clock design that gives the impression of letters being chiseled out of the clock face. This design, aptly named "Carved", is a testament to Terada's innovative approach to design, which often involves manipulating graphics in form. The shadows of the carved letters bring a three-dimensional impression to the clock face, which changes its expression depending on the surrounding light conditions.

The "Carved" clock design is unique in its subtle yet immediately noticeable features. The numbers on the clock are carved indents cut so close to the edge of the face that the top of them are actually chopped off. This gives the numbers a drop-shadow effect that changes depending on where the lighting is in the room. The clock's dimensions are Width 305 mm, Depth 42 mm, and Height 305 mm, with a weight of 730g.

The clock was produced by Hiroshi Takata and designed by Naoki Terada for TAKATA Lemnos Inc. The figures on the clock were carved with a CNC milling machine using just one type of bit. The project started in 2009 and the product was released in October 2010.

Terada's design process involved a lot of research and challenges. He believes that in design work, it is necessary to have knowledge of plain results without trying. However, he also emphasizes the importance of flexibility to find a clue for new discoveries from the first try. It took a long time to balance the character, aspect ratio, depth of engraving, and the size of the dial. The sense of balance changes greatly due to slight changes in size and shape because it is a simple and plain dial.

The "Carved" clock design has been recognized for its innovative approach and has won the prestigious Silver A' Furniture Design Award in 2018. The award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.

In conclusion, Naoki Terada's "Carved" clock design is a unique fusion of art and functionality. Its unique design features, combined with its innovative approach to timekeeping, make it a standout piece in any setting. The clock's design, which was inspired by materials used for interior decoration and technical conversion, showcases Terada's commitment to innovation and his ability to transform everyday objects into works of art.