About

Transform Your Perception of Time

The Present is a functional work of art created to give life more time.

It's a practical tool that helps you see time differently, and in doing so,  transforms your experience of it.

  

Conventional time is a marvel of human ingenuity and its usefulness cannot be overstated.  The Present  is not about getting rid of conventional time , it’s about giving your perception of time a sense of balance.

 

 

Time as we know it now,  portrays the present as a fleeting, hairline fracture between the past and the future. Perceiving the present as a meaningless fraction of time limits our ability to appreciate  the full spectrum of time itself.

 

 

 

 

 

Enriching your experience of time with The Present is  the fastest way to slow down , inspire a renewed awareness of time’s grace, and give time a welcome sense of  balance .

 

 

 

By living with this long-lasting, philosophical instrument, you'll find yourself more grounded in the natural world, more capable of weathering change and better able to cultivate a more   meaningful relationship with time .  

 

 

 

 

Understand the Cyclical Nature of Time

The Present allows you to appreciate time as it plays out in the cycles of the natural world, providing you with a more realistic, less industrialized vision of change.

 

 

 

Escape the Limits of Conventional Time

Conventional time measures the moment second by second.

 

The Present allows you to see time in a more holistic way, giving you a longer, more natural, and fulfilling vision of the present moment.

 

Experience World Time at Scale

The Present Year's single hand reveals  Earth's location in relation to the Sun, and everyone is on Earth, so no matter where the hand is on the clock face, there we are!

T
his means that it provides a shared present that includes every person and every living thing on Earth all in the same vision of time.

Connect with Others Across the Globe

There is a similar sense of a shared moment with The Present Moon, when it's a full moon for one of us, it's a full moon for everyone on Earth. Didn't know that? Most people don't which is why it's so helpful to have a visible example of something which connects everyone on the planet.

 

Crafted with Care

The Present is precision engineered and thoughtfully crafted ensuring it will keep time accurately and reliably for years to come.

Transform Your Approach to Life

With The Present, you'll gain a new perspective on time to help guide you toward being a more meaningful and fulfilling experience of life.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I buy The Present?

Currently the only way to acquire one at this time is to  join the waitlist.

Who makes The Present?

A bestseller in Tokyo and NYC at the MoMA Design Store, The Present is "on" in thousands of homes across forty-two countries.  

You can peruse the profound experiences owners are having on the  testimonials page or learn more about Scott through the articles about his work here  press.

The Present is Thrift's life work and he believes it is a practical solution to the problems industrial era time has hoisted onto the cyclical nature of life.  

If any of this is of interest to you please consider   joining the waitlist.

TL;DR:

The person in the picture below makes functional works of art to transform how we relate to time as a species.

Why does The Present exist?

Practically speaking, to give life more time .

The Present offers a unique and transformative way of experiencing time, allowing you to feel more present, connected, and grounded in the world around you.

By liberating yourself from the monotony of conventional time-keeping and embracing the rhythms of nature, you can discover what being present in time means to you.

The Present is not just a beautiful and functional object; it's a tool for personal growth and a gateway to a more meaningful and fulfilling life

Why does The Present matter?

The Present helps people experience time in a new and meaningful way.

What does The Present do?

The Present gives owners and their families a front row seat to the previously elusive nature of cyclical time, revealing a unique perspective that inspires individuals to see something as ordinary as time in an extraordinary new way.

How does it feel?

Giving time the context of the natural world offers a range of well documented benefits. From feeling grounded, to a deeper appreciation for life and a welcome sense of forgiveness, helping you be more patient and easier on yourself.

Using The Present gives individuals a sense of peace, fulfillment, and connection to the present in a practical and significant way.

What needs does The Present serve?

The Present serves the needs of individuals who are looking for a more meaningful relationship with time. It is designed for anyone interested in experiencing time in a more thoughtful, deliberate and satisfying way.

It offers an experience that transcends the traditional notion of time as a linear and finite resource, helping owners appreciate the full spectrum of time.

The Present addresses feelings of stress, anxiety, and time poverty by providing a unique perspective on time that allows people to focus on what truly matters in their lives. 

In a world that values speed, efficiency, and productivity, The Present offers a way to slow down, connect with the natural world, and rejuvenate their experience of time.

What is The Present's essential role in people's lives?

The Present's essential role is to offer a new perspective on time, to help people cultivate a deeper appreciation for cyclical time and to encourage them to form a new, healthier relationship with the natural world and time itself.

 

What impact does The Present have on the world?

The impact of The Present on the world is two-fold.

On an individual level, it has the potential to transform people's relationship with time and to improve their well-being by fostering a deeper sense of connection to the natural world.

On a broader level, The Present has the potential to contribute to a more sustainable and mindful culture by challenging the dominant narrative of industrial time and productivity.

By encouraging a shift towards cyclical time, The Present has the potential to promote a more harmonious and balanced relationship between humans and the planet.

What is unique about The Present?

What is especially unique about The Present is its ability to elevate the way we understand and experience time, helping individuals cultivate a deeper appreciation for the rhythm of life.

Unlike traditional clocks or productivity tools, The Present combines elegant analog design with metaphysical first principles to create a work of art that 'levels up' temporal cognition.

With its unique approach to time, The Present provides a refreshing and rejuvenating perspective that helps individuals transform time from foe to friend

Why now?

We live in the long term effects of short term thinking.

The vast majority of society's ills stem from a lack of understanding the nature and value of time. Our shared present passes us by the second we are able to acknowledge it. With such a narrow vision of the present, we have inadvertently made it practically impossible to conjure a shared future.

These philosophical instruments address the unintended side effects of conventional time; short term thinking, anxiety, fomo, and a sense of never feeling grounded in the present.

Conventional time is primarily related to  work and the act of being  on time.
The Present is primarily related to  life and the act of being  in time.

I believe it is only through the adoption of both linear  and cyclical time that we will be able to solve our most seemingly intractable problems. 

How is The Present made?

It is a handcrafted, limited edition piece of art made using high-quality materials:

  • a custom clock movement built from the ground up and programmed with original code

  • a circuit board fabricated using a thin layer of 99.9% pure gold

  • the movement is hand soldered by the artist and engineered to last for decades

  • solid cork manufactured and imported from Portugal

  • brushed stainless steel rings engineered with surgical precision to pressure fit together

  • custom contact-lens-like glass made in the USA 

  • a face printed at Duggal on a $780k wide-format UV printer

  • original tooling for the fiberglass/resin hand-painted clock hands

  • a machined, engraved and anodized 4mm thick aluminum back plate

  • custom 3D printed hanging component

  • magnetic connection points on back plates installed by hand

  • a steel powder coated faceplate hand painted with two coats of white primer

  • each clock movement is initialized, assembled and ships from Burlington, Vermont. 


Why makes The Present valuable?

Firstly, it is a highly functional and practical tool for personal growth and transformation, serving as a tangible reminder of the value of change as it plays out in nature.

Secondly, it is a one-of-a-kind timepiece that is not available anywhere else, making it a unique and exclusive addition to any collection. 

Finally, the value the product brings to the user, both in terms of its beauty and functionality, as well as the deeper sense of meaning and purpose that it can inspire in one's life. 

Why is Scott Thrift making this?

In the work of Scott Thrift, time is a medium for art. His signature piece, The Present,  is not just a clock – it's a statement on the value of time itself. By deconstructing the very essence of time, Thrift has created a profound and transformative experience that resonates deeply with viewers across generations.

The Present is a physical manifestation of Thrift's vision for a more connected and meaningful world, where time is not just a commodity, but a source of wonder and inspiration. With its exquisite craftsmanship, intuitive design, and captivating visual language, The Present challenges us to question our assumptions about time and invites us to step outside the constraints of our everyday lives.

Approaching The Present, we are transported into a new realm of possibility, where the past, present, and future merge into a single moment of pure beauty and transcendence. In this way, Thrift's work speaks to the core of what it means to be human, and reminds us that time is not just a force to be reckoned with, but a source of infinite creativity and potential.