Supersonic: A Closer Look at Clara's Screwdriver Design

Jun 1
2 min read

3D render of the wooden desk inside Clara’s TARDIS control room. The shot is a depth-of-field close-up of Clara’s sonic screwdriver, which sits on the desk’s surface beside a pair of goggles and an open book.

At the end of 'A Citizen of the Universe', the Visionary of Auros, Gallius, presents Clara with a special gift: her very own sonic screwdriver. Set with a fragment of the fabled Geniah crystal, this device represents the gratitude of the people Clara saved, and also symbolises the new role she has chosen to embrace by the end of the story as an adventurer in time and space.

The look of the device dates back to the very beginning of the project. When The Untold Adventures was in its nascent, conceptual stage, project artist Jo Bartelds produced this stunning piece of art depicting a ‘post-Hell Bent’ Clara Oswald, and designed her bespoke sonic screwdriver as a part of it.

Jo's 'post Hell Bent' Clara illustration.

They sketched several ideas based on the autumnal colour palette of Clara’s leaf. After settling on a base design, Jo developed two further concepts: one inspired by Oswin Oswald’s whisk, and another resembling the button the Moment created for the War Doctor during that fateful day on Gallifrey, when Clara helped change the planet’s fate. This is how we arrived at the distinctive ‘lotus flower’ look.

Screenshot from 'The Day of the Doctor'. The War Doctor stands in his childhood barn before the Moment, a sentient device that has transformed into a pedestal bearing a large red button shaped like a gemstone. — The War Doctor stands before the Moment, which has transformed into a single button composed of a red gemstone mounted on an ornate golden stand.

The two concepts before they were combined for the final design.

The final product feels like a fitting tribute to Clara's character. What's more, we wanted to incorporate it seamlessly into the series' narrative so that it felt truly earned and emblematic of this new chapter in her life.

He slipped a talon inside the folds of his robes and withdrew a peculiar gadget – a thin, caged cylinder of polished brass, its varnished wooden handle trimmed with a delicate filigree. The device ended in a component resembling the petals of a blooming lotus flower. “I want you to have this. I modelled it on descriptions of the Doctor’s sonic device, with a few choice alterations and improvements. All I’ve been missing is a suitable power source...” He stooped and plucked a small, round fragment of the Geniah crystal from among the rubble. With the precision of a master watchmaker, he inserted it into the empty space between the golden lotus petals, where it clicked into place like a magnet. The Asrathon inspected his work with satisfaction. “There. It fits perfectly. As though it was meant to be.” He gave it to Clara, eagerly anticipating her reaction. Clara turned the device in her fingers, finding herself uncharacteristically speechless. “Gallius…” she fumbled, “I can’t accept this.” Gallius linked his talons behind his back. “Consider it a token of our gratitude. Wherever your journey may lead, you can carry a piece of Auros with you.”

Especially now that she’s lost the Doctor’s sonic sunglasses (who knows where those ended up?), this device will serve Clara well in her adventures to come.

We hope you've enjoyed this little insight into some of the project's creative process. Stay tuned for more showcases and news on our next episode release!