It is becoming more and more difficult to keep our focus these days, with so many stimuli and distractions flooding our way. There is no shortage of advice on how to improve our ability to focus, and most of them involve putting away most if not all of our gadgets. Some tips also include keeping track of our time and how long we keep that undisturbed focus, but we ironically try to reach for our phones first to download some focus timer app to do just that.
We could always use an old-school kitchen timer, probably even one shaped like a tomato, but where’s the fun in that? Knowing that we will need every motivational boost we can get, this homemade “productivity assistant” helps you keep tabs on your focus streaks with a simple and tactile interface, while also offering a fun way to personalize the experience without the dangers of using a mobile app.
Designer: Peter (Urban Circles)
An analog timer can only count down the time, but it can’t really help you keep track of how much of those pockets of productive time you already had unless you note them down by hand. Conversely, a phone app will offer a wide number of features, capabilities, and themes, but at the expense of potentially getting you distracted from the task at hand. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be an either-or situation where you can pick only one or the other, as this DIY timer proves.
Made using off-the-shelf electronics and a few 3D printed parts, IGOR is billed as a “loyal, cheerful assistant” that helps you keep track of your focus time. It’s intentionally made to be rather dumb, only counting up or down, depending on your need, and displaying a short animation when you’ve achieved an unbroken period of focus. It can count the number of your uninterrupted “flows” but it doesn’t remember them. A simple reset or power outage starts you back at zero, which is also by design.
What makes IGOR unique is how it mixes simple elements to create an experience that is more than the sum of its parts. It has a very minimalist design, inspired by the Braun DN 40 clock designed by Dieter Rams, and its small LCD screen displays just enough to give you only the information you need. The centerpiece, however, is actually the knob on top that lets you navigate a simple menu by turning it, or confirm selections by pressing it down.
Despite its simplicity, IGOR also offers almost unlimited customization if you’re willing to do the work. The rotary dials can be replaced by any 3D-printed shape you desire, allowing you to give the timer a bit of personality. If you also have some programming chops, you can even modify the software to add more flair, but hopefully without ruining its simplicity. All of these, from the design to the program, are thankfully available to the public free of charge, allowing anyone with the tools and skills to create their own distraction-free and cheerful focus assistant.
