Iron Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design · 2019
Artalex English And Numbers IV Smartwatch Watch Face
by Pan Yong
- A' Design Award 2019 Iron Winner in Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design
- Awarded April 15, 2019
- CLIENT: Artalex
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 20,024
- Verification code DC3349B354 · Verify this award
About Artalex English And Numbers IV Smartwatch Watch Face
A natural way to read time. The English and numbers go together, form a futuristic look and feel. The layout of the dial let user gets the information on battery, date, daily steps in a quick way. With multiple colour themes, the overall look and feel is suitable for both casual looking and sporty looking smart watches.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- An easy-to-read and unique watch face for smart watch. The reading of time consists of English and numbers to let user read the time in a natural way. The layout of the dial is unique while user still can get the information on battery, date, daily steps in a quick way.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 400px, Height 400px. Support Samsung Gear watches (Gear S2, S3, Sports, Galaxy Watch) and all Android smart watches (WatchMaker app needed on the watch to load up the watch face)
- Tags
- futuristic, business, casual, informative
- Production Technology
- The actual product has two versions (same design). It can be obtained from Samsung Gear Store and from WatchMaker app.
The native Samsung Gear version is for Samsung Gear watch users. It was developed with GalaxyWatchDesigner, a tool for developing watch face from Samsung. URL: https://t.co/0N1zt1nGRy
The WatchMaker version is for WatchMaker app user. It can be downloaded from WatchMaker app and sync into your smart watch (WatchMaker app needed on your watch). URL: http://www.getwatchmaker.com/watch/sB1x8P9h7X - Design Challenge
- The challenge during development is how to code the switch (for WatchMaker version) to change the colour. Because I just started using WatchMaker app for a short time. Still exploring the Lua language for coding. As I was making more and more watch faces, technical problems were solved.
- Project Duration
- The project started in May 2017 and finished in July 2018 in Singapore.
- Operation Flow
- For Samsung Tizen native version, just tap anywhere to change the colour. For WatchMaker version, tap the small dot at the right lower corner (below month) to change the theme.
- Research
- I was playing with text and numbers, trying to figure out a nice way to display time, but it needs to be different from those traditional digital watch. Then came out with a very simple version (version 1), only shows English and numbers with a battery bar below them. After wearing for a few weeks, I got some comments from friends. They want to add in other information such as weather, date, month, steps, etc. Then I started to think about the layout, the feeling. Try to make the dial more user-friendly. After a few months of experiment, from version 2 to version 4, finally came out the current design. So I name it "English And Numbers IV". While providing the most-wanted information, the dial still has the futuristic feeling. The tool I used is WatchMaker app. I directly developed it in the app. Once finalised the design, I started developing the Samsung Tizen native version. The feedbacks from Samsung App Store are very good. People love it.
- Inspiration
- The reason of doing this watch face is that I do not like the stock ones in my smart watch. Those are just very common and traditional. I need a cool and unique feeling. It should be easy to read and informative, at the same time, stands out among those traditional ones. The inspiration is the way of people read out the time. For example, 10:45, people read it "Ten forty five". Then here comes the design: TEN45. Even if people do not understand English, there is still a little white "Hour indicator" to show the hour. So for those who are non-English user, there is no problem using it.
Colors of Artalex English And Numbers IV Smartwatch Watch Face
Design Interview about Artalex English And Numbers IV Smartwatch Watch Face
The inspiration is that there are too many traditional watch faces in both analog and digital categories, I want to do something different. A text-based hybrid type.
With the idea, a hybrid type, in mind, I realised that the way of reading the time itself could be a hybrid type. So the main focus is how to convert the natural way of read the time into a unique hybrid type. How do we read the time? “4:50 pm” right? Why not “Four45 pm”? That will make the number-based time a text and number combined type.
For my own use or sell it.
It took me about 2 days to get the initial prototype, and about 2 - 3 months to refine it.
There are basically two types of the watch face in the watch industry, analog and digital. I want to do something beyond the traditional.
Currently, the design is used by myself, and I’m selling the watch face on Samsung Galaxy store. If companies intent to buy, maybe I plan to sell it or lease the production rights. I’m happy to see it coming.
I got the inspiration of putting the natural way of telling time directly onto watch face so that people can read the time naturally and intuitively.
Almost anyone, unless the user cannot read English.
The intuitive way of reading the time.
The name is quite straightforward. It just means “English + Numbers”.
Adobe Photoshop and Watchmaker app.
The user experience.
I did it on my own. Conceptualized it. Design it. Code it. All by myself.
The role of technology in this design is not the most important. It just does its basic function — fetch the correct data.
No, there is no data research involved.
The hour text in English has a different length. “Eleven” is much longer than “One”. So the challenge is how to arrange the space for English text.
I didn’t decide. If lucky, I guess, my design will be nominated. Just like this time. One day, I received the email from A’Design, saying that this watch face design was nominated.
I got a lot of feedback from my social media posts.
Grand Interview about Artalex English And Numbers IV Smartwatch Watch Face
The idea of combining English text with numerical time display in the Artalex English And Numbers IV Smartwatch Watch Face stemmed from a desire to reimagine the reading experience on a smartwatch. Traditional watches focus solely on numerical data, while my approach sought to bridge intuitive language with the precision of numbers. This blend emerged as I realized that language could introduce a more relatable, even poetic, aspect to checking the time, thus creating a more human-centered experience.
In designing for both ease of access and a futuristic look, I focused on a minimalist layout, carefully positioning the elements to minimize clutter. Each display element, from battery status to step count, is laid out for quick readability, while the aesthetic is kept sleek and modern with metallic and subdued tones. The futuristic aesthetic is achieved through subtle gradients and text styles that resonate with high-tech design principles without overpowering functionality.
User feedback played a crucial role in refining the design. Early users requested additional features like step counting and battery percentage, which led to the careful integration of these elements without overwhelming the interface. Research highlighted the importance of a balanced interface where each added feature could be accessed without compromising readability. This feedback refined the font choices, element placement, and the intuitive navigation flow, making each iteration more user-friendly.
Development spanned over a year from May 2017 to July 2018, with key milestones including the prototype phase, where I tested the linguistic-numeric balance, followed by usability testing, which brought valuable insights for layout refinement. Another major phase involved technical optimization to ensure seamless performance across platforms. The final milestone was achieving a cohesive color palette that could shift for different environments, enhancing visual comfort and style flexibility.
To accommodate non-English speakers, I focused on universally recognizable symbols and numbers. Additionally, I considered localization options for future updates, including potential language packs. The core of the design relies on a minimalist approach, ensuring that even users unfamiliar with English can easily grasp the watch face’s primary functions, such as time and essential metrics.
The inspiration for color theme switching was to cater to both professional and casual settings. The palette includes themes that shift from muted tones suitable for work environments to vibrant colors for more casual or outdoor settings. This versatility allows users to match the face to their environment and personal style, enhancing the watch face’s adaptability across various scenarios.
Developing for both the Samsung Gear Store and WatchMaker presented technical challenges, such as ensuring compatibility with different screen resolutions and battery efficiencies. Each platform had unique constraints, requiring adjustments in graphics and code to maintain a consistent experience. These challenges prompted optimizations that ultimately strengthened the design’s performance and adaptability across devices.
Looking forward, I envision smartwatch interfaces becoming more context-aware, adapting displays based on user activity or location. Emerging trends like AI-driven personalization and improved battery technology might allow for even more dynamic and intuitive displays, offering seamless transitions between data types. This evolution would open new avenues for interactive, highly personalized designs.
Deciding which elements to include and how to arrange them involved a meticulous balancing act. I focused on essentials, like time, battery, and steps, while positioning them to avoid overcrowding. I prioritized central placement for the time display, with secondary metrics subtly integrated around it, achieving both aesthetic harmony and functional clarity.
For designers aiming to blend innovation with usability, I recommend focusing on the core user needs first, then introducing creative elements that don’t detract from the main functions. Iterative feedback, prototyping, and testing are invaluable to refine layouts and interactions, ensuring practicality and a smooth user experience. Balancing aesthetic appeal with practical usability requires a design philosophy grounded in empathy for the user’s daily needs.