Methods of Contextualising: Process

Our group began by conducting initial studies on Crip Time and exploring how people perceive time differently. The following PDF presents some of our research and the ideas we brainstormed:

The system our group chose to focus on is the standardized clock/time and how we experience time in daily life. We began with the question: “Who sets its rhythm and controls it?”

We believe that time, as represented by the clock, is largely dictated by society, institutions, and social structures. Everything from school and work to public transportation operates within this system.

However, some aspects of life challenge this standardized structure—mental illness, neurodivergence, emotions, and health all influence how individuals perceive time. Time does not flow at the same pace for everyone.

During our research, we came across the Clock-Drawing Test, a screening tool used to detect cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The way a person draws a clock reflects the severity of their condition—distorted or incomplete drawings indicate more advanced stages. Since Alzheimer’s patients often struggle with visual, motor, and cognitive functions, they cannot draw a standardized clock. This led us to question:

Are we doing the same when we expect people with disabilities to conform to standardized time?

From there, we explored how clocks could be designed to accommodate their experiences—shaped by their bodies and the progression of their illness.

From this initial idea, we decided to experiment with different forms of clocks that represent the nonlinear experience of time, especially for those with mental disorders. Through this project, we aim to visualize time from different perspectives. Many people with mental disorders experience time blindness—a difficulty in perceiving and managing time. Instead of rigid schedules, they often rely on flexible time that adapts to their needs and mental state.

Some references we found:

We first studied different mental disorders, focusing on their symptoms and how they affect a person’s perception of time and scheduling. Then, we sketched alternative visual representations of clocks based on their perspectives.

• Panic Disorder → The design disrupts the standard perception of time, reflecting how individuals with panic disorder navigate their day differently. It highlights that time is not equally accessible to everyone, especially in high-stress situations, like commuting during peak hours.
• Depression → Depression shifts the circadian rhythm, delaying the normal sleep-wake cycle. In our design, 12 o’clock appears where 9 o’clock should be, visually representing how the body clock is out of sync. This illustrates how depression warps the perception of time and affects daily routines.
• Bipolar Disorder → The clock only displays 2 AM and 4 PM—the times when our brain is at its least and most alert. This challenges the conventional idea of time, mirroring how individuals with bipolar disorder experience drastic shifts in energy and cognition.

More experimentations & iterations:

Last week, we proposed a subversion of standardized time and clocks. Time is often perceived as having a fixed scale, duration, and rhythm—but in reality, these constructs do not objectively exist. Time should be subjective, shaped by individual experience rather than imposed structures. Standardized timetables suppress the physical and mental need for a more flexible pace, so we sought to disrupt conventional rhythms, ways of thinking, and emotional responses to time.

Through our questionnaire, we encouraged participants to reconsider their relationship with time by imagining their own personal ‘clock’, one that aligns with their body and mind rather than rigid societal norms.

Additionally, our research highlighted the fluidity of labels such as congenital vs. acquired, healthy vs. disabled, particularly in the context of chronic illnesses that are not always visible. Rather than focusing solely on individuals with disabilities, we conducted our survey across a diverse group of participants. This approach allowed us to uncover hidden variations in how people physically and psychologically perceive time.

The participants were given the following task:

Please use the opposite side of this paper & draw a clock that is based on your experience of time & how you would want your personal clock to be, while subverting or breaking the ‘standard structure’ of a clock.

Participants visualized their subjective sense of time through non-traditional clock drawings. The responses varied widely, taking different unique forms and showing the diversity of how time is perceived. The following were some of the answers we collected and you can find the whole collection HERE

Some of the unique answers were:

We received over 40 drawings, each capturing a unique perspective on personal emotions. At the same time, we were considering how to present these multiple subversive drawings.

This publication is a tactile exploration of time, shaped by the diverse temporal experiences of individuals. Each page holds a personalized clock drawing, reflecting unique perceptions of time beyond the rigid 24-hour structure. Designed to fold like a conventional book yet expand into a circular form, it disrupts the linear notion of time, embodying flexibility, subjectivity, and personal realities. Inspired by Laura Hilbert’s 24 STUNDEN, this piece serves as both an archive and an intervention, questioning the dominant rhythms that shape our daily lives and inviting readers to imagine alternative temporalities.

Another approach we took was applying these personalized clocks to real-life settings. As an intervention, we cut out and overlaid the participant-created clocks onto actual clocks, challenging how standardized time structures shape our daily lives. This act prompted reflection on the rigid nature of conventional timekeeping and invited a more personal, flexible perception of time.

If Big Ben also applied personalized clocks…???

Final Thoughts & Reflection

The standardized clock does not accurately reflect the experiences of many—especially those who are neurodivergent or face mental health challenges.

Through the questionnaire we created and the responses we gathered from individuals, we observed once again how people’s moods, emotions, and environments constantly shape their sense of time. Yet, society imposes a rigid, capitalist schedule.

By visualizing time differently, we explored possibilities for a more inclusive and humane time structure—one where time adapts to people rather than forcing people to adapt to time.

Final Feedbacks:

• The diverse personal clock drawings collected from participants were visually engaging and thought-provoking.
• Overlaying these clocks onto real clocks was an effective intervention, challenging the conventional time system.
• As a next step, consider materializing some of these clocks to explore how they function as real, working timepieces—particularly in relation to the insights gathered from participants.
• The project’s physical and diagrammatic nature is compelling—perhaps expand it to include digital formats or alternative representations of time.
  • Reference: David Reinfurt (O-R-G) Tetracono—a screen saver that transforms a laptop clock over time, offering a different perception of timekeeping.
• Currently, the project uses absurdity to reveal underlying issues, but it lacks direct engagement—how can people interact with it more meaningfully?
• Consider what each personal clock implies about the world—if time were structured according to these interpretations, how would society function differently?
  • Reference: Dunne & Raby – Archive of Impossible Objects, which explores speculative design to challenge existing realities.