A Retro-Futuristic clock combining dual LCDs, 3-bit filament LEDs, and WS2812 effects—blending cyberpunk style with steampunk warmth.
Supplies
Raspberry PI PICO x1
ST7789 1.14 Inc x2
DS3231 x1
ULN2003 x1
WS2812 x1
FUSE 30mm x3
LED Filament x3
Step 1: Inspiration & Concept
This project was born from my long-time fascination with clocks — not just as tools to tell time, but as objects of beauty.
I have always loved both retro aesthetics and modern technology, and I wanted to find a way to blend these two worlds seamlessly into a single creation. My goal was to design a clock that feels warm and nostalgic, while still harnessing the precision and flexibility of digital systems.
As someone who learned electronics in the age of digital technology, I also wanted this clock to reflect a hands-on way of thinking — combining physical hardware with digital logic. Elements like binary indicators are not only visual details, but also mental exercises, keeping the brain active and reinforcing the fundamentals of digital logic in a playful, artistic way.
I chose to emphasize the seconds display because seconds are the only part of time that never stops moving. Unlike hours and minutes, which feel calm and static, seconds are alive — they pulse, flow, and constantly remind us that time is always in motion. Through animated LEDs and light effects, I translated this continuous movement into a visual performance of time itself.
The Retro-Futuristic Hybrid Clock represents my desire to merge craftsmanship, technology, and imagination into a single piece. It is both a functional clock and a creative expression — where past aesthetics meet modern digital thinking, and where time becomes something to experience, not just to read.
Step 2: What This Clock Does
he Retro-Futuristic Hybrid Clock visualizes time through three synchronized layers, combining digital displays, hardware lighting, and animated effects into a single cohesive experience.
The dual ST7789 TFT screens present the hours and minutes using custom Nixie-style digits, delivering a clean and high-contrast retro look while maintaining modern brightness and clarity.
The tens of seconds are displayed using real hardware binary outputs through illuminated filament tubes driven by a ULN2003 driver array. This third, purely physical display transforms logical binary counting into a living visual element, reinforcing the emotional blend of machinery and computation.
For the flowing motion of time, a WS2812 LED strip acts as a dynamic “second hand.” Each illuminated pixel represents the passing seconds, continuously running from 0 to 10 and looping endlessly, creating a constant sense of motion and rhythm.
All three display layers are synchronized by a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 running CircuitPython and a DS3231 real-time clock module, ensuring that every visual element updates simultaneously with precise timing.
Together, these layered displays transform time from simple numeric data into a living visual performance — not just something to be read, but something to be seen moving and evolving in space.
Step 3: Designed
The Retro-Futuristic Hybrid Clock is a time-keeping project designed to merge the precision of modern digital systems with the charm of physical analog light. Inspired by a blend of Cyberpunk and Steampunk, the clock delivers a unique way of displaying time—clean on LCDs yet warm and mechanical through real hardware lighting.
Powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 + CircuitPython and synced with a DS3231 RTC, the system manages multi-layer displays, binary hardware outputs, and animated light effects with impressive accuracy.
Step 4: Circuit
The clock system uses a Raspberry Pi Pico2 to control all hardware in real time, featuring the following functions:
✔ 1) Dual LCD ST7789 Displays
The system uses two ST7789 TFT displays with separate CS1 and CS2 lines.
Each display operates independently and is used to show hours and minutes.
✔ 2) Nixie/Digit Style Hour–Minute Display
The digits shown on the ST7789 screens are not standard fonts.
They are rendered using custom Nixie Tube / Retro Digital graphics,
creating a vintage Nixie-style digital appearance.
✔ 3) Binary Output System (GPIO13/14/15 → ULN2003 → LED Filament)
The firmware outputs a 3-bit binary value via GP13, GP14, and GP15,
driving LED Filament tubes through a ULN2003A driver.
This output represents the tens of seconds.
Examples:
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 seconds → LEDs illuminate according to the actual binary code.
✔ 4) WS2812 Effect for 0–10 Seconds
A WS2812 (NeoPixel) LED strip is used to display a glowing “second hand”.
The animation is based on:
second % 10 → running pixel position
After 10 seconds, the effect resets and loops again.
✔ Summary of All Features
Two ST7789 displaysNixie-style hour–minute digitsBinary Output on GP13/14/15 for tens-of-secondsWS2812 running-pixel effect for 0–10 secondsHigh-accuracy RTC DS3231Synchronized dual-display updatesPixel-running animation on the displaysHardware 3-bit binary counter output
Step 5: PCB
Comming Soon
Step 7: Final
This project is the result of combining my love for clocks, retro aesthetics, and modern electronics into a single creative build.
The Retro-Futuristic Hybrid Clock shows how technology can be more than just functional — it can also be expressive, artistic, and emotionally engaging. By merging digital displays with physical lighting and motion effects, this clock turns time into a living visual experience rather than static numbers.
I hope this project inspires other makers to explore creative ways of blending art and engineering, and to build devices that tell stories as well as tell time.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing how others might expand, remix, or re-imagine this idea.
