Martin Vassilev

Design - Off Road

Vassilev&Co Brand and Wrist watch Design

OCTA PRIME emerged from my fascination with objects that exist between precision and emotion — objects that communicate through proportion, tension, rhythm, and structure rather than decoration alone. The project explores contemporary horology through the lens of architecture, industrial design, and fine art, treating the wristwatch as both an instrument and a sculptural composition.

I consciously chose to develop a watch project because it allowed me to merge two disciplines that have shaped me most as a designer: graphic design and product design. I have always been fascinated by the contrast between them — one existing through visual communication, atmosphere, and composition, while the other lives through material, form, ergonomics, and physical presence. With OCTA PRIME, I wanted to bring these worlds together into a single coherent object and push both sides of my creative process as far as possible.

Developed under Vassilev&Co, the project is built around a strict geometric language defined by the octagon. This geometry became the foundation of the entire visual system, shaping the silhouette, dial composition, transitions of light, and overall presence of the piece. Influences from Constructivism, Art Deco, and modern architectural forms informed the balance between sharp structural lines and restrained elegance.

The process moved fluidly between analogue sketching, drawing, spatial experimentation, digital modelling, rendering, and physical prototyping. Rather than separating artistic practice from industrial design, I approached both disciplines as part of the same creative language. Every surface, edge, proportion, and visual interruption was considered as part of a controlled composition intended to create clarity, depth, and atmosphere.

Instead of relying on excessive complexity or ornamentation, OCTA PRIME focuses on form, silhouette, and material expression. Light interacts dynamically with the angular construction of the case, allowing the object to constantly shift in character depending on perspective and environment. The intention was to create a timepiece that feels architectural and emotionally charged while remaining refined and highly wearable.

At its core, the project reflects my broader interest in creating objects with strong visual identity — pieces that blur the boundary between functional design and artistic expression. OCTA PRIME became an exploration of how geometry can carry emotion, how structure can communicate character, and how contemporary luxury can be expressed through restraint, precision, and atmosphere rather than excess.

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