Seiko Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition – Patternmaker’s Watch

This article is part of a series on the 2024 Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition;

• Sukiyaki Watch – Designed by Akira Yoshida
• Hide-and-Seek Watch – Designed by Masanori Kawamura
• Patternmaker’s Watch – Designed by Kotaro Usugami
• Panda Lovers Watch – Designed by Kiyotaka Sakai
• Masking Tape Enthusiasts Watch – Designed by Yugo Hibayashi
• Sunny Men Watch – Designed by Yu Ishihara
• Ambidextrous Watch – Designed by Kento Ito

The “Power Design Project 2024” will showcase the Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition at Seiko Seed in Harajuku, Tokyo, starting January 19, 2024. Organized by Seiko Watch Corporation, this initiative is part of an annual event that challenges in-house designers to delve deeply into the core of watchmaking, pushing the boundaries of their usual design styles and fostering innovative outcomes.

Centered around the theme of “incredibly specialized watches,” this year’s exhibition features seven designers who have approached the challenge from seven unique perspectives. The objective is to craft watches that are exceptionally exclusive, each creation highlighting fresh appeal through designs tailored to specific roles.

Patternmaker’s Watch – Designed by Kotaro Usugami

Usugami became a part of Seiko in 2016 and has been actively involved in the creation of watches for licensed brands. In addition to his role in developing watches for licensed brands, he also plays a crucial role in contributing to advanced design projects, including the Forest of Mechanisms initiative. In this context, advanced design pertains to the pre-production phase, involving the development of a design before its finalization for production.

The Genesis of the Concept

Elevating Excitement in the Creative Journey

An essential aspect of the creative process involves heightening emotions. Creative individuals often adorn themselves in favorite attire, acquire tools reminiscent of those used by admired professionals, embellish their instruments, and invest extra effort in seemingly inconspicuous details that may not directly impact the creative process.

Tools, beyond their functional role, possess a unique ability to inspire the desire to create. Similarly, a watch, primarily designed for timekeeping, serves as a familiar accessory that significantly influences emotions when worn. The question arose: Could we create new value by connecting this characteristic of the watch to the act of creation? Our exploration led us into the realm of clothing production. The plump appearance of the wrist pincushion and the act of inserting and removing pins became cues, igniting enthusiasm and deepening engagement in the creative process.

Expert Commentary

Professors Sanae Shibata and Junnosuke Kato from the Department of International Fashion and Culture Studies at Bunka Gakuen University expressed their admiration for the design. They found it adorable, appreciated the color variation, and noted its surprisingly compact size. The petal-like segments were deemed a unique touch, reflecting the user’s personality while serving as a practical tool for organizing and inserting needles—ideal for everyday use.

Student Perspective

A student found the watch cute and expressed a desire to wear it, noting its feel-good vibe. Despite not being a regular watch wearer, they envisioned using it as an accessory that would pique others’ curiosity. The design’s uniqueness made them feel special, and the idea of creating patterns with various types of marking pins sparked excitement. They expressed a keen interest in purchasing it.

The Realization of the Concept

A Presence that Supports and Inspires “Creation”

In combining a pincushion with a watch, a seamless integration of subtle functionality has been achieved, serving to enhance the creative process.

In this design, the crown takes the form of a flower-head pin, complemented by the textured woven name tag, showcasing a delightful blend of playfulness and meticulous attention to detail.

The marking of time is ingeniously achieved by the simple action of pushing in the pin, seamlessly merging the functionalities of a watch and a pincushion.

The design offers various iterations featuring distinct shapes and colors for the pincushion component, catering to the diverse fashion preferences of patternmakers.

The watch boasts a cushion fabric, a softly textured strap, nuanced color variations in the watch section, and an amalgamation of different materials, creating a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing ensemble.