The Freelancer is a watch designed by Humap Design that, with a touch of irony, exposes the hidden reality of freelance work.

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At first glance, its design appears orderly and structured. But a closer look reveals a disorienting truth: time folds in on itself, turning day and night into a seamless loop with a bold black stroke, punctuated by only a few rare breaks.

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Ilaria Marzano, art director at Humap, explains:
"How many times, immersed in work at my computer, have I looked up and thought: ‘Wow, it's already 2 AM—I should really go to bed.’ As a data designer, I often shape numbers to tell stories. That made me wonder: what if I used the language of data visualization to create a tangible object that reflects a defining aspect of freelance life: time? And what better object than a watch?"

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The watch playfully illustrates a freelancer’s typical workday—especially in creative fields, though many independent workers can relate. A bold black line marks working hours from 9 AM to 3 AM, looping in on itself and stretching far beyond the standard 8-hour shift. Small blue segments highlight the rare but crucial pauses—gentle reminders that even freelancers need to eat, grab a coffee, or take a walk to remember there's a world outside their screen. In the evening, there’s one last break for dinner before the final push.

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Freelancing is often romanticized as the ultimate freedom—working from a laptop on a tropical beach, free from office constraints. The Freelancer offers a tongue-in-cheek reality check: yes, you can do laundry at 11 AM or take a yoga class at 3 PM, but that "flexibility" often means answering emails at midnight or finalizing a project when everyone else is asleep. The lines between work and life blur in ways that aren’t always as idyllic as they seem.

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With irony and a touch of self-awareness, The Freelancer turns this paradox into a visual narrative, inviting us to reflect on the way we experience time in modern work.

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The packaging is an integral part of the project, adding more layers of information to complete the picture.

The watch features a quartz movement, a stainless steel case, a 40mm dial, and mineral glass.

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Available exclusively on commission.