Helveticlock
Left: Swiss Railway Clock (photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Right: iOS 6 Clock Interface (screenshot: iDownloadblog.com)
Helvetica was born in Switzerland in 1957, a product of the Swiss design movement, designed by Max Miedinger. Just a couple years prior Swiss designer Hans Hilfiker designed this clock (left) for the Swiss railway, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen. The resemblance of Hilfiker’s clock design to Helvetica — the reduction of elements, the self-consciously fat strokes — is evidence of the same minimal DNA emerging as the Swiss design movement.
With that backstory it’s easy to see how the design rationale at Apple would lead to this choice for a clock UI. Apple’s skeuomorphic design language bears Helvetica and this choice doubles down on both Swissism and skeuomorphism. The Hilfiker clock is not just the most natural choice, it’s the only choice. But, not so fast. Now the Swiss railway wants to have a chat with Apple about some copyright issues.
(There's some irony in a skeuomorphic design language that borrows so heavily from Swiss modernism and I'm not the only one to spot it.)
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Tom DeForest That site has brought a lot of attention to the term skeuomorphism - a word I didn't know existed until a few days ago. However, the tone of the site just comes off snarky. I had a hard time seeing it as anything more than taking potshots at others' work. I think with a little more thought, careful writing, and detailed critique, the site could better help people understand the issue at hand. Generally, the internet isn't about critical thinking and respectful discussion, but there's always an opportunity to improve. Based on your observations, I now see iOS is an interesting train wreck of aesthetics. They need a Jonny Ive for their UI. Based on their hardware decisions, Helvetica and Swiss style make sense to me - a reduction of the elements to the essential (one button, no hardware keyboard, narrow focus of hardware specs, limited product line). I understand the irony of the borrowed clock, just like the borrowed calculator - http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/07/iphones-design/. In the case of the calculator, it is referred to as a 'tribute'. Is one man's tribute another man's skeuomorph? Thanks for these observations. It really has opened my eyes a little more to design decisions in front of me each day.
21 September, 2012 - 13:10
@Punchcut via Tweet Button
Helveticlock pnch.it/Qq6JiL #iphone5 #ios6
24 September, 2012 - 12:04
@Typophile via TweetDeck
RT @Punchcut: Helveticlock pnch.it/Qq6JiL #iphone5 #ios6
24 September, 2012 - 12:04
@RoobieToosday via web
RT @Punchcut: Helveticlock pnch.it/Qq6JiL #iphone5 #ios6
24 September, 2012 - 12:05
@tatsvc via Twitter for iPhone
RT @Punchcut: Helveticlock pnch.it/Qq6JiL #iphone5 #ios6
24 September, 2012 - 12:05
@ornagle via web
RT Helveticlock pnch.it/Qq6JiL #iphone5 #ios6 via @Punchcut
24 September, 2012 - 12:06
@joepemberton via TweetDeck
Apple’s design language bears Helvetica and the #iOS6 clock doubles down on both Swiss-ism and skeuomorphism. pnch.it/Qq6JiL
24 September, 2012 - 12:06
@garphynk via web
RT @joepemberton: Apple’s design language bears Helvetica and the #iOS6 clock doubles down on both Swiss-ism and skeuomorphism. http://t ...
24 September, 2012 - 12:07
@siperisaika via Zite Personalized Magazine
Helveticlock zite.to/NHdw7I via @Zite
24 September, 2012 - 12:07
@deburca via Zite Personalized Magazine
Helveticlock - skeuomorphic design based on Swiss modernism... zite.to/NHdw7I
24 September, 2012 - 12:08
@janetedavis via web
RT @deburca: Helveticlock - skeuomorphic design based on Swiss modernism... zite.to/NHdw7I
24 September, 2012 - 12:09
@manasvaze via web
RT @joepemberton: Apple’s design language bears Helvetica and the #iOS6 clock doubles down on both Swiss-ism and skeuomorphism. http://t ...
24 September, 2012 - 12:27
@usethetics via Echofon
Swiss Railway wants to have a chat with Apple about some copyright issues concerning its choice for a clock UI — punchcut.com/perspectives/p…
24 September, 2012 - 12:28
@JaccOtten via Flipboard
RT @usethetics: Swiss Railway wants to have a chat with Apple about some copyright issues concerning its choice for a clock UI — http:// ...
24 September, 2012 - 12:30
@jdtvandam via TweetDeck
RT @usethetics: Swiss Railway wants to have a chat with Apple about some copyright issues concerning its choice for a clock UI — http:// ...
24 September, 2012 - 12:30
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