Become an apprentice clockmaker

illustration – artistic direction – mediation – information design – ludeo-participative conception consultancy

Become an apprentice clockmaker
Learning by doing: a playful museum
experience for children

Date
– 2021

Client
– Musée de l’horlogerie
et du décolletage de Cluses

Role
– artistic direction
– illustration
– mediation
– information design
– Playful & Participatory
Design Consultancy

Implementation of an interactive module explaining how a sundial works, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

The Cluses Watchmaking Museum asked us to design an educational exhibit tailored to children, integrated within its permanent collections. The goal: to create seven interactive and playful modules to explain the fundamentals of watchmaking in an accessible and engaging way.

The objective is simple: learn by doing, become an apprentice clockmaker, and most importantly, have fun!

Implementation of an interactive module explaining how a sundial works, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Implementation of an interactive module explaining how a sundial works, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses. Shadow projection visualization

Implementation of an interactive module explaining how a sundial works, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses. Focus on the user manual

A hands-on museum trail for all ages

How does a clock work? What’s the function of a pendulum? How is electromagnetism used in watchmaking? What is a driving weight? What does the escapement do? How do gears transmit motion? And how can the sun tell time?

These questions shape a museum experience for kids and adults alike, including visitors with disabilities. Designed as an educational trail, the modules encourage hands-on learning and direct manipulation to build understanding through action.

Interactive exhibits to discover watchmaking

Each module explores a concept through play: turning gears, winding a clock, striking a bell, or tinting a metal piece. These interactive museum modules use physical gestures to create a direct connection with the underlying principles of mechanical timekeeping.

Highlight on the interactive module illustrating the mechanism of a clock pendulum, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Highlight on the interactive module illustrating the mechanism of a clock pendulum, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses. A closer look at the interactive element

Highlight on the interactive module illustrating the mechanism of a clock pendulum, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses. Zoom in on the instructions

Highlight on the interactive module illustrating the mechanism of a clock pendulum, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses. Instruction reading and functional explanation

Focus on the interactive module explaining how the pendulum works in a clock, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses. Understanding the instructions and how it works

Use of the interactive module explaining how the pendulum works in a clock, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

From concept to production

The seven modules, made mainly of oak, were handcrafted in the Montreuil workshops of Okoni. From CNC machining of wood, aluminum, and brass, to laser cutting, 3D printing, and UV printing on wood and plexiglass, every element was produced and assembled in-house.

Focus on the gears module and its operating method at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Use of the gears module and its operating method at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Zoom on the gears module and its operating method at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Use of an interactive module explaining how electromagnetism works, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Zoom on the interactive module explaining how electromagnetism works, at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

My role: artistic direction and playful design consultancy

Believing strongly in the democratization of knowledge through hands-on learning, I contributed to this project as artistic director, illustrator, graphic designer, and consultant in participatory exhibit design.

To guide visitors, I created a playful narrative: follow Charles Poncet, a renowned local clockmaker turned illustrated character. He leads young visitors from one concept to another in a journey of discovery.

The visual identity is both clear and engaging: five alternating colors distinguish the modules while maintaining a cohesive design. Text instructions are intentionally minimal, appearing on interactive panels designed as a question-and-answer game. Each module is accompanied by an illustrated manual, making each educational experience intuitive and fun.

Zoom on the module showcasing the various chime types at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Explanatory module on the driving weight at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Use of the explanatory module on the driving weight at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

A playful museum design to inspire curiosity

This project combines museum mediation, educational exhibit design, and watchmaking for children. It transforms complex scientific principles into tangible, playful moments. By combining storytelling, craftsmanship, and interactivity, it makes technical heritage accessible to younger generations, through joy, discovery, and gesture.

Instruction of the explanatory module on the driving weight at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

Reading instruction of the explanatory module on the driving weight at the Museum of Horology and Screw-Cutting in Cluses.

solène v.

Become an apprentice clockmaker