KIKKERLAND BLOG

Grandfather Clock by Rob Price

Kikkerland is now producing the clock and selling it globally. We’re thrilled about our first collaboration with the designer, so we sat down to chat with Rob about the clock and what inspired him. Here’s part of our conversation:

Kikkerland: People seem charmed by the Grandfather Clock. What do you think about it resonates with people?

Rob Price: I think the biggest thing is that it’s a new version of a classic clock. Perhaps people are surprised to see something that immediately feels familiar yet different.

K: How did you come up with the Grandfather Clock?

RP: The idea came to me one day several years ago when I was thinking about the idea of slicing away excess in design. Soon after, I made one Grandfather Clock for a New York design exhibit and at that show, people started asking me if they could buy the clock. The positive feedback encouraged me to make more clocks.

K: Why did you choose to work with Kikkerland to start producing your clock?

RP: They have a very strong clock category and I appreciate Kikkerland’s approach to design overall. The company keeps the fun, wit and humor in all the products they sell and I think we’re on the same page there. I’m very happy about this partnership.

K: What kind of spaces does the Grandfather Clock work best in?

RP: The clock is quite versatile because it’s classic and modern at the same time. I’ve seen it enhance home and office spaces that vary from small to big and classic to modern.

K: What was the inspiration behind your 20-second video about the clock?

RP: It’s a visual fantasy that brings the slicing away idea to life.

K: What do you like most about the Grandfather Clock?

RP: The hands break free of the constraints of the clock, which is fun. Also, some of the numbers on the clock are “missing,” but the person looking at the clock can still easily read the time. It’s abstract yet accessible.

Rob Price, 31, is creative director of Thwart Design and an industrial designer. He founded Thwart Design in 2004 to harness the creative strength of New York-based designers whose work he respects. Thwart Design’s objective is to create design for art’s sake. Rob graduated from Pratt Institute’s industrial design program in 2002 and has since designed a wide range of products, including the Grandfather Clock and Pork Chop Piggy Bank.