EACH DAY IS A CHANCE TO RE-CALIBRATE

Meet Arc — an alarm clock with analog spirit and present-day practicality. Arc is designed to be timeless and long-lasting while still being as easy to use as your smartphone.

Hi, we’re Nanu 👋. We’re a small team with 22 years of combined experience in physical product design. We design objects focused on the day-to-day, particularly those that reshape your relationship with time. Our last project, Nudge, re-imagined a counter that’s worthy of personal goals.

Now with Arc, we built a reliable foundation for a healthier sleep routine — no more apps, notifications, excessive features, or addictive touchscreens. This highly intuitive device includes a gradual acoustic chime, a discreet display, and heavy-weight materials. It’s a thoughtful balance of technology and timelessness.

AN ALARM CAN SET THE TONE OF YOUR DAY

Nowadays, smartphones are the default morning alarm. After diving into the research, we realized that bringing phones into the bedroom is a bad idea. High-frequency use of mobile phones increases the chances of anxiety and depression. Checking email within an hour of waking up primes the brain for distraction while giving a false sense of productivity. These are vicious cycles that reward the brain…for hurting itself.

The problem worsens at night when trying to wind down for bed. Blue light from screens messes with circadian rhythms, delays melatonin production, and tricks the brain into thinking it’s time to be awake.

We also found that many alarm clocks on the market have similar issues as smartphones – bogged down with too much tech or reliant on apps. So we’re right back where we started. Modern alarm clocks are broken.

BACK TO THE BASICS

When we decided to tackle an alarm clock, we started refurbishing vintage clocks to see what literally made them tick. We found so many elegant designs that were simple and effective. The durability and repairability of these timepieces were particularly inspiring.

In addition, we took every opportunity to ask people about their sleep. We conducted dozens of interviews and sent hundreds of questionnaires. (Side note: strangers on planes have tons of opinions about alarm clocks!) It was surprising how many people disliked waking up to their cell phone but couldn’t find a better alternative.

ENTER ARC ALARM CLOCK

For Arc to be a meaningful improvement, we learned that it needed to deliver on three things.

Notice we didn’t include news or calendar updates, required apps, or white noise – we’re not against some of those things. We just don’t think your alarm clock needs to be a Swiss army knife for all of the latest tech.

ANALOG MADE MODERN

Arc pairs the simplicity of analog with modern convenience. Trendy technology requires updates driven by the latest in pseudo-fad science. At the same time, traditional analog clocks are limited in what they can do. Arc strikes the right balance between the two.

ANALOG CLOCK FACE + DISCREET DIGITAL DISPLAY

Arc was designed to show critical information immediately and beautifully. The analog clock face is clean and minimal. Its layout and high contrast make it highly legible at a glance from across the bedroom. Plus, the hands are metal 🤘🏼.

The digital display shows the alarm time. Unlike regular analog clocks, the alarm is easy to set to the minute. With a glance, you can see everything you need to know. No more triple checking if that alarm is set.

GRADUAL WAKE WITH ACOUSTIC CHIME

Instead of harsh, digital beeps, Arc includes an acoustic chime that gradually builds in intensity. We engineered a chime bar and strike mechanism that will wake you at an optimal tempo and frequency of 494 Hertz. Science has shown this is best for alerting you without inducing anxiety before the day has begun.

The chime composition was developed with Ryan Bahm, a local San Francisco musician. We are user-testing for final tweaks to ensure compatibility with the widest possible range of sleepers. We look forward to getting our backers’ opinions during this process.

PREMIUM BUILD QUALITY

A product meant to be used every day should be a pleasing experience. There’s a certain comfort in a heavy-weight tool or the cooling feel of a cast metal dial. We made every touch point on Arc substantial and satisfying.

Arc is engineered with premium materials, including cast zinc, aluminum alloy, and mineral glass. We chose these because they are not only satisfying to use but also proven to stand the test of time.

CONTROLS THAT SERVE YOU

We know sleep routines are personal. Arc lets you dial in your preferences as easily as a smartphone. It’s the right amount of control without being overwhelming.

BRIGHTNESS & VOLUME CONTROL

Quickly change brightness with the press of a finger. For anyone bothered by ambient light, you can turn the backlight and display completely off. If you need to check the time, simply interact with any button on Arc to momentarily brighten the device. Keep it as bright or as dim as needed for your sleep routine.

A cast metal dial on the back allows you to adjust the chime volume. Arc has the controls needed for a wide range of sleepers.

EASY TO SET ALARM

Setting your alarm shouldn’t require an instruction manual. No matter how frequently you need to change it, Arc makes it easy with a dedicated dial right on the front.

Regularly hitting snooze negatively impacts a healthy sleep cycle. While on paper we have to encourage you not to press snooze, it’s understandable if you need a few extra minutes. Building a healthy sleep routine takes time.

WON’T LET YOU DOWN

We want Arc to be a reliable part of your life and home for at least the next decade. Consumer electronics is one of the fastest-growing waste categories, with an average product lifespan of only four years. Rest easy knowing Arc was designed with longevity as a top priority.

TIMELESS AESTHETICS

We’ve talked a lot about the functionality of Arc — but good design is both functional and beautiful. We used mid-century elements and design principles that have stood the test of time.

FUTURE FIRMWARE UPDATES

Arc runs on wall power via a USB-C cord which also supports data. This means you can use this cord for firmware updates, further extending the life of Arc. Arc also has a backup battery. So we’re sorry, you won’t be able to use “my alarm clock died” as an excuse for playing hooky.

REPAIR AND WARRANTY

Arc is designed with repairability in mind to maximize product lifespan and reduce e-waste. This is in contrast to most consumer electronics, which tend to be more economical to throw away than to repair. That means a single dead resistor can doom an otherwise completely functional appliance to a landfill. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With Arc, we’ve taken clear steps to make repair a realistic first option:

• Disassembly with common household tools
• Standard fasteners instead of permanent adhesives
• Wires with connectors instead of solder joints
• Replaceable battery

If your Arc ever has issues, the first step will be to repair. In cases where a part needs to be replaced, we will provide access to those parts and instructions. For those not able to make the repair themselves, you can send Arc to us to fix. Finally, to round off our commitment to longevity, Arc will come with a ten-year warranty.