Dieter Rams e Dietrich Lubs, 1971
OBJECT
The BC02 is the latest version in a series of travel clocks developed by Braun since the early 1970s. Compact and instantly recognizable, it retains the proportions and pared-back appearance of earlier models, with a clear dial, crisp typography, and the signature yellow second hand.
Braun’s first compact clocks were developed under the direction of Dieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs, reflecting the company’s commitment to functional design that eliminates excess and emphasizes only what is essential.
Over time, the design has been updated with a few technical refinements, including a quartz movement, a gradual alarm, and a backlight for night-time use. But the structure and visual language have remained largely unchanged. The BC02 continues a consistent design lineage that has become a benchmark for objects intended to be used and understood at a glance.
The designers and their Principles
The design of the BC02 is closely tied to the work of Dieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs, two central figures in Braun’s history.
Rams, who led the company’s design department from 1961 to 1995, is regarded as one of the most influential industrial designers of the twentieth century. Lubs joined Braun in 1962 and went on to lead the timepiece division. He designed the original travel clock that would go on to shape the BC02 series, with particular attention to legibility and ease of use.
Rams defined the overall approach, shaped by his well-known ten principles of good design. Lubs focused on the details, from typography to the placement of the hands in official photographs, always set to 10:08, and the knurled texture of the switch used to silence the alarm in the dark.
Their collaboration established a design balance that combined visual clarity with intuitive function. Alongside this series, Rams and Lubs worked together on a range of products that have become emblematic, including calculators, wristwatches, and audio systems.
The BC02 is one of the most compact and representative expressions of their shared vision: an everyday object designed to be useful, understated, long-lasting, and easy to understand.
Commercial Reception and Cultural Impact of the BC02
The BC02 is now recognized as a key reference in the history of industrial design. In addition to its long-standing commercial success, which has kept it on the market for over fifty years, its cultural value has been widely acknowledged by institutions.
Several international museums have included early models from the series in their permanent collections, highlighting the design’s consistency and cultural significance. In 2017, the Cooper Hewitt acquired a 1978 AB 21/s model, noting its graphic clarity and functional precision. The clock was also featured in the 2018 exhibition Bob Greenberg Selects.
Braun clocks have been included in exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Design Museum in London, notably in the 2009 retrospective Less and More.
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Details
Braun
Dimensions of the BC02 clock:
57 × 57 × 27 millimeters
Materials:
Matte plastic casing, luminous-coated hands, silent quartz movement.
