The Design of Time
Every year, when daylight saving time comes to an end, it makes me wonder about the concept of time. In a brief moment, we time travel. Twice a year, we experience this weird glitch, and to me, it acts as a constant reminder of how time, at least our numerical measurement of it, is perhaps one of the best designs humans have ever devised.
But this is not an essay about the history of time and how we came to have it. There are millions of resources out there that do that quite well already, so there's no need for me to drag this out. This is a reflection on how far-reaching design is. You could say that our time measurement system is one of the most "timeless" pieces of work ever created. Our entire civilization and progress depend on this elaborate design.
The UX of Time
The experience of time is unique and quintessential to each of us. My relationship with time is vastly different from yours. For example, I get anxious when I am late, and I become nervous when a specific moment in time approaches, while others may feel more relaxed and dismissive of timely deadlines.
Actually, the length of time is unique to all of us as well. My second may differ from someone else's, especially if they are in the South or North Pole. Gravity affects our perception of time, so we experience a very minuscule difference in time.
Many times, we have to schedule international meetings or book long flights, and you get to experience time zones and differences, which provide yet another unique aspect of time travel. You may depart from New York City and go back in time if you travel west or move forward in time if you travel east.
As you grow older, your relationship with time changes as well. As a child, time seems to drag on. Doing homework, taking naps, going to bed... an hour feels like an eternity because you have so much energy and experiences to look forward to. As you get older, time becomes more scarce and valuable, and it usually tends to fly by quickly.
All these instances create such vast and rich experiences that we get to live through. It is unlike any other product, system, or construct that humans have created. It is a true embodiment of a user experience.
The UI of Time
What can be said about the user interface of time? It is a category of design in itself, a sub-genre within time. From the old sundial clock to the grandfather clock, to the original timepieces you can find at the London Observatory, the design of time faces and watches has become a billion-dollar industry and a standalone design category.
From the luxury of Philippe Patek and Rolex to the convenience of Casio, the visual representation of time is as unique as our own experience with time. In fact, we often make choices about how we want to track time, aligning closely with our values, sense of style, and budget.
Inspiration from Time
Time is one of the most inspirational and dynamic units of measure. To me, it was a huge inspiration when we started delving into the design of mental health products. Just like time, our mental well-being is highly interpretational. When you ask someone how they are, their response will be as close as possible to your interpretation and definition of the response. Just like when you ask someone when they will be there, and you get a response such as "soon," it is a relevant measure.
We are inspired by time in fashion. What has been fashionable once can lose its essence within the next season, while things that were fashionable decades ago often serve as inspiration for new collections.
Many art periods also serve as sources of inspiration. Renaissance painting, cubism, minimalism—all are byproducts of time and space.
It is safe to say that time is the design that helps us make sense of the past, manage our daily tasks, and gives us hope for the future. We count every moment, chasing to immortalize every happy one. It is our way of taking charge of the very construct we have created. It often feels uncontrollable and overwhelming until you realize this is just a design. Time itself is something entirely different, almost an elemental piece of existence, like gravity and space itself.
