CITIZEN's "INDEPENDENT," which has always produced innovative models without being influenced by the times, has taken a new step forward in celebrating 20 years since the brand's birth. The commemorative 20th anniversary model adds a "square" to the icon and reissues the first model in a modern style. The "GRIDSCAPE" series, which captures the beautiful shapes of meticulously designed cities, is a photo story by photographer Takagi Yasuyuki, who has been involved in the design of the series.
The rhythm of time, where exposed gears overlap and tick. The shimmering tones of a shining city. Vivid light shining into a world enveloped in silence. A photo story that cuts out and intertwines the various patterns and smells that make up the city.
Text_Yasuyuki Takaki
Hideki Inoue, Chief Manager of Citizen Design Department, "Question and Answer".
About the "INDEPENDENT" 2016 AW models
I joined Citizen in 1994. I joined CITIZEN in 1994, and INDEPENDENT was born in 1996, so we were almost the same age, but I had never been in charge of a watch before. This time, when I took charge of the design for the first time, I wanted to go back to my roots, so I reissued the first model, which debuted with an appealing mod taste, in a modern style.
How did you feel when you were put in charge of a historic brand for the first time?
We do not want to tarnish our long history. Nevertheless, it is also a brand that allows me to think freely because there is no formula as Citizen. It was a fun watch to design.
In the 20th anniversary year, we are rebuilding the brand.
The brand name "INDEPENDENT" means "independent" or "not being influenced," so what kind of brand would it be and what kind of characteristics would it have? We wanted to do something different from the others to reaffirm this point. One of the key points is the use of a "square" on a "rounded-off" face. While the fixed concept of a clock is that it is round with a circular motion, we dared to express the feeling of "having our own identity" by adding something different.
About the "square" motif that embodies INDEPENDENT
The dial, glass surface, and crown are all used as design motifs. In the future, we would like to make it possible to incorporate "squares" somewhere in the design, which is characteristic of "INDEPENDENT".
Technical difficulties
It's a disc needle for a mechanical model. When plastic is used, static electricity inevitably causes the needle to stop. We also had a lot of difficulty in making sure that the plastic and metal would not crack when they were fixed together. However, the model itself would not have been possible without it, so we went back and forth with the factory to make sure it was done right.
What has been the reaction within the company?
The first radio-controlled watch we commercialized received a great response. We adopted a skeletonized dial to boldly show the mechanism of the movement, and the novelty of daring to show something that would normally be hidden led some to say, "What an amazing thing to do," or "Is such a thing allowed? This was a result of the brand's strength that only "INDEPENDENT" could achieve.
About designing watches
As is the case with cars and home appliances, a watch is the result of the coming together of various parts, such as a dial manufacturer for a dial. However, it is said that it is difficult for the person in charge of each component manufacturer to imagine the finished product. In such a situation, how can they bring the finished product closer to what they have envisioned? That is the interesting part of designing watches.
What is the role of watches and clocks today?
I believe it is one of the elements that expresses individuality. With the proliferation of cell phones, more and more young users are saying they don't need watches, but I would be happy if wearing a strong design on one's wrist can serve as a hook to move one's feelings toward positivity, like a winning watch instead of a winning outfit.
What kind of person is an "independent"?
He is a "person who does not get carried away. Even when choosing things, they have a clear line of sight, and they are not wrapped up in something long, but are moving forward with it. For example, musicians and actors are "independent. But it is not because of how they look, but because they are working hard to find a way to express their own personality as a mindset. Conversely, I would like people who are not aware that they themselves are "independent" to discover a new aspect of themselves by wearing this watch.
What will happen to the brand in the future after the 20th anniversary?
We want to make watches that are tasteful but good, watches that are immediately recognizable as "INDEPENDENT. That said, I don't want to do anything out of the ordinary. Something completely different may come out of it, or it may be a form of development. I hope to continue to evolve in the future.
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