Nu Montre-bracelet by Maziar Mohit and Iman Kimiaei

Nu Montre-bracelet by Maziar Mohit and Iman Kimiaei is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award d'Argent in Bijoux Competition Category.

ArgentBijoux· 2021

Nu Montre-bracelet

by Maziar Mohit and Iman Kimiaei

Client: I and M Design

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Bijoux Category

29,545

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #121136

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Nu Montre-bracelet

Nu est une montre-bracelet dotée d'un cadran rempli d'eau. Le cadran contient de l'eau prélevée dans certaines des sources d'eau les plus polluées au monde, stérilisée par rayonnement ultraviolet. Des aiguilles en acrylique transparent sont immergées dans l'eau et demeurent presque invisibles. Le simple contact du boîtier en acier active une diode électroluminescente qui illumine les aiguilles pour révéler l'heure. Le boîtier est surmonté d'un verre saphir bombé et le bracelet est réalisé en cuir de cactus. La forme épouse le contour d'une goutte de rosée posée sur une feuille. La couleur bleue évoque l'océan à l'état pur.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Nu Montre-bracelet est lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent, une reconnaissance énormément prestigieuse décernée à des designs haut de gamme, superbes et impressionnants. Les lauréats Argent sont des œuvres tout à fait brillantes et extrêmement créatives qui illustrent l'expertise, le talent et la perspicacité remarquables de leurs concepteurs. Nu Montre-bracelet est censé être une œuvre merveilleuse, une vitrine de savoir-faire, remarquablement professionnelle et profondément innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent est une invention très notable et admirée, qui sert l'art, la science, le design et la technologie et en repousse les limites. Nu Montre-bracelet est une création très enviée qui éveille les désirs, apporte des sentiments positifs et suscite émerveillement et étonnement.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The watch dial is filled with water collected from the world's dirtiest water sources.
Within the water-filled dial are the watch's clear acrylic hands (powered by a Swiss Quartz Movement). They stay almost invisible in the water until you touch the watch metal body (which acts as a touch-sensitive switch), then they come to life by directing a beam of light (from an LED) through them. They glow within the murky water to show the time.
Dimensions & Packaging: Case diameter 38mm, thickness 12mm, strap width 20mm.
Tags: watch, minimal, timepiece, design, unconventional, water, environment,
Production Technology: Domed sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating on both sides will top the watch 316L High-quality steel case. The strap will be made of all-natural, cruelty-free cactus leather with a magnetic clasp. The polluted water inside the dial will be sterilized using UV. Swiss Quartz Movement.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge for us was to design a conversation piece that would elegantly convey our message. We want to talk about water pollution without actually talking about it.
Research: We started with a simple question: How can we attract people's attention to a subject matter that they prefer to ignore? We did some research and talked to few experts in the fields of psychology and human behaviour. We found out that the best way to gain someone's attention is to arouse their curiosity. People tend to remember the answers better if they are the ones asking the questions. We designed Nu to be a conversation piece, an object to intrigue.
Inspiration: Nu was born out of our concern for the environment; we aimed to attract people's attention to water pollution and the fact that time is running out for all of us to do something about it.
The morning dew inspired Nu's design. Like a water droplet on top of a leaf, the watch sits on top of the strap; the body shape follows the droplet's contour, and the pristine ocean inspired the blue colour.
Project Duration: The project started in December 2020 in Toronto and finished in February 2021 in Krakow.
Operation Flow: The watch's hands are made from clear acrylic, and they are submerged in water; the refractive index of clear acrylic is close to that of water, making the hands look almost invisible. To see the time, the user touches the watch metal body. The body acts as a touch-sensitive switch for the LED, located at the base of both watch hands; it will light up, illuminating the hands.
Team Members: Maziar Mohit
Iman Kimiaei
Image Credits: Image #1 : 3D Artist Iman Kimiaei, NU Image 01, 2021
Image #2 : 3D Artist Iman Kimiaei, NU Image 02, 2021
Image #3 : 3D Artist Iman Kimiaei, NU Image 03, 2021
Image #4 : 3D Artist Iman Kimiaei, NU Image 04, 2021
Image #5 : 3D Artist Iman Kimiaei, NU Image 05, 2021