The Spiral Time Clock: Reimagining the Flow of Time Through Art and Technology
Changing Our Relationship with Time
In our current era, people have increasingly relied less on traditional paper calendars in their homes, due to the availability of smartphones and digital calendars that display the date quickly and easily. A Spiral Time Clock can offer an alternative for those who still prefer having a means they can glance at instantly without needing to use devices.
A New Vision for the Traditional Calendar
What if there were a calendar that did not merely display the date, but also encourages us to reflect on the passage of time and the flow of days? Designer Jaekyun Lee presents this concept through his project, The Spiral Time Clock, which reimagines the annual calendar in a more poetic and multidimensional way.
The Spiral Clock: A Concept of Temporal Spiral
This digital clock covering twelve months differs from traditional linear grid calendars. It relies on a dynamic spiral form composed of globe-like spheres, each representing a month in a continuous and evolving time cycle. Instead of depicting time as a straight line or a closed loop, this design embodies a spiral movement that allows returning to certain points with constant change.
Time Between Motion and Change
Each month is represented by a three-dimensional sphere arranged along the spiral curve. Although the shape suggests cyclical motion, subtle differences in spacing, lighting, and elevation emphasize the idea that every moment is unique and non-repetitive. This reflects the perspective that time is not fixed units measured precisely, but an experience shaped by motion, change, and the surrounding atmosphere.


The Artistic and Technical Dimension in the Design of the Spiral Clock
The Spiral Time Clock relies on advanced techniques in 3D design, utilizing procedural modeling to create precise and intricate structures. These structures are enhanced with photographic textures derived from real images, giving them both a realistic and poetic dimension simultaneously.
Inspiration from Nature and Space
Designer Jaekyun Lee drew inspiration from Earth and cloud images in NASA’s “Blue Marble” dataset. Each month features a customized version of these images applied to the virtual globe, adding diversity and uniqueness to every time unit within the spiral series.
Dynamics of Motion and Change
The Earth spheres are arranged in a clockwise spiral formation, and the entire structure rotates slightly each month around its central axis. This design also expresses a gradient of gravity translated into increasing curvature and compression toward the spiral’s center, where the orbits narrow and mass concentration intensifies.
Variety of Movement Within the System
To add more vitality and variation, the designer randomized the rotation axes of each sphere. This step introduces subtle differences within the continuity of the overall system, reflecting the dynamic and complex nature of time itself.


Variety of Temporal Representation in the Earth Spheres
The Earth-like spheres manifest in three distinct forms, each reflecting a different aspect of the concept of time. The first form displays the year along the equator with the month number at the poles, while the second uses nighttime satellite images to mark the beginning of the Gregorian year (January 1st) and Sundays as holidays. The third form represents the ordinary days of the week. These patterns are distributed along the spiral path according to their specific temporal roles.
Reimagining Time: From Linearity to Multiplicity
This design transcends its role as a mere surface ornament to become an intellectual architectural structure that invites reconsideration of the concept of time itself. It rejects the notion of time as a straight line to be followed precisely, as well as the idea of a closed loop that assumes an endless fixed repetition. Instead, the spiral offers a conception of multilayered time, allowing a return to familiar points without the moment itself recurring as it was, reflecting a continuous motion of renewal and change.


Availability and Annual Update of the Spiral Time Clock
The Spiral Time Clock is available as a high-resolution digital file (3840×2160) that can be downloaded from designer Jaekyun Lee’s official website, Provisional Tempo. This file is updated at the end of each December, when a new version is released featuring an updated set of high-resolution images reflecting the passing year, emphasizing the renewing nature of time within the design.


