Since 2024, Japanese watch giant Seiko has hosted a free exhibition in London, giving the company’s in-house designers free rein to create the most out-there models they can dream up.
It’s called the Power Design Project. The original event actually took place way back in 2001, but the 23-year wait for its return was worth it. Intended as a test of creativity and technical skill, each edition is based on a theme – and many of the imaginative watches produced for the previous two have gone on to become real products.
The London leg – which runs from 27 August to 15 September – will once again be hosted at the Japan House cultural centre in Kensington Arcade. The theme for 2026 is ‘Passionately and Obsessively Crafted Watches’, with an emphasis on the details.
“The 2026 focus is on the components of a watch – having fun with dial textures, hands or intricate watch surfaces,” said Faye Lovenbury, head of marketing at Seiko UK. “The aim of this exhibition is not to launch new watches – although previous popular concepts have been brought to life – but rather to give our designers creative freedom.”
The 2024 edition showcased a model resembling a panda, a watch for masking-tape enthusiasts and even a design based on a bowl of sukiyaki, the Japanese hot-pot dish. The following year’s edition was inspired by different characters, including a vampire, a ninja and a woman who… likes boiled eggs.
But what’s in store for us this time around? Take a look at our sneak peek below – and get yourself down to Japan House later this month.