Hip Hong Kong | VOID- STYLISH WATCHES BY A SWEDISH DESIGNER

VOID- STYLISH WATCHES BY A SWEDISH DESIGNER

by Gloria Yu

Time is a funny thing, isn’t it? When you want it to go fast, it creeps as slowly as a 56K modem, and when you want it to last, it’s as speedy as a broadband connection. And just when you think it goes in a circle, it surprises you and goes in a rectangle. The rectangle we’re referring to is the distinctive design of VOID watches, a sleek new watch brand designed by stylish Swedish transplant David Ericsson. We asked David about the inspiration for his new line of timepieces.

HHK: First off, an obvious one… why ‘VOID’?

David: It's a nice word. It's a rather abstract concept but for me the connection with time feels natural. A 'void' in space is the areas where nothing exist, they are immensely large and there is no way we could ever grasp how big they really are, the only thing we can do is put a number on it and say 'it's 50 million light years across'. Time is a similar thing, we can't really imagine it, we can only put a number on it and measure the small amount of it we've been given.

HHK: The design of the watch is very recognizable… how did you come up with it?

David: The simpler you make a design, the harder it is to be unique or recognizable. I played around with different concepts for quite a long time until I came up with this idea. When I finally had the idea the design process was only a few hours but it took quite a long time to get to that point.

HHK: Hmm… I’m guessing by the look of the watches, you’re targeting a younger audience. What do you think makes a young, affluent person choose a VOID watch over say, one from a more established luxury brand?

David: Our target group is actually not the typical male 18-24, we aim for a slightly older audience. When I designed the watch I thought it was very difficult to find any stylish digital watches in high quality stainless steel with a leather strap so that was the gap in the market I was aiming for.

HHK: Just curious... why is the time telling part always at the bottom of the plate, not on the side, at the top, at the corner…? Any particular meaning to it?

David: No reason more than I like the aesthetics of the half glass half steel front. It's a nice and honest way to display the material. I also think the simple geometry works well this way.

HHK: If you have to think of a muse for VOID – the person that carries the watch best, who will it be?

David: I'd love to see my grandmother wear a VOID Watch. Until that happens I'm quite happy to see young creatives in many of the world’s main cities wearing my watches.

HHK: ‘VOID’… ‘time’… I’m bad at guessing but linking the two words together, I’m thinking they either suggest that the watch is going to stick around, remain as a kind of lasting accessory, or do you think will it be more of a faddish sensation?

David: VOID Watches is not really a brand that is built on any trends, even though I'm personally very happy that we've been featured in a few trend reports. It would be amazing if this concept would live on for a long time. I think it's all designers dream to create something iconic and everlasting.

HHK: What’s next for VOID?

David: I'm designing the next watch right now, it's in prototype stage and I've only seen it on my computer screen so far. If everything goes according to plan it will be on the market just in time before Christmas.

HHK: Finally, use 3 words to sum up a VOID watch?

David: Simple, stylish and, even though it's a watch, timeless.