Deconstructing Product Design

Cifra 3 Clock

Gino Valle, Massimo Vignelli, and Remigio Solari for Solari, 1965

1. Imagine the perfect display for a digital clock. What would it look like? Would the type be segmented or jaggy? Would the legibility diminish at acute angles? Would contrast be a problem across lighting conditions? The answer to all of these questions is, of course, “No,” but these are all common problems with digital clocks. It is amazing to think that in terms of legibility and overall usability, an analog clock introduced in 1965 with a split-flap display still outperforms virtually all-modern digital clocks.
2. The clock is stark in its geometric purity, comprised of a cylindrical form with the front one-third scooped out for the display. Later models added ...