Norman Foster on His First Watch with LEBOND and Why Good Design Transcends Scale

British architect Norman Foster, known for landmark buildings like the Gherkin and Apple Park, has entered the world of horology with LEBOND, marking his first watch design. In a recent conversation with designboom, Foster explains how his architectural principles—material honesty, structural clarity, and user-centric engineering—translate to the scale of a wristwatch. He emphasizes that good design is not about size but about solving problems elegantly, whether for a skyscraper or a timepiece. The watch, which reflects Foster’s minimalist aesthetic, features a clean dial and a case shaped by ergonomic considerations, echoing his belief that everyday use should inform form. Foster notes that the collaboration with LEBOND allowed him to explore precision manufacturing and new materials, similar to his architectural practice. This crossover underscores a broader trend of architects bringing spatial thinking to product design, blurring the lines between disciplines. For design enthusiasts and collectors, the project signals how architectural vision can enhance functional objects, making high design accessible in daily life.