University of Derby Fly Back Clock

Design inspiration for this clock came from a school competition which was set to get pupils thinking in a creative way about telling the time. The outcome of these ideas was a semi-circular clock with a single hand, describing a 180° arc over 12 hours.

The dial is formed of a 4.2m segmented arc, describing 180°. The 0 position at the base is the starting point for the single time indicator hand, which sweeps clockwise to 12 between midnight and mid-day, then returns,

or “ ies back” to restart. Dial segments are individual light boxes formed of aluminum with opal acrylic covers and LED internal illumination. The hand is similarly illuminated.

A clock with just half a dial presents a greater mechanical challenge than a conventional two-handed type. The hidden parts inside the mechanism therefore allude to the learning and research which takes place in the same building – not visible on the outside but evident in the contribution it makes to the world at large.

  • Date:
    09/17/2012
  • Categories:
    Education
  • Client
    University of Derby
  • Location
    Derby, UK
  • Size
    4m
  • Materials
    Aluminum, acrylic, LED lighting
  • Date
    2008
  • Ref
    1880

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