The idea for the Unisphere occurred in September 1960 as Clarke was doodling on an airplane from Ohio to New York. Clarke had sketched a metal armillary on the rear of an envelope. By the time he got to his office, Clarke had refined his plan into a revolving globe with rings of latitude and longitude. Clarke asked another architect working under his office, William S. Boice, to sketch the structure. Since the method of the sculpture's revolution had not yet been determined, Boice drew fountains to conceal the base. The Unisphere was conceptually designed in aluminum with metallic mesh continents. The globe would be tilted 23.5 degrees and would measure across. Capital cities would be represented on the globe by three sizes of lights, with larger lights for capitals deemed more important. Clarke showed the plan to Moses, who approved of it.
The idEA for thE uNiSpheRe occURred in SePtemBeR 1960 As ClaRKE wAS dOoDliNg oN an AIRpLaNe from OhIO tO new yorK. claRKe haD sKEtcHeD a MeTal arMILlArY on the rear of aN envElopE. BY tHE timE he goT to hIs ofFicE, clarKe had refined hiS pLan Into a revolving gLobe wiTh ringS of laTITude and longItUde. clarkE askeD aNoTheR archiTEct working UNder his OffiCe, wiLLIAm s. boiCe, TO sketch the structuRe. siNce the method of THe sculPtUre's RevolUtIOn HaD nOt yet bEEn DEtermined, BoIce dREW FoUntAins To ConcEal tHE baSE. thE unIsPhEre was concePtualLy designed IN aluminum with meTALlic MesH contineNts. thE globE WOULd Be tiLtEd 23.5 dEgReEs aND wouLd MeasURe aCross. capItAL Cities WoUlD Be REpREsenTed On the GloBe by tHree sIzes OF LIgHts, With larGER lightS fOr CAPitaLS deemeD MORe iMpOrtAnt. ClarKe sHowed tHE Plan to Moses, WHo approVed of iT.