This month’s question is from Rick:

Jens, are you still working toward doing a pen?

Ansø:
The pen is mightier…

Yes, absolutely. That’s the short answer. The slightly longer answer: heck yes – and we will be launching it soon(ish). And the full answer requires a bit more context.

I’ve been working on designing a pen for over ten years. For the longest time I set the bar way too high – I wanted to revolutionize the pen industry with a brilliant idea. But it wasn’t until I decided to just make it happen, without chasing that one “super unique” breakthrough, that things started to move forward.

One day I went into the shop, stood at my old trusty lathe, and turned a solid brass bar into something that finally resembled what I had in my head. It wasn’t a functioning pen, but it gave me the tactile feedback I needed to confirm the concept was solid. The inspiration came from a mix of mid-century drafting pens and my love for the size and feel of the Pilot BP-Matic.

With a clearer idea in mind, I reached out to my friend Will Hodges from Tactile Turn. He was immediately excited about the project. Of course, I didn’t make it easy for him – I had very specific requirements for materials, size, knurling, mechanism, and more. But Will was up for the challenge. Tactile Turn even invested in new technology to machine the hex shape exactly as I wanted, and they redesigned one of their proven click mechanisms to fit into the slimmer format.

Up until then, I had only seen rough tastings and CAD drawings. But at Blade Show in Atlanta this June, Will came by our booth and handed the first prototypes to Karina (I was away giving my Design Seminar). Karina, who has followed this process for as long as she can remember, was nearly in tears seeing them. I followed up with sheer amazement – they did such a great job.

I’ve now been carrying and testing two prototypes daily for about three months, dialing in the right refill. In short: I love it, and I’m proud of what we’ve created. The exact launch date is still to be decided, but it’s close. Tactile Turn and Ansø will do a joint release, so you’ll have plenty of chances to grab one when the time comes.

Stay Inspired

Jens Ansø