Printing the OH no Wall Clock



By now, you have probably seen our much-loved watch dial collaboration with OH no Type Company, released in May 2024. We wanted to collaborate with a local artist to mark our visit to San Francisco for the Windup watch fair, and James Edmondson of OH no was an obvious choice. James created a truly unique design, filling the whole dial with free-form bespoke numerals in a cleverly interlocking layout. You can read more about the design process here

 

 


During the development process for the watch, James presented us with a second version of this idea, with bolder numbers, torn edges and overlapping sections. The collaged feel paid homage to the analogue techniques of mid-century Californian designers like Saul Bass and Sister Corita Kent. 

We thought the two designs would make a perfect series, and so, the OH no Wall Clock was created. Now, there was just a question of how to make it. After some testing, we quickly realised that the digital printing method we use for our classic wall clock wouldn’t do this design justice, so we teamed up with Glasgow-based screen-printer, Matthew Rich. Screen printing allowed us to achieve richer colours and finely tailor the opacity of each layer, as each would be printed separately. 




First, the design is split into four layers, one for each colour. A stencil is created for each layer by stretching a fine mesh over a frame, then applying a light-sensitive emulsion. The areas for the design are left open, while the rest of the screen blocks the ink.





The first screen is placed over the dial, and ink is pushed through the mesh using a squeegee. Once each layer dries, the process is repeated, with each new screen adding another part of the design.


 






The final step is the critical quality control process, carefully monitored by the resident studio dog Archie.

 


Shop The OH no Wall Clock

M.A.R.S Studio

OH no Type