Description

Develop an experimental clock that functions in ways that ordinary clocks cannot. I created a clock that measures time in banana. When I buy bananas, most of the times I have trouble eating them all and end up with old, soggy, dark-brown bananas. Therefore, I now usually buy one or two pieces frequently, so I don't waste any bananas. Unlike other processed foods which have a clear expiration date, I judge the expiration date of my bananas by the color of its peel. I think this is an interesting relationship we have with natural, unprocessed foods in which the expiration date or condition is determined by each individual differently. As a result, I made a clock that changes color (from yellow to brown) as time passes in the span of one day, in hopes of eating it before it turns too brown and soggy.

Design Process

My three design sketches were all very similar in nature. My other two clocks reminded me when to do laundry and when to drink water. The drinking water clock is the one above, which is a clock that doesn't indicate individual minutes or seconds, but only hours. Watching the time ticking every second makes me feel anxious and I wanted it to be a natural and healthy habit to drink water. Therefore, this was an attempt to create a silent reminder that I could glance to now and then, to remind myself to take a sip of water. Reflecting back, I realized they reflect my habitual personality and wanted to explore something that had more room for interpretation. For the banana idea, I enjoyed the idea of how one person could say a dark yellow to brown banana is edible, while another could say it isn't. I observed bananas at home, trying to pin-point certain colors as they aged, which I tried integrating into the design. I also wanted to avoid a literal representation of a banana so that the form and colors of the clock were open to discussion (maybe it's a moon?).

Reflection

Overall, I enjoyed the openness of interpreting what time is and how it is measured. I realized that anything could be measured in time in each unique way and it made many experiences very intimate and personal. However, I have become so accustomed to the conventional clock that it was at most times difficult to think outside the box. For me personally, the conventional clock serves its function so well, that there isn't anything to add or subtract from it. Therefore, the process of designing an unconventional clock was difficult in that looking at it in the long run, it made me question whether I'll find "other" clocks useful. Will I, and other people, be willing to re-orient their knowledge of the conventional clock to something "new?"