Is That the Time? No, Really, Is It?
Published in SmartLife Magazine
Among the products featured in SmartLife’s Objects of Desire section was Clock Delay, a sculptural clock designed by Bas van Leeuwen for Dutch design studio STUDIOBloomm.
The magazine highlighted the unusual appearance of the design, describing it as a striking aluminium and steel object that looks more like a kinetic sculpture than a traditional clock.
A Different Way of Reading Time
Clock Delay was created to challenge conventional expectations of how a clock should function and appear.
Instead of using traditional hands and a dial, the design displays time through three rotating cogwheels representing hours, minutes and seconds. Numbers run along the outer edge of each wheel, and the current time is determined by observing the point where the three indicators align.
The result is a clock that transforms the act of telling time into an engaging visual experience.
Technology as Sculpture
While the publication humorously acknowledged that Clock Delay is not the most practical way to read the time, it praised the design for its hypnotic quality and elegant mechanical appearance.
The exposed mechanism invites viewers to observe the movement of time itself rather than simply reading a number from a display. In doing so, the clock becomes both a functional object and a conversation piece.
According to the magazine, the design possesses a compelling presence that encourages people to stop, look and interact with it.
International Recognition
Clock Delay was featured as one of the magazine’s selected design objects and was presented alongside high-end audio equipment and luxury lifestyle products.
The publication described the clock as a memorable and distinctive design that stands apart from conventional timepieces through its exposed mechanics and sculptural character.
About Clock Delay
Product: Clock Delay
Designer: Bas van Leeuwen
Studio: STUDIOBloomm (later Bloomming)
Materials: Aluminium and steel
Function: Clock displaying time through three rotating cogwheels representing hours, minutes and seconds
Price at publication: Approximately £1,015 plus shipping
Website: www.bloomming.com
Publication Details
Publication: SmartLife Magazine
Section: Objects of Desire
Featured designer: Bas van Leeuwen
Company: STUDIOBloomm
Featured product: Clock Delay
Topics: Product design, kinetic design, clocks, exposed mechanics, Dutch design
