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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Thanks for reading this far! We hope you’ll join us on this journey.
All our rewards tiers come in Classic Black or Pearl White. Just pick the tier you want, and then choose your color. Arc is available for those located in the US, Canada, and the UK.
PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: 185 mm x 105 mm x 85 mm, 1.2 lbs/ 550 grams
PRODUCT MATERIALS: Cast zinc housing, Aluminum alloy chime bar, Clear mineral glass, OLED screen display, ABS plastic panels
POWER: USB-C wall power + data, USB-C firmware updates, 24 HR Battery Backup
Hi, we're Nanu! We (Hanna + Drew) started Nanu in early 2022, driven by a long-standing love for physical product design. We've always been fascinated with how certain objects make people feel. A handmade mug, an old watch, or cast iron cookware. Each of these has a presence beyond its everyday function — a presence that gets stronger over time.
But as society encourages a disposable lifestyle, products refresh faster to drive repeat purchases. This way of thinking leaves our spaces filled with unmemorable transient items. Nanu exists to defy this trend. As designers, there’s no better reward than when our product has a presence in someone’s day-to-day.
Nanu is a design-minded team of 4 with a broader coalition of talented consultants. Our skills range from product engineering to design and manufacturing. Combined, we have over 22 years of experience building and launching products (like surgical robots and coffee products at Fellow).
Maybe you found us from Nudge, our counter that makes tracking habits a satisfying experience. Or perhaps you found us on Tik Tok nerding out over vintage clock refurbs. Whatever the reason, we’re excited you’re here!
PREVIOUS KICKSTARTER REVIEWS
We know backing Kickstarter isn’t always the smoothest experience, and we can’t promise that nothing will go wrong. However, we can promise that we are always going to prioritize quality and do everything we can to get you the best product. Here are some reviews from our last Kickstarter campaign, Nudge Counter.
"What a beautiful product!!!! The packaging was beautiful! Exquisite! I am proud to display and use. Thank you!" — Susan U.
"I just received my Nudge…it’s BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the design- a piece of art. I love the weight of it and the satisfaction of the feel of pressing the button!" — Lauren R.
"It exceeded all of my expectations. It's everything you want it to be. Fantastic build quality. Flawless finish. Clicking performs great and is very satisfying. It's HEAVY - like a paperweight. When you hold it, you feel like you're holding something of substance...because you are!" — David Q.
We'd love to have you along for the journey. Please follow us via Instagram, email, or TikTok to see our design process as we bring Arc to life.
Arc - an alarm clock with analog spirit and present-day practicality.
📫 Free U.S. shipping, and a $10 discount on international shipping for each Arc Alarm Clock!
⏰ ETA Spring 2024
📦 Ships to United States, Canada, and the U.K.
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Arc - an alarm clock with analog spirit and present-day practicality.
💸 Save $68
📫 Free U.S. shipping, and a $10 discount on international shipping for each Arc Alarm Clock!
⏰ ETA January – March 2024
📦 Ships to United States, Canada, and the U.K.
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