My interpretation of an everyday writing implement. Designed to be a compact, dependable addition to your everyday carry. 100% MA made.
After several years of engineering school, I started to develop a passion for product design. I challenged myself to design an everyday object that I would be able to fabricate myself, embarking on a mission to design a pen to be carried with me every day.
Recently, the project took a different form when I decided to do a manufacturing run of these pens. The project went from design and fabrication to a mission to keep this project local in Massachusetts, keep the footprint low and to take it to market. Over the past year I have worked hard to make this happen.
After countless iterations and optimizing for efficient manufacturing, I have finished a run of 1000 pens. In order to finish the project, I need to pay for the ink cartridges and the packaging costs. In exchange for your early stage support of this project, you will get the pen at a introductory reduced cost. MSRP after kickstarter will be $55 from select retailers.
900 of these pens will ship soon after the Kickstarter campaign since all the hard fabrication and design has been completed. All I would be waiting on the finished packaging, which will be made locally and right now is pending funds. Once these 900 have sold (across several pledge types), a second run will be initiated and these pens will have a longer waiting period due to manufacturing that will not start until after the completion of the project.
Some early design process and fabrication of the prototypes can be seen on my website at ianschon.com/pen.
- Body and Cap made from 6061 Aluminum Outer Diameter= 0.5”, Length=4" (closed) 5-3/4" (open)
- Setscrew is ¼-20, 3/8", Brass
- Pressurized ink cartridge from Fisher in Boulder City Nevada (spr4)
- Production run: Local to Massachusetts:
- Custom slotted brass setscrews
- Bodies/cap
- Cutting and printing
- Assembly
- 100% MA, USA made!
Special thanks to Mark Kammel for helping me by filming and editing the video.
Mentioned on:
Core 77- http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/creating_a_forever_object_ian_schons_pen_project_22965.asp
FastCo Exist- http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680236/how-a-55-pen-can-curb-wastefulness-and-save-the-planet-seriously#2
Cool Material-http://coolmaterial.com/home/the-pen-project/
Gear Hungry-http://www.gearhungry.com/2012/07/pen-project.html
Folio Digital- http://foliodigital.net/una-pluma-inmortal
Innova Systems- http://www.innova-systems.co.uk/blog/2012/07/the-pen-project/
Dvice- http://dvice.com/archives/2012/07/one-engineers-q.php
Werd- http://www.werd.com/16313/the-pen-project/
Today's Letters- http://www.todaysletters.com/2012/07/the-pen-project-by-ian-schon.html
International Design Times- http://www.idesigntimes.com/articles/1949/20120731/pen-project-ian-schon-kickstarter-design-interview.htm
FAQ
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The pen uses a fisher spr4 cartridge. These can be bought directly through fisher, online and in some stationary stores. They come in different weights and colors.
The pen has been designed specifically with this cartridge in mind due to its dependability and size. Through they are expensive, they allowed the footprint of the pen to remain low, while delivering excellent writing characteristics.
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Yes! Just message me and I will add it. No reason to fill up space with tons of quantities unless you want them! For every added pen, I discount $2.
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ianschon.com/pen
1,736
Backers
$68,261
pledged of $1,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jul 17, 2012 -
Aug 16, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 10 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: ianschon.com
Pledge $30 or more
480 backers All gone!
First run of the pen. These will ship immediately after the packaging is finished.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $30 or more
538 backers
One Pen! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $34 or more
200 backers
***International Backers*** One Pen! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $34 or more
125 backers All gone!
First run of the pen. These will ship immediately after the packaging is finished. ***International shipping. ***
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $58 or more
70 backers All gone!
2 pens from the first run. $2 off shipping.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $58 or more
153 backers
Two Pens! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $66 or more
47 backers
***International Backers*** Two Pens! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $66 or more
35 backers All gone!
2 pens from the first run. *** International Shipping***
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $86 or more
10 backers All gone!
3 pens from the first run. $4 off shipping
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $86 or more
19 backers
Three Pens! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $98 or more
9 backers
***International Backers*** Three Pens! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $114 or more
12 backers Limited (1 of 13 left)
4 pens from the first run. $6 off shipping
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $114 or more
16 backers
Four Pens! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $130 or more
6 backers All gone!
4 Pens from the first run. $6 off shipping. ***International Shipping***
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $130 or more
4 backers
***International Backers*** Four Pens! 2nd run of the pen. These will go into manufacturing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and will be delivered later than the first run. Back this only when the first run is sold out! Thanks!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
