Design Type:  Fashion Accessory

Designer:  Cheuk Kee Lai & SDWorks team

Mirror Watch The mirrored surface reveals a LED digital watch only when needed, for the rest of the time, the watch becomes an elegant reflective fashion accessory. Available in Stainless Steel Brushed finishing, Black color and Gold plating. Design: Cheuk Kee Lai & SDWorks team With the proliferation of mobile phones and the ubiquity of computer screens, there’s no functional need to wear a watch because time is constantly at sight. Facing this challenge, Mirror Watch’s strategy was to generate customer’s interest for product that is falling out of usage. Mirror Watch’s design focused on dual functionality, transforming the watch into a stylish useful mirror when not in use. Based on modularity, the Mirror Watch is the first series of a collection of watches that will share the same LED digital module. The Mirror Watch design was the result of a 14 weeks student project brief for the first year product design class, Fashion Accessories. Following a focus on flexibility of production and experimentation without increasing the cost, the first units were produced using CNC prototyping techniques. The design process followed multiple sketches, modelmaking, CAD development and prototyping all done within the university’s workshops. Design by Cheuk Kee Lai, a 3rd year BA(Hons) in Design (Industrial & Product) 2008/09 Student from the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The Design Team was a fruitful combination of the experience of design professors Dr Ernesto Spicciolato and Roger Ball , the freshness of a young design student and the resources and expertise of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The Mirror Watch was developed and is currently commercialized by SDWorks, School of Design – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. SDWorks SDWorks brand is a unique platform commercializing items designed by promising talents from the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. SDWorks uniqueness is that the design and development is done within the university facilities enriched by its staff’s expertise, while the production and sales is powered by the University’s network of quality suppliers and professionals. SDWorks products are promoted and marketed in innovative ways like gift giving to VIP’s and participation in design exhibition. SDWorks was founded in early 2007 by the School of Design’s professors Dr Ernesto Spicciolato and Roger Ball. http://sdworks.sd.polyu.edu.hk/mirror-watch/ http://bit.ly/s7JbN Influence in Asia: The mirror watch was entirely designed in Hong Kong by local student within the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The resulting product is a quality designed fashion accessory with an embedded unique story: “A student’s idea turned into a commercial product in an astonishing short time.” The Mirror Watch exemplifies the power of getting things done in Asia, specifically in Hong Kong. The quality of professional expertise that can be found in the area coupled with the closeness to the production centers; enable a young design student to have his design made into a real product. Commercial success: The Mirror Watch exceeds customer’s expectations due to its dual functionality combined with the surprise factor of its display magically appearing. The watch function is powered by a simple interface highly appreciated by customers, and the mirror feature is seen as a very useful add-on to a wearable accessory like a watch. Mirror Watch’s unique look constantly awakes comments and curiosity. Tested with over 2000 people, the Mirror Watch impress, amaze and is loved at as soon as the display is lighted up. The customers perceive the Mirror Watch as a clever and innovative solution to an everyday product. The Mirror Watch draws a smile to the user and to anyone who sees it working. The Mirror Watch surprises and inspires.