Giancarlo Alessandro Martinez Magarelli

SAND

A timer you work WITH — not AROUNDSAND is a digital-variable hourglass that helps the user feel the passage of time. For many, especially those who struggle with ADHD and time blindness, this sensation is elusive. ADHD can both make it difficult to stay focused on one task (executive dysfunction), and make it difficult switch out of a task (hyper-fixation); SAND accommodates both. The hourglass features 2 modes, Switch and Focus. Switch Mode is suited to the pomodoro technique, providing a distraction-free timer capable of seamlessly swapping between two different intervals and/or tasks. Focus Mode targets time blindness, gently helping to embody the sensation of flowing time by visually externalizing it.

“This project was initially a response to a method I use to help manage my time. I would often work on an assignment for some time, then practice piano for a few minutes before returning to my prior task - continuing to switch back and forth. I found that this method helped keep me from falling into a rut when playing piano, where practice was losing its effectiveness and progress was diminishing, as well as helped me to return to my assignment with a bit more of a fresh perspective. This is also a method I use to prevent myself from hyper-fixating. Often, when I have multiple tasks to complete, it is very easy to fixate on just one of them, spending all my time there and neglecting the other. The intervals for each task are something I like to fine-tune, adjusting them as I progress to settle on the optimal amount of time to maximize the efficiency and quality of my work. Similarly, I adjust the timing to adequately distribute my attention depending on what task is most pressing, or to set myself short breaks. However, this method is not always the most applicable for me, there are just as many times where hyper-fixation is useful, allowing me to go deep rather than broad. I wanted a product that could support both.”