A simple break away from distractions

Beacon was first envisaged as a simple connected timer. The idea was that the timer would have a basic display and when pressed would start a stopwatch in order to track time in relation to a specified client project.

Over the course of a year’s worth of development, Beacon flourished

The project changed beyond its original form and function to a connected smart clock capable of doing this and much more.

I decided to name the project Beacon as it was designed not only with our connected lifestyles in mind but also in the knowledge that sometimes we just want to take a break and not be as distracted. Sure we can use the “Do Not Disturb” function on our phones, but what if a vital email or call comes through, how is that meant to push through and still get the attention it deserves.

“American adult smartphone users spend an average of 73.8 hours a month on apps”

To get the most out of Beacon I needed to design a companion app

Therefore Beacon was designed with a smartphone connected application that would be able to funnel your notifications through to Beacon. In the app you can set up who you would like to receive those notifications from and they will pop-up on your Beacon when they come in; no need to look to your phone, Beacon will pop-up your important notifications right to your desktop.

The Beacon app was designed with simplicity in mind meaning all icons are large enough to tap (and to see), and you can control all of your smart app integrations too right from the app; no need to go anywhere else. The companion app to Beacon also featured a sleep tracking function (if you were to use Beacon as your bedside alarm clock), to wake you up just as you were coming out of a light sleep, meaning you can wake up more refreshed than ever. A bonus to this is all your notifications (expect your important phone calls) would be filtered to ensure you’re not woken from your slumber.