In contemporary design, wall clocks are more than just instruments for telling time. They become surfaces, narrative tools, and small-scale domestic architectures. Every clock in this selection was designed by an architect or designer who has played a significant role in the history of design, from George Nelson to Alessandro Mendini, from Naoto Fukasawa to Jasper Morrison. These objects give form to the passing of time in ways that are sometimes playful, sometimes pared back, but always attentive to the relationship between function and imagination.
Tempo, Naoto Fukasawa for Magis
The Tempo wall clock was designed by Naoto Fukasawa for Magis in 2010. Its form reflects the minimalist approach of the Japanese designer, known for his focus on everyday gestures and intuitive interaction with objects. Made from injection-molded ABS plastic, the clock has a pared-back design that removes all unnecessary elements, emphasizing visual balance and functionality. Fukasawa introduced the idea of without thought design, where the best objects are those used instinctively, without the need for interpretation. His work is grounded in observation, simplicity, and discreet integration into its surroundings.
Firenze, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Alessi
Firenze is a wall clock designed in 1965 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, two key figures in postwar Italian design known, among other works, for the Snoopy and Taccia lamps. It was put into production by Alessi in 1996. The project was originally created for the exhibition La casa abitata at Palazzo Strozzi and reinterprets the clock face of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio in a contemporary language. The round dial, made of ABS plastic, features large Roman numerals and slender hands designed for maximum legibility. The wall clock combines visual clarity with a strong graphic presence. With a diameter of 36 centimeters, Firenze is suited to both domestic and professional settings, where it blends in with simplicity and precision.
Eye Clock, George Nelson for Vitra
The Eye Clock was designed in 1957–1958 by George Nelson Associates, the studio behind more than 150 wall clocks produced between 1948 and 1960. Also known as the Lyre Clock, it features a curved metal frame that echoes the shape of an eyelid, surrounding a walnut and brass body with colorful geometric hands. It can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, in line with Nelson’s philosophy: no numbers, just the position of the hands. The design is attributed to Lucia De Respinis, the only woman on the team. Reissued by Vitra in 1999, it has a distinct graphic and surreal quality.
Wall Clock, Jasper Morrison for Hay
Originally designed by Jasper Morrison in 2008, the Wall Clock has been reissued in collaboration with Danish brand HAY in 2023. True to Morrison’s super normal approach, a commitment to everyday design that avoids novelty in favour of quiet clarity. Inspired in part by the round shapes of wall-mounted plates and institutional clocks, its clean face shows only even numbers. With no superfluous features, it emphasizes legibility, proportion, and restraint. Critics and retailers alike have welcomed the reissue, noting its balance of practicality and subtlety, qualities that continue to define Morrison’s contribution to contemporary design.
Cu-Clock, Naoto Fukasawa per Magis
The Cu-Clock is another wall clock designed by Naoto Fukasawa for Magis, released in 2011. This time, it’s a cuckoo clock with a very different character. It reinterprets the traditional house-shaped form with simplified volumes and clean surfaces, approached with a light touch. Made from ABS plastic, it balances formal precision with a sense of play. The cuckoo appears on the hour, and the bright roof colors highlight the clock’s ironic tone. The project combines the clarity of Japanese design with a familiar and approachable idea of a European clock, made for everyday life.
Bankers AJ‑43640, Arne Jacobsen for Rosendahl
The Bankers AJ‑43640 is a wall clock designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1971 for the National Bank of Denmark. It was the last clock created by the Danish architect, and the most conceptual of those developed during his more than fifty-year career. The dial has no numbers; instead, twelve black rectangles are arranged in a circle, creating a visual rotation across the hours. The clock was conceived as an integral part of the bank’s interior, a building austere on the outside but precise and layered within. Every element contributed to the overall coherence of the design, including the clock, which was later made available to the public.
Crystal Palace, Alessandro Mendini for Kartell
Introduced in 2015, Crystal Palace is one of Alessandro Mendini’s first projects for Kartell developed within the context of serial production. Made from polymethylmethacrylate, its embossed surface features geometric patterns that reference the pop aesthetic of Roy Lichtenstein, with dotted textures and graphic compositions. The name refers to the iconic glass pavilion built in London in 1851, suggesting a balance between transparency, ornament, and function. Available in vivid colors, the clock treats time as a visual surface, reflecting Mendini’s interest in the interplay between form, decoration, and the visual languages of contemporary culture.
Momento, Aldo Rossi per Alessi
The Momento wall clock was designed by Aldo Rossi for Alessi, based on a wristwatch model the architect created in the 1980s. Over time, the wall version developed its own identity and has become an important piece in the Alessi catalogue. Its round shape and pared-back aesthetic reflect Rossi’s ongoing exploration of pure geometry and archetypal forms, a consistent presence in both his buildings and everyday objects, such as the La Cupola and La Conica coffee makers, also for Alessi. Momento is a clear expression of his design philosophy: formal precision, visual simplicity, and continuity between architecture and product design.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, ARCHIVEofOBJECTS may earn a commission.
