The Inspiration: Complexity vs. Clarity
Sometimes, the best designs come from knowing when to simplify.
I originally went into the studio with a plan to design an American Flag clock. But as I started sketching the 50 stars and the 13 stripes, I realized that translating that density onto a small cuckoo clock face felt cluttered. It was losing the elegance I wanted for Coastal Cuckoo.
I needed to step back. I started looking for flags that weren’t just symbols, but icons—flags that relied on bold geometry rather than intricate detail.
That search led me north. The Canadian flag is arguably one of the most beautiful pieces of graphic design in the world. It doesn’t need 50 points of data to tell you what it is. It needs two bold red bars and a single, perfect Maple Leaf.
The Design: Bold Red & White
- The Face: I stripped away the decorative “gingerbread” trim found on traditional clocks to let the flag speak for itself. The deep red vertical panels frame the white center, drawing the eye directly to the Maple Leaf.
- The Pendulum: While the face is pure geometry, I wanted the pendulum to tell a story of the landscape. It features a custom laser-cut design of the Canadian Rockies and the sun—a nod to the vast, wild beauty of the country.
- The Character: To contrast the red and white, the bird adds a small pop of yellow and green, bringing a bit of life to the mechanical precision.
It started as a search for something simpler than the Stars and Stripes, but it ended up becoming one of the most striking, modern pieces in the collection.