Silver Homeware Design · 2025
Syn Universal Calendar
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Homeware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Forenext Design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 28,115
- Verification code D013D6BA06 · Verify this award
About Syn Universal Calendar
Syn is an innovative calendar/ monthly planner featuring a unique layout for various and universal time intervals. It is designed as a mechanical, three dimensional planner that assists people in organizing tasks and events without using a digital application. Inspired by the philosophy of Lo Tek Design, it optimizes the use of a physical calendar, providing more detailed information. The structure design adapted the pattern of time, making it universal to any month and day. It can assist in tracking and recording events over a comfortable length of time.
Johnny Jiasheng Chen's Syn Universal Calendar represents a compelling synthesis of functional design and sculptural expression, positioning itself within contemporary homeware traditions that seek to elevate quotidian objects into contemplative visual experiences. The work engages with longstanding design conversations around perpetual calendars, reimagining the mechanical and visual logics of temporal tracking through a distinctly spatial vocabulary that transforms date-keeping from flat graphic exercise into three-dimensional kinetic poetry. The radial arrangement of thirty-one aluminum arms, each corresponding to potential days within a monthly cycle, demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how geometric form can communicate temporal concepts intuitively, the circular configuration evoking both clockface traditions and astronomical orbital patterns. Technical execution reveals considerable precision in fabrication, with each arm maintaining consistent width, length, and angular positioning, while the spherical date markers introduce controlled chromatic variation through their white, cream, and red colorations that allow users to distinguish different temporal categories or highlight significant dates. The vertical spine functions both structurally and informationally, its graduated markings and sliding indicator suggesting month designation capabilities that complement the daily tracking of the radial arms. Material choices emphasize refined industrial qualities, the brushed aluminum presenting that particular cool elegance associated with premium desktop accessories while maintaining durability appropriate for daily handling. Thematically, the design invites consideration of how humans organize and visualize time, transforming abstract calendrical concepts into tangible spatial relationships that can be physically manipulated and visually contemplated. The starburst configuration might evoke natural phenomena from dandelion seed heads to solar coronas, grounding functional artifice in organic visual memory. Viewers are invited to consider how such objects might transform their own relationship to temporal awareness, perhaps finding in the physical act of adjusting markers a mindfulness absent from digital calendar interactions.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Syn is an innovative calendar/ monthly planner featuring a unique layout for various and universal time intervals. It is designed as a mechanical, three-dimensional planner that assists people in organizing tasks and events without using a digital application.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 300 mm x Depth 130 mm x Height 418 mm
- Tags
- Calendar, Planner, Information, Universal, Time, Interaction, Innovative, Traditional Knowledge, Transitional
- Production Technology
- Laser-cut Acrylic/glass pointers with printed/engraving numbers, Aluminum Cnc frame with engraving features, rubber gaskets for pointers, metal rod core post, and plastic pointer keys.
- Design Challenge
- Preserving the unique form and interaction with humans are two challenging goals. Besides, due to the pattern of the day and month, normal calendars are challenged to be flexible enough to adapt to all date changes. However, Syn’s innovative structure design overcomes this problem, making it able to apply to any month and date.
- Project Duration
- The project started in January 2024 and finished in June 2024 in Los Angeles and was showcased on the internet.
- Operation Flow
- Syn calender is a clock-like three-dimensional calendar. People can adjust the time by switching the pointers. Each pointer shows printed numbers as dates. The engraved mark on the aluminum frame presents the general hours of the day, and the pin placement and multiple-color design represent and help people identify different events.
- Research
- Reflecting humans' reliance on digital products, the project explores the notion of non-electric structures to create an object with a unique experience. By researching the philosophy of Lo-Tek design and exploring traditional knowledge, Syn calendar transitions traditional innovation and modern usage, creating new form factors for an innovative calendar.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the philosophy of Lo-Tek design, the project draws ideas from traditional knowledge. Syn transitions traditional innovation and modern usage, creating new form factors for the object. It is designed to adapt to modern calendar usage. Its time units are placed carefully to provide a unique experience. Furthermore, it reflects humans' reliance on digital products and explores the notion of non-electric structures to achieve the goal.
- Image Credits
- All content created by Forenext Design Studio
Colors of Syn Universal Calendar
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Grand Interview about Syn Universal Calendar
The most common time management tools are either two-dimensional or digital applications. I honor that the approaches we currently use, such as paper calendars and digital planners, etc, are adequate and sufficient for modern applications. However, this also inspired me to consider alternatives to the one we do not have. Time management tools are essential for the development of human civilization. This is the key point I question for this project: What can we learn from the past? The form factors, usages, scenarios, limits, and materials. Many ancient time management tools have existed across different cultures throughout history, each representing its rich origin and profound impact. It is a tool forged by time and generations of usage. They are unique, intriguing, and represent a different way of thinking. However, many interesting elements seem to have been lost in time. Therefore, this is the reason I developed the project, which utilizes Lo-Tek philosophy to create a new calendar that celebrates the past while looking to the present.
Its form is inspired by the “Quipu” an ancient Andean South American linguistic system using knots tied in wool or ropes to record important events. Calendars should provide sufficient information that people would want to know. The adjustable pointers and details can maximize the space for information while keeping the sleek shape. The semantics of the object should be straightforward, and a clock-like appearance fits perfectly to tell its purpose.
Reflecting on the amount of time people spend on screen usage, planning an event, or scheduling a meeting is usually between typing and clicking. Based on the broad scope of this single approach, it is efficient, accessible, and effective for all people. However, this format also narrows the images of how modern people view time management and limits the possibility of developing innovative things. The solution is to increase the interaction between the user and the object, making people more engaged rather than just clicking on the screen. The clock-like time chart can give you an overall idea of your time planning, and also provide enough details to allow you to know when and what to do. It is an aesthetic and practical combination.
I want the calendar to provide adequate information without being overwhelming. The pin can serve as a reminder for a significant period or represent a consistent schedule, allowing the user to define and adjust it as needed. It can be a personal calendar that only you understand.
Providing sufficient information is one of the primary considerations when I design the object. I want to maximize the usage, being more than just a monthly or weekly planner. And the unique structure layout can perfectly achieve my goal.
The adaptable structure is the main challenge for this project. The machinic details drive the form. We consider more than five formations and develop over ten prototypes. Especially when developing the information-like chart for the dates, and being able to make it universal and adjustable. It is challenging to finalize the final form because there are numerous approaches to combine the elements. However, we all agreed that the current shape is the best option to achieve both aesthetic and functional appeal.
It is designed to be placed on a desktop. So the dimension is carefully considered for reading and adjusting the structure. Additionally, the manufacturable size for the pointer arms is limited, as it is the thinnest part of all. Overall, the dimensions are comfortable for viewing and allow the machine's structure to work.
We aim to design for modern people's usage, and a simple, pure material with a sleek appearance is preferable. The clear acrylic pointer creates a floating effect, and the clean, matte aluminum body adds a stylish and timeless feel to the design.
We are always careful to pick and develop every project. Because we believe it is essential to design based on research and create meaningful designs. Projects that prompt people to consider different alternatives. Objects that inspire creativity and innovation. Syn Universal Calendar is definitely one of our featured projects. It provides practical usage, creates a unique form factor, and generates a discourse about humanity.
Syn Universal Calendar is an option, an opportunity, a dialogue for people to see that there are more interesting potentials that simple physical objects can achieve. But also showcasing that there are more time-managing formats, instead of just boring boxes and charts, we currently use. The world is driving fast into the digital era, which is a matter of fact; however, I would like to envision that our project can inspire people to think innovatively and recognize the valuable elements in our everyday objects.