Bronze Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design · 2023
World Cup 2022 Smartwatch Face
- A' Design Award 2023 Bronze Winner in Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Artalex
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 20,939
- Verification code 4ADDAAD581 · Verify this award
About World Cup 2022 Smartwatch Face
World Cup 2022 is a set of watch face designs on the Apple Watch for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. By placing the painting of the national flag at the center and occupying the majority of the space, it creates a bold and impactful visual that immediately draws attention to the colours and symbols of the country it represents. Against a black background, the colours of the flag stand out even more, providing a striking contrast that makes the design easily readable at a glance. Ultimately, by showing the heart rate on the flag, it makes the whole watch face resonate with the supporting fans.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- When it comes to designing Apple Watch faces for the FIFA World Cup 2022, the layout is particularly important. By placing the painting of the nation's flag at the center of the watch face and occupying the majority of the space, I create a bold and impactful visual that immediately draws the user's attention to the colours and symbols of the country it represents. Against a black background, the colours of the flag will stand out even more, providing a striking contrast that makes the design easily readable at a glance. This layout also allows for ample space to display the time, and any other relevant information, such as the date or step count, without detracting from the main focal point of the design. Besides, I put the heart rate indicator together on the flag, it creates a visually engaging and meaningful design that resonates with the supporting fans of the team. The heart of fans stays with their countries.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The dimension of this design is aligned with the Apple Watch Series 7 and above, which is 396 by 484 pixels in 45mm size, and 352 by 430 pixels in 41mm size.
- Tags
- colourful, elegant, casual, sporty, Fifa, football, world cup
- Production Technology
- The design is produced on Facer.io. It has a design tool to let designers fulfill their ideas. Once the design is finished, just publish it directly from there, and the user can sync the design from Facer.io.
- Design Challenge
- No challenge. When the inspiration arrives, everything was running smoothly.
- Project Duration
- The project started on October 2022 in Singapore and finished on November 2022.
- Operation Flow
- The design is released on Facer.io. To download it, go to www.facer.io/u/artalex. Look for the watch face collection “FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”, and click the big blue button of each watch face to sync into your smartwatch (You need to have Facer app installed on your smartwatch).
- Research
- Not much research. Once the national flag is in a dominant central place, the feeling comes out immediately.
- Inspiration
- When designing a set of Apple Watch faces for the FIFA World Cup 2022, I drew inspiration from the colour schemes of the participating nations' flags. Each country has its own unique colour scheme, and incorporating those colours into the designs can help create a visual connection between the watch face and the country it represents. I have also considered the contrast between the colours of the flag and the background of the watch face, to ensure that the design is easy to read and stands out on the user's wrist. Additionally, I also have experimented with different combinations and patterns of colours to create a visually engaging design that captures the spirit of the World Cup. By using the colours of the participating countries' flags as a dominant point, this set of Apple Watch faces has become both distinctive and meaningful to the fans of the tournament.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Pan Yong, Main image, 2023.
Image #2: Photographer Pan Yong, Single shot, 2023.
Image #3: Photographer Pan Yong, Single shot, 2023.
Image #4: Photographer Pan Yong, Single shot, 2023.
Image #5: Photographer Pan Yong, Single shot, 2023. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Alex Pan Yong, 2023.
Colors of World Cup 2022 Smartwatch Face
Design Interview about World Cup 2022 Smartwatch Face
The main idea was to bring the excitement of international football directly onto the wrist. I was inspired by the FIFA World Cup, national flags, football jerseys, stadium graphics, and the strong visual identity associated with supporting a national team. I wanted the watch face to feel emotional and expressive while still functioning as a practical everyday smartwatch interface.
The rough painted treatment of the flags was especially important. Instead of presenting the flags as perfect geometric graphics, I wanted them to feel more like hand-painted banners created by football supporters.
The rough painted treatment of the flags was especially important. Instead of presenting the flags as perfect geometric graphics, I wanted them to feel more like hand-painted banners created by football supporters.
My main focus was achieving a balance between football identity and information readability.
A smartwatch screen is very small, so I created a clear visual hierarchy. The time is the most dominant information, followed by the national identity and the central flag graphic. Supporting information such as steps, weather, heart rate and battery level is positioned around the main content.
I wanted users to recognize the country they support immediately, but still be able to read essential smartwatch information with a quick glance.
A smartwatch screen is very small, so I created a clear visual hierarchy. The time is the most dominant information, followed by the national identity and the central flag graphic. Supporting information such as steps, weather, heart rate and battery level is positioned around the main content.
I wanted users to recognize the country they support immediately, but still be able to read essential smartwatch information with a quick glance.
I see this design as a system rather than a single watch face. The concept could be expanded for future international football tournaments, different countries, clubs, players and sporting events.
I would also like to explore more customization, allowing users to select their team, accent colors and preferred complications while keeping the same visual language. The design could therefore evolve into a broader collection rather than remaining specifically connected to the 2022 World Cup.
I would also like to explore more customization, allowing users to select their team, accent colors and preferred complications while keeping the same visual language. The design could therefore evolve into a broader collection rather than remaining specifically connected to the 2022 World Cup.
The initial idea came quite quickly because the World Cup already provided a very strong visual direction. However, developing the complete design system, experimenting with different national flags, refining the information hierarchy and testing the design on an actual smartwatch took several weeks.
A significant amount of time was spent making sure that countries with very different flag designs could still work consistently within the same interface.
A significant amount of time was spent making sure that countries with very different flag designs could still work consistently within the same interface.
This was a self-initiated project rather than a commissioned design.
The World Cup is an interesting event because millions of people temporarily become very emotionally connected to colors, flags and national symbols. Since a smartwatch is something people wear throughout the day, I thought it could become another way for fans to express their support.
That idea became the starting point for the project.
The World Cup is an interesting event because millions of people temporarily become very emotionally connected to colors, flags and national symbols. Since a smartwatch is something people wear throughout the day, I thought it could become another way for fans to express their support.
That idea became the starting point for the project.
I developed the design independently and my intention has been to produce and distribute my smartwatch designs myself through digital smartwatch platforms rather than licensing the production rights to another company.
Because it is a digital product, the design can also evolve continuously. New versions, countries and functions can be introduced without having to redesign a physical product.
Because it is a digital product, the design can also evolve continuously. New versions, countries and functions can be introduced without having to redesign a physical product.
I have always been interested in the smartwatch as a new type of design canvas. Unlike a traditional watch, the interface can change according to context, personal interests or events.
The World Cup was particularly suitable for this because people strongly identify with their teams. I wanted to explore how a smartwatch face could become both a functional interface and a small digital expression of football fandom.
The World Cup was particularly suitable for this because people strongly identify with their teams. I wanted to explore how a smartwatch face could become both a functional interface and a small digital expression of football fandom.
There was not one particular designer or existing watch face that directly influenced the project.
Most of the visual inspiration came from football culture itself. National flags, football jerseys, stadium graphics, television sports graphics, supporter banners and hand-painted signs all contributed to the visual direction.
The distressed brush treatment was particularly influenced by the spontaneous visual language of football supporters rather than polished corporate graphics.
Most of the visual inspiration came from football culture itself. National flags, football jerseys, stadium graphics, television sports graphics, supporter banners and hand-painted signs all contributed to the visual direction.
The distressed brush treatment was particularly influenced by the spontaneous visual language of football supporters rather than polished corporate graphics.
The primary target users are football fans who own smartwatches and want to express support for their national team.
However, I also designed it for people who enjoy colorful, expressive and information-rich watch faces. The interface still provides practical everyday information such as time, date, weather, steps, heart rate and battery status, so it can continue to function as a daily watch face rather than simply being decorative.
However, I also designed it for people who enjoy colorful, expressive and information-rich watch faces. The interface still provides practical everyday information such as time, date, weather, steps, heart rate and battery status, so it can continue to function as a daily watch face rather than simply being decorative.
One important difference is that I did not simply place a national flag behind a conventional smartwatch interface.
The flag becomes part of the entire visual system. The icons, accent colors and graphics adapt to the country's visual identity while the overall layout remains consistent.
The rough painted texture also gives the design a handmade and energetic feeling. It contrasts with the clean typography and digital information, creating a combination of emotional sports graphics and precise digital interface design.
The flag becomes part of the entire visual system. The icons, accent colors and graphics adapt to the country's visual identity while the overall layout remains consistent.
The rough painted texture also gives the design a handmade and energetic feeling. It contrasts with the clean typography and digital information, creating a combination of emotional sports graphics and precise digital interface design.
The name World Cup 2022 was intentionally straightforward.
I wanted the name to immediately communicate the context in which the collection was created. Rather than giving the design an abstract name, the title records a particular moment in football history and connects the watch face directly with the experience of following the tournament.
In that sense, the design also becomes a small digital memory of the event.
I wanted the name to immediately communicate the context in which the collection was created. Rather than giving the design an abstract name, the title records a particular moment in football history and connects the watch face directly with the experience of following the tournament.
In that sense, the design also becomes a small digital memory of the event.
I used graphic design tools to create and refine the visual assets, including the national flags, distressed textures, icons, typography and interface elements.
I then used smartwatch face development tools to assemble the interface and connect dynamic information such as time, date, battery, weather, heart rate and step count.
An important part of the process was testing the interface on an actual smartwatch. Something that looks good on a large computer monitor can feel completely different when reduced to a watch-sized OLED display.
I then used smartwatch face development tools to assemble the interface and connect dynamic information such as time, date, battery, weather, heart rate and step count.
An important part of the process was testing the interface on an actual smartwatch. Something that looks good on a large computer monitor can feel completely different when reduced to a watch-sized OLED display.
For me, the most unique aspect is that it works as a visual system for many different countries while maintaining a recognizable identity.
France, Argentina, Croatia, Morocco, England, Brazil and Portugal all have very different flags and color combinations. However, they can all fit within the same interface structure.
That modular approach allows the watch face to change personality without losing the identity of the overall design.
France, Argentina, Croatia, Morocco, England, Brazil and Portugal all have very different flags and color combinations. However, they can all fit within the same interface structure.
That modular approach allows the watch face to change personality without losing the identity of the overall design.
I developed the project independently, covering the concept, visual design, interface layout and smartwatch implementation myself.
Working independently also meant that I needed to consider both the creative and technical sides of the project. I had to think not only like a graphic designer but also like an interface designer, considering data, screen limitations, readability and how the design would behave on an actual device.
Feedback and real-device testing were still important parts of refining the final result.
Working independently also meant that I needed to consider both the creative and technical sides of the project. I had to think not only like a graphic designer but also like an interface designer, considering data, screen limitations, readability and how the design would behave on an actual device.
Feedback and real-device testing were still important parts of refining the final result.
Technology is fundamental to the design because this is not simply an image displayed on a watch.
The interface combines continuously changing information including time, date, weather, step count, heart rate and battery level. The visual design therefore has to respond to dynamic data while remaining readable.
Technology allows the watch face to combine the emotional qualities of graphic design with real-time information. That combination is one of the reasons I find smartwatch design particularly interesting.
The interface combines continuously changing information including time, date, weather, step count, heart rate and battery level. The visual design therefore has to respond to dynamic data while remaining readable.
Technology allows the watch face to combine the emotional qualities of graphic design with real-time information. That combination is one of the reasons I find smartwatch design particularly interesting.
The project was influenced more by visual and usability research than by large-scale statistical research.
I studied how information is normally read on smartwatch displays, which information users need most frequently, and how hierarchy, contrast and scale affect glanceability.
I also studied different national flags carefully. Their proportions, colors and visual complexity vary significantly, so I needed to understand how each could be adapted without losing its identity.
Finally, I tested the designs at actual watch size rather than evaluating them only on a computer screen.
I studied how information is normally read on smartwatch displays, which information users need most frequently, and how hierarchy, contrast and scale affect glanceability.
I also studied different national flags carefully. Their proportions, colors and visual complexity vary significantly, so I needed to understand how each could be adapted without losing its identity.
Finally, I tested the designs at actual watch size rather than evaluating them only on a computer screen.
One of the biggest challenges was creating consistency across many national flags.
Some flags are visually simple while others contain detailed symbols, emblems or multiple colors. They also have very different levels of contrast.
At the same time, the smartwatch display provides very limited space. I had to prevent the graphics from competing with important information such as the time.
The final solution was to create a strong modular grid and information hierarchy, then allow the colors and national graphics to change inside that structure.
Some flags are visually simple while others contain detailed symbols, emblems or multiple colors. They also have very different levels of contrast.
At the same time, the smartwatch display provides very limited space. I had to prevent the graphics from competing with important information such as the time.
The final solution was to create a strong modular grid and information hierarchy, then allow the colors and national graphics to change inside that structure.
I wanted to see how the work would be evaluated beyond the smartwatch community.
Smartwatch face design combines graphic design, interaction design, information design and technology, but it is sometimes viewed simply as digital decoration. Submitting the project to an international design competition allowed me to present it as a complete design discipline.
It was also an opportunity to benchmark my work against international design standards and receive recognition from a broader professional design community.
Smartwatch face design combines graphic design, interaction design, information design and technology, but it is sometimes viewed simply as digital decoration. Submitting the project to an international design competition allowed me to present it as a complete design discipline.
It was also an opportunity to benchmark my work against international design standards and receive recognition from a broader professional design community.
One of the most important things I learned was the value of designing a system instead of an individual screen.
If I had designed each country's watch face separately, the collection could easily have become inconsistent. Creating a modular structure first allowed different national identities to exist within the same design language.
I also became more conscious of designing for real viewing conditions. On a smartwatch, small differences in typography, spacing, contrast and icon size can have a significant impact on usability.
If I had designed each country's watch face separately, the collection could easily have become inconsistent. Creating a modular structure first allowed different national identities to exist within the same design language.
I also became more conscious of designing for real viewing conditions. On a smartwatch, small differences in typography, spacing, contrast and icon size can have a significant impact on usability.
I think one interesting aspect of this project is that it demonstrates how wearable interfaces can communicate something about the person wearing them.
Traditional watch faces mainly communicate time. Digital watch faces can communicate time, information, personality, interests and even cultural moments simultaneously.
With this project, I wanted the smartwatch to become a small digital supporter banner on the wrist. It celebrates football, but at the same time it remains a functional everyday interface. That relationship between technology, information and personal expression is what continues to attract me to smartwatch face design.
Traditional watch faces mainly communicate time. Digital watch faces can communicate time, information, personality, interests and even cultural moments simultaneously.
With this project, I wanted the smartwatch to become a small digital supporter banner on the wrist. It celebrates football, but at the same time it remains a functional everyday interface. That relationship between technology, information and personal expression is what continues to attract me to smartwatch face design.
Grand Interview about World Cup 2022 Smartwatch Face
Centering national flags on the watch face was a deliberate choice to tap into the deep pride and emotional investment fans have in their national teams. By making the flag the focal point, the design evokes a sense of patriotism, personal connection, and pride. This direct and intimate visual association helps users feel more connected to their team, as every glance at their wrist serves as a powerful reminder of their loyalty and national identity.
The integration of heart rate data onto the flag was inspired by the emotional intensity of football. Fans often experience heightened heart rates while watching games, reflecting the thrill and passion of the sport. By merging physiological data with national symbols, the design creates a uniquely personalized experience, as users see their emotional responses directly linked to their national pride. This synergy between data and symbol makes the smartwatch face more than just a display—it becomes a canvas for the user’s own excitement and pride.
Winning the Bronze A’ Design Award was a recognition of my effort to harmonize form and function. Smartwatch designs must not only look appealing but also function smoothly in a compact space. For this project, I focused on simplicity and high contrast, ensuring that every detail served a purpose. Elements like bold colors, clear icons, and concise data placements were meticulously balanced to provide both aesthetic appeal and easy readability, meeting the technical demands of the smartwatch without sacrificing visual impact.
Optimizing contrast was crucial in making the design both visually striking and easily readable. A black background was chosen to enhance the vividness of the national flags, creating a stark contrast that helps colors pop and makes information more visible. The flags’ colors were carefully balanced to avoid overwhelming the small display, ensuring that each watch face retains clarity and can be read at a quick glance, even in varying lighting conditions.
My experience at Lasalle College of the Arts instilled in me the importance of storytelling through design. This background in interactive art encouraged me to think of the smartwatch face as a dynamic medium where art and technology meet. The World Cup 2022 design reflects this by combining meaningful symbols (national flags) with functional elements (time, heart rate), making each watch face a blend of artistic expression and practical usability—a wearable tribute to both sports and culture.
Each country’s flag presents unique colors and patterns, which posed a challenge in maintaining a cohesive look across the collection. I approached this by creating a consistent layout for time, heart rate, and icons, while adjusting contrast and saturation to accommodate each flag’s colors. This ensured that while each watch face had its distinct personality, they all shared a unified visual language that identified them as part of the same collection.
Facer.io provided a flexible platform that allowed for intricate customization, which was instrumental in realizing my vision. Its responsive capabilities helped me fine-tune the layout to fit various watch sizes and formats, while its layering features enabled me to position elements like the flags and heart rate data in visually engaging ways. Facer.io was pivotal in bridging the gap between my design ideas and their practical implementation.
The World Cup is not just a tournament; it’s a global celebration. I envisioned this design as a way for fans to wear their support proudly, not just on game days but every day. By placing the flags and team symbols front and center, the design embodies the energy and community of the FIFA World Cup, allowing users to feel a part of the larger football culture and share their passion in a personal and tangible way.
Designing for different Apple Watch sizes required a keen focus on adaptability. To maintain visual consistency, I developed a responsive layout that adjusted key elements like font size, flag placement, and icon scale to suit various screen dimensions without losing clarity. This attention to scalability ensured that the watch face retained its impact and readability, whether viewed on a larger or smaller display.
Creating the World Cup 2022 Smartwatch Face has reinforced my commitment to merging art with functionality in future designs. This project highlighted the power of combining data with meaningful visuals to create interactive, wearable art. Moving forward with Artalex, I aim to continue exploring ways to enhance user connection through design, whether it’s through personal symbols, customizable data displays, or new ways to blend technology with cultural expression.