Seiko has announced that its weird and wonderful ‘Power Design Project’ is coming to London this week, giving visitors a chance to look into the mind of some of the world’s most avant-garde designers.
Seiko has a long history of allowing its designers free rein to think creatively. But this, project, which began back in 2001, really takes it to the next level.
The theme this year is ‘incredibly specialised watches’ and the display features seven conceptual timepieces, each focusing on a specific, unusual purpose, with many involving aspects of Japanese culture.
The Panda Lovers watch, for example, was designed by Kiyotaka Sakai, who designs for Seiko lines including Prospex. “I found myself captivated by the curious charm of the black-and-white animal,” Sakai said. “And I was driven by the desire to create a true panda watch that could capture the lovable, teddy-bear-like appearance of an actual panda.”
Japanese cuisine in represented in the Sukiyaki watch, the creation of Grand Seiko designer Akira Yoshida. Sukiyaki is a speciality of thinly sliced beef with vegetables, which inspired Yoshida. “It’s the dish I adore most in this world,” he said. “I decided to embark on the journey of developing a dedicated item created solely for the purpose of making the most delectable sukiyaki imaginable,” he added.
Other highlights include the Ambidextrous watch by Kento Ito, who designs for the Astron line. This watch was inspired by a visit to a bowling alley, when he saw a left-handed friend move his watch to his right hand to bowl, leading him to ask whether the hand that wears the watch influences our thoughts and capabilities.
The Power Design Project was on display in Tokyo earlier in the year, and will be at Japan House, on London’s Kensington High Street, from May 17 until June 20.