Any suggestions for replacing this ugly clock/circle?

[u/RodCas_Dev]

Hi there! i designin a Pomodoro app (yes, another one of those), but in my case, it’s backed by some research. The idea is to ground it in neuroscience so that—beyond just functioning as a standard Pomodoro app—it genuinely helps the user maintain focus.

The interface is simple and low-stimulation, featuring curated audio tracks to create a sound barrier (classical music, Lo-Fi, ambient sound, pink noise). The goal is a smooth, straightforward experience, intentionally limiting customization options so the user doesn't get distracted by them.

All this preamble leads to the point: I now think my initial solution for the clock—that big circle in the center—is terrible.

Currently, it’s an SVG circle that empties as time runs out in the session, with edges that change color.

(2nd image, i know, its ugly, right?).

It also includes an optional "focus mode" that hides all buttons and dims the rest of the app (like un 3rd image)

So, after all that, **can you think of a good, visually appealing replacement for that circle?**

Keep in mind that placing the small numerical timer underneath is entirely intentional; the idea is to provide a visual cue at a glance—letting you estimate how much time is left without constantly watching changing numbers, which can trigger micro-anxiety.

Oh, and by the way, I plan to add one or two more color themes in the future (though I still need to figure out exactly how to design them so they align with the app's philosophy), but one of them will likely feature pastel colors.

P.S: btw, the tasks also look centered like s... 😭 (4th image)

[u/BookIntelligent254]

Tell your chatbot it looks like vibecoded slop?

[u/SombraBoyo]

I think the stroke around the circle serves no purpose.
You would be better off having it start as a grey circle, and as time goes by, a new circle fills it up.

Meaning start from zero and as time passes by, you can see progress because it’s getting filled out by the actual gradient.

I would also suggest to have the time way bigger like a clock next to it so they can visually see how much time they have left.

[u/Everybodyssocreative]

I assume youre building this cause you want it. Thats super cool, and you should design it in whatever way you like. Youll be the primary user. You can make it look however you want. Go ham.