More in detail about the project:
Circles, Codes & Classics
The concept for this clock widget is the result of several overlapping visual ideas. The initial inspiration came from the generative lockscreen graphics of Ubuntu Phone — a design that is functional, decorative, and constantly in motion. I envisioned transforming this approach into a clock, where time is displayed through overlapping, rotating circles.
During the ideation process, the San Ti symbol from the 3 Body Problem series — composed of three interlocking circles — helped narrow the concept toward a single, self-contained, circular animation.
This visual direction sparked further associations: the geometric, Swiss design-inspired animated openings of 1970s James Bond films, and the playful, fluid choreography of lava lamps.
Together, these influences shaped the foundation of the final widget concept.
Sketch to Screen
I started the design process with analog sketches on paper. Early iterations quickly revealed that nested circles were hard to read, while placing hands along the circle outlines proved impractical due to limited space. The breakthrough came when I moved the indicators inside the circles — creating a more balanced and clean layout.
I used the Fibonacci sequence as a basis for sizing the circles, validating the proportions both on paper and digitally, while aligning them with the dimensions and styling rules of Nothing’s analog clock widget.
After experimenting with both outlined and filled versions, I refined the design by reducing the size of the second indicator and introducing a central digital time display using the Ndot typeface — ensuring harmony with the rest of the Nothing widget family.
Time, Redesigned – and Prototyped
Both the outlined and filled versions were fully developed, giving users the freedom to select their preferred style via the widget settings. The outlined version offers a more abstract, continuously evolving digital installation, without a numeric time display.
The animation sequence was designed to reflect Nothing’s understated motion principles: the circles grow and rotate into place on load, with the hour and minute hands slowing to a calm pace, while the second hand continues its steady, unbroken movement.
A working prototype — complete with selectable visual styles — is available here:
www.lekibence.hu/nothing
And please check out my Community Edition Project submission here:
https://community-edition.nothing.tech/gallery/991285/240783/747684395
