Cambium: Transdisciplinary Design in Physical Products
As a digital product designer venturing into physical craftsmanship, this project co-founded Cambium to create premium automatic timepieces from sustainable wood materials—applying interface design principles to horological craftsmanship while respecting traditional watchmaking constraints.
The Design Challenge
Modern timekeeping had become increasingly digital and disconnected from natural rhythms. The project explored whether we could create timepieces that embodied nature's essence through sustainable material selection and thoughtful craftsmanship.
My Role
Co-founder and Product Designer leading material innovation, user experience design, sustainable production systems, and the application of digital design thinking to physical product creation.
Transdisciplinary Design Approach
Digital-to-Physical Design Methodology
Embracing the philosophy that design thinking transcends mediums, the project applied a transdisciplinary approach to watchmaking that bridged digital product design expertise with traditional craftsmanship. This required developing new methodologies that respected both digital innovation principles and horological traditions.
The design process involved extensive material exploration, moving beyond conventional watchmaking materials to develop selection criteria for local woods that balanced aesthetic evolution with structural integrity. The project created rapid prototyping methodologies adapted from digital product development, while establishing material testing protocols to validate durability assumptions.
Material Science & Innovation Process
Moving beyond conventional watchmaking materials, the project developed comprehensive selection criteria for local woods that balanced aesthetic qualities with structural integrity requirements. This involved extensive research into species selection for durability and grain patterns, local sourcing for sustainability, and natural expansion/contraction management systems.
The technical innovation extended to developing proprietary wood treatment processes, strategic metal integration for durability, water resistance engineering, and precision mechanism housing. Each solution required balancing the organic properties of wood with the mechanical requirements of precision timekeeping—applying iterative design methodologies from digital product development to physical materials research.
Physical User Experience Architecture
Applying digital UX principles to physical product design, the focus was on creating wearable experiences that were comfortable, functional, and emotionally engaging. This required translating user journey mapping methodologies from digital interfaces to physical interaction patterns, considering every touchpoint from initial discovery through long-term ownership.
The ergonomic design process included comprehensive wearability studies, crown and clasp interaction optimization, and weight distribution analysis for daily wear comfort. The project also mapped the complete user journey from unboxing experience through first-wear impressions, daily interaction patterns, and long-term relationship building—ensuring that each timepiece created meaningful connections between user and object over time.
The Complete Timepiece
Final product showcasing the intersection of digital design thinking and traditional craftsmanship.
Sustainable Manufacturing & Service Design
Creating a sustainable manufacturing process required applying systems thinking to minimize environmental impact while maintaining premium quality standards. The project developed comprehensive partnerships with local wood suppliers, implemented zero-waste production processes, and designed biodegradable packaging systems that aligned with our environmental values.
The service design extended beyond production to include repair and maintenance programs, product lifespan extension strategies, and customer education systems. This holistic approach ensured that sustainability wasn't just a production consideration but a complete product lifecycle philosophy that reinforced the brand's commitment to environmental responsibility.
Project Outcomes & Design Learning
Product Achievements
We successfully developed multiple working prototypes that demonstrated the viability of wood-steel hybrid construction, created a distinctive aesthetic language that differentiated Cambium from conventional timepieces, and produced comprehensive video documentation capturing our design philosophy and craftsmanship approach.
Design Methodology Impact
This exploration exemplified how design curiosity can transcend medium boundaries, successfully applying consistent problem-solving methodologies across digital and physical realms. The project reinforced the value of cross-disciplinary exploration and continues to inform my approach to all creative challenges, demonstrating the universal applicability of systematic design thinking.