Tag Archives: Pen

Zen garden pen brings a visual and tactile way to inspire mindfulness

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Pens, regardless of design, are almost always associated with productivity and creativity, in other words, activity. While you can use the writing instrument to clear your head and achieve a state of calm, that’s only after you’ve actively used it. Rarely does a pen by its mere appearance actually take you to that state, but that is exactly what this unique-looking pen tries to accomplish. Using not only visuals but also texture, this Japanese-made pen aims to help you become mindful of the present, even if only for a moment, taking inspiration from the easily distinguishable composition of a Zen garden, sand and stone and all.

Designer: Jacopo Drago (Zenical)

It’s almost miraculous how a dry landscape and a meticulous arrangement of stone in gravel or sand can nudge the mind into a meditative state. That, however, is the magic and science that Zen Buddhist monks have discovered and developed over centuries, combining contrasting elements, minimalist arrangements, and natural elements to design a space meant to inspire calm and maybe clear a few cobwebs inside the brain. The stillness of the rock standing amid the thin lines of movement drawn on gravel around it, the smoothness of the pebbles contrasting with the coarseness of the sand, and the presence of living trees or shrubs standing defiant on lifeless ground, all these elements work in harmony to take the mind for a peaceful journey.

These rock gardens have become so popular that a few people have miniature Zen gardens on shelves or even their desks, but they can neither take these with them wherever they go nor always have them available when they need to. The Zen Pen tries to bring that same experience to an even smaller scale by recreating the key elements of a Zen garden in a way that you can see and feel in your hand. A part of that is clearly seen in the 3D-printed grooves that snake around the barrel and the cap, easily reminiscent of the thin lines and circles drawn on a rock garden.

It doesn’t stop there, however. The clip, which is often regarded as a utilitarian element, also contributes to the composition. Its smooth, oval shape is like one of those rocks or pebbles lying on the gravel, and you can see the typical circles radiating from its position. That position is actually off-center, doubling down on the contrasting themes of balance and asymmetry associated with Zen gardens.

The Zen Pen isn’t just a visual treat but also a tactile one, thanks to the handiwork of skilled Japanese craftsmen utilizing modern technologies like 3D printing and milling. While the grip near the nib is smooth and plain in order to be comfortable to hold, the rest of the barrel and the cap feature this textured surface that delights the fingertips. And as many variations of fidget toys have proven, mindlessly stimulating those fingers, even just by gliding over those grooves, can also help stimulate the mind.

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Literacy Pen is first education tool that can let the illiterate read and write in an instant

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It can’t be stressed enough that literacy is the best tool for empowerment and social change. Literacy is everyone’s prerogative but it is not available for everyone in reality. For some their economic status is a hindrance, while for some the social stigmas and lack of opportunity become an impediment. Whatever the circumstance may be, the inability to read and write can lead to issues in everyday life, with the littlest of things such as signing a document or reading the medical prescription/medication.

Literacy drives have been a common endeavor in most developing countries in the last few decades, yet the UNESC report has alarming numbers. Reportedly, some “773 million” people globally “struggle with literacy.” The World Literacy Foundation, which has been at the forefront of providing literacy to the maximum individuals possible, has collaborated with Media.Monks to create the Literacy Pen: a speech-to-text assistance device.

Designer: The World Literacy Foundation and Media Monks

Literacy Pen is the first, portable education tool that can let the illiterate read and write instantly. It is a small device – compatible with any standard pen or pencil – with an onboard screen to display visual input that can be directly copied onto paper.

Designed with key literacy development aspects like visual repetition in hindsight, this user-friendly, lightweight tool comes with a microphone. The user can effortlessly slide a pen into the compactly designed Literacy Pen, and speak desired words into the microphone, which transcribes them word by word automatically onto the digital screen. From here the individual can see and directly copy it onto paper using the attached pen.

How much of that is possible in the real-world environment where individuals we are talking about would have never held a pen in their hand before? Considering this tool is inexpensive that the lowest in the economic hierarchy can own, with due practice, at least some people should be able to sign their financial documents or even land a job.

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This ultra-minimalist pen stand makes your writing partner the center of attention

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We all have our favorite writing instruments, be it an heirloom fountain pen or even a number 2 pencil. You’ll probably just stuff the latter in drawers or leave them strewn on your desk, but the pen that has been with you for years is something you’ll probably want to show off while keeping it within easy reach. Pen stands exist for that exact purpose, but some of them try to compete with the pen for attention. They have extravagant and luxurious designs that defeat the intention of putting your favorite pen on a pedestal. That’s the trap that this tiny pen stand tries to avoid by practically removing all non-essential features that prevent you from showing off your trusty writing partner.

Designer: Kairi Eguchi

Click Here to Buy Now: $35 $39 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 24 hours!

What stand could be simpler than an upright cylinder with a whole in the middle that’s just enough to fit a single pen? After all, a pen stand’s purpose is to hold the writing tool for easy access while showing it off when not in use. Anything else is just excess and waste that burdens the product both visually and functionally. That’s the kind of minimalist design that this small and simple stand embraces, but that doesn’t mean it’s a plain and boring desk accessory. In fact, it is ironically one of the most beautiful pen stands around, especially if you favor minimalist designs.

Your eyes will be immediately drawn to the stand’s diminutive size. At only 52.5mm (around 2 inches) tall, it has just enough space to hold a small portion of the pen, leaving the majority of the barrel unobstructed and free for everyone to behold. Despite its small size, however, the stand is able to, well, stand without tipping over due to the weight of the pen. In fact, the stand itself tilts a little bit to one side, an intentional design that makes it easier to pull out the pen quickly when you need to jot something down.

The trick to the Centroid Stand’s unbelievable feat is in its construction, which also accounts for its two-tone color finish. The top half of the stand is made from polished aluminum which gives it a stylish luster, while the lower half is made from heavier copper that shifts the center of gravity lower, making it more stable regardless of its tilt or the weight of the pen that it holds. These two dissimilar materials, joined together using a friction welding process, give the stand a rather distinct flavor, one that is both playful and elegant at the same time. Copper also develops a unique patina over time, adding to the stand’s character as it grows old with you.

Showcase your Everlasting All-Metal Pencil with the ultimate stand.

Beautiful in its simplicity and ingenious in its functionality, this ultra-minimalist pen stand offers a perfect view of the writing instrument that it holds. Due to its minimalist design, it is the perfect complement to equally minimalist pen designs, such as the Everlasting All-Metal Pencil that will last as long as this unconventional stand. It is a glowing example of how simple designs, when done right, can exude a kind of beauty that gently draws your eyes without distracting from the attention that your favorite pen or pencil rightfully deserves.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.95.

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How this AI-powered ballpoint pen brings the joy of analog writing to the digital world

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The pen is mightier than the sword, and that aphorism remains true even in this highly digital age. In fact, there has been a renaissance of interest and even passion for handwritten notes, giving birth to a myriad of paper-based productivity systems and beautiful notebooks, as seen on YouTube. Unfortunately, it’s also hard to deny the advantages and conveniences of digital notes, particularly in terms of organization and searching. Fortunately, there is no longer any need to choose between the two when you can have the best of both worlds thanks to this innovative AI-powered ballpoint pen that turns your handwritten scribbles into digital notes, whether you’re writing on craft paper or on the back of an envelope.

Designer: Nuwa Innovation

Click Here to Buy Now: $234 $360 (35% off). Hurry, only 237 left! Raised over $150,000.

There is a certain appeal to the age-old art of writing things by hand, not to mention the cognitive and psychological benefits that the practice brings. Unfortunately, it’s also no longer possible to ignore the drawbacks of paper notes, especially ones that get lost or are hard to decipher months or even just weeks later. There are quite a few products trying to bridge the gap between analog and digital, but these often require the use of special paper that doesn’t feel like paper, special pens that may be discontinued in the unforeseen future, or both.

The Nuwa Pen is a revolutionary solution that approaches the problem from a different angle. You can use your favorite stationery or grab any piece of paper within reach, and standard D1 ballpoint refills are never going away. Instead, the Nuwa Pen employs an innovative TRIDENT imaging system to see what you’re writing and harnesses the power of AI to digitize those ink marks that can be saved to a digital file. The result is complete freedom to write what you want on whatever kind of paper you want, confident that you’ll be able to easily search through them as if you had typed the notes directly.

Searchable Notes: Keep track of your notes

Text Conversion: Exact copy of your notes

Augmented Notes: Stay connected

This AI-powered Ballpoint Pen, however, does more than just digitize your handwritten notes. Although the pen itself has 2Gb of built-in memory, you can also send your notes to the Nuwa Pen App for unlimited cloud storage. And with the Nuwa Pen+ subscription, you’ll be able to convert your scribbles into searchable text and, soon, connect those notes with over a hundred apps, including Google Calendar, Todoist, emails, and more. With its built-in battery, you can write non-stop for 2 hours before needing to charge the Nuwa Pen in just 15 minutes. The included charging case lets you do that five more times, giving you nearly unlimited freedom to put your thoughts on paper and, in the long run, on the cloud.

Starting at $234, not only do you get the well-designed ballpoint pen and its charging case, you also get a one-year Nuwa Pen+ subscription. With the AI-powered Nuwa Pen, you no longer have to choose between the joys of writing and the conveniences of digital notes. Write on your favorite paper, digitize your notes, and sync with the cloud to let your thoughts and ideas take you to new heights and new worlds.

Click Here to Buy Now: $234 $360 (35% off). Hurry, only 237 left! Raised over $150,000.

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Minimal pen tray with adjustable knobs let’s you organize your stationery perfectly

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What really makes a desk stand out to me is the collection of stationery items placed on top of it (and also the manner in which they are placed). The true value and efficiency of your desk lie in the smart assortment of designs you adorn it with – these are after all the objects that are gonna help you get through your workday, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that really lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. And an innovative and functional addition to that collection would be the KNOB . pen tray.

Designer: Changho Lee

Designed by Changho Lee, the KNOB. is a clean, minimal, and sleek pen tray with rounded edges. It’s the kind of uber-cool and well-designed product that adds a whole ounce of personality and character to your desk. But despite its simple good looks, the KNOB. pen tray has quite a unique functionality. The pen tray was inspired by the knobs you find on a gas burner. Lee borrowed the design language of gas burner knobs, and replicated it in his tray creating a piece of stationery with intriguing-looking ‘control buttons’ or ‘knobs’.

These knobs or multiport radar allow you to adjust the internal space of the pen tray. So, you can basically customize the interiors of the tray, creating different sections by playing around with the knobs in the direction you want. You can adjust the buttons horizontally, vertically, or diagonally depending on which stationery items you want to place on the tray, and how you want to place them. You can fidget with the buttons to create space to accommodate multiple tiny items or a large pen or pencil all by itself. It’s quite fun to organize it!

It’s a pretty easy-to-use and accessible product that is available in a variety of colors – pale grey, bright blue, and muted orange. The color options are versatile and can work well with other accessories on your desk, allowing you to create the desk setup of your dreams. It comes in a simple and clean packaging design, making it super easy to unwrap and use instantly.

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This Titanium Multitool Ruler Pen is the ultimate all-in-one desktop stationery item

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With a built-in pen, scale, caliper, protractor, and screwdriver, the Vortex Multitool Ruler Pen is like the Swiss Army Knife of stationery objects. The built-in LAMY refill makes it perfect for immortalizing your ideas, and the Vortex’s ultra-durable Grade-5 titanium construction ensures that your stationery is just as immortal as your ideas.

It doesn’t really take much to activate the stationery hoarder in me, but the Vortex Multitool Ruler Pen definitely goes above and beyond with how it compresses an entire stationery kit and toolkit into something as slim as what you’re looking at. CNC-machined out of titanium, with strategically placed magnets and space for hiding either a LAMY M22 refill or two screwdriver bits, the Vortex covers most of your basic stationery and multitool needs. Split into two parts, the Vortex serves as a ruler/scale that’s perfect for measuring, drawing lines, and even cutting against, along with a pen that lets you sketch ideas, make notes, or doodle away for inspiration. Built-in magnets help the ruler open out to an 8-inch measuring instrument, while also functioning as a sliding caliper set or even a protractor… and when you’re in a bit of a fix, the Vortex also lets you dock screwdriver bits into its titanium body, becoming a high-torque screwdriver.

Designer: MeTool

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $99 (30% Off) Hurry! Only 8 days left!

The Vortex Multitool Ruler Pen has a design that feels simultaneously fresh yet intuitive. A similar product hasn’t quite existed before, yet somehow using the Vortex doesn’t require a learning curve. Spend a couple of minutes interacting with and you’ll quickly pick up its features and begin using it like an expert in no time. The multitool pen comes as a single hexagonal entity that splits apart into two to reveal powerful rare-earth magnets on the inside, along with a machined cavity that’s perfectly sized to dock either a LAMY M22 refill, or a pair of 1/4″ and 1/6″ screwdriver bits. The Vortex ships with a LAMY refill included, although you could swap it out for standard screwdriver bits from your own toolkit.

The hexagonal design and built-in refill make for a wonderful writing experience, thanks to a hefty titanium body with a weighted design that feels great to the touch. Slide the two shafts of the pen apart and you’ll find a LAMY M22 refill on the inside. Flip the refill outwards before sliding the titanium shafts back into place and you’ve got yourself a writing instrument that’s just perfect for notes as well as sketches. Use the refill independently as a writing instrument, and the ‘hollow shell’ of the Vortex transforms into a scale. Strategically placed rare-earth magnets let the two shafts flip open into a scale that’s a precise 8.66 inches (220 millimeters) long. Metric and imperial markings on the Vortex’s body make it easy to measure, and the magnets also give the Vortex the ability to function as a protractor or even a vernier caliper that measures objects to the nearest millimeter.

Magnets let you use the Vortex in Protractor Mode

A Vernier Caliper mode lets you measure objects much more intuitively

The inner compartment that houses the LAMY refill is also perfectly machined to dock a 1/4″ and 1/6″ hex bit of your choice. If you’re less of a writing kind and more of an EDC enthusiast, this arrangement makes more sense. To use the Vortex as a screwdriver, simply dock the hex bits in their respective hexagonal holes machined into the ends of the Vortex’s body and you’ve now got a nifty high-torque screwdriver that’s perfect for DIY projects as well as for opening and repairing objects around the house.

Each Vortex Multitool Ruler Pen comes CNC-machined out of Grade-5 Titanium (with a sandblasted texture), making it the perfect hybrid between stationery and durable, long-lasting EDC. The hexagonal shape of the multitool pen is reminiscent of the iconic pencil, and also makes using, maneuvering, and lifting the tool off flat surfaces rather easy (unlike flat rulers/scales that are notoriously difficult to pick up). The built-in magnets are reliably powerful, and give the Vortex its unique versatility while also providing a rather enjoyable fidget ability that should keep your hands entertained as you brainstorm your next biggest idea!

The Vortex Multitool Ruler Pen comes with a LAMY refill included, and boasts a discounted price tag of $69 with free global shipping. For an extra $10, you can also grab yourself a leather carrying pouch for your Vortex, and an additional $15 gives you access to blue or purple anodized finishes.

You can even use a cutter against the Vortex’s titanium edges.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $99 (30% Off) Hurry! Only 8 days left!

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Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle SE Review: Every Little Bit Counts

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PROS:


  • Premium build quality and packaging

  • Includes plenty of extras, such as a glove, pen case, and two pens

  • Bundles versatile Quick Keys remote

  • Good performance and accuracy

CONS:


  • Expensive compared to other pen tablets (except Wacom)

  • A few driver quirks with Quick Keys remote

  • Tablet has too few shortcut keys without extra remote

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

A formidable rival to the Wacom Intuos, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle SE offers impressive performance, premium aesthetics, value-add extras, and a rather daunting price tag.

Plenty of designers love the simple joys and liberating functionality of pen and paper, but it gets harder and harder to escape the call of the digital realm. When it comes to tools for turning ideas and designs into digital artifacts, Wacom’s drawing tablets have long held the lion’s share of the market and continue to do so, at least on the high end. Plenty of alternatives have popped up in the past years, each trying to nibble at that large pie, especially with exponentially more affordable offerings. Almost out of nowhere, a new competitor jumps into the fray, loudly challenging the long-time champion on its own turf. The Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium makes quite a few promises, especially with its special Bundle, but are they just empty words or something that can truly stand the test of real-world problems? We put our creative hats on and give the pen a twirl to find out if this is a tool that designers and creatives can learn to love.

Designer: Xencelabs

Aesthetics

Even before you open the box, you already get the impression that this is no mere challenger. Granted, it goes back to the age of packaging that is more elaborate and sometimes wasteful than necessary, but it’s hard to deny that the quality of the Xencelabs Pen Tablet’s presentation definitely makes a good first impression. Fortunately, it isn’t just skin deep, and this high-quality trait continues to other parts of the product.

For one, you are immediately greeted by a tablet and accessories that are predominantly white with mixes of gray, a color scheme that is almost unheard of and unseen in the pen tablet industry. It’s definitely a nice touch that sets Xencelabs apart from its peers. Of course, not everyone will find this color appealing, and there’s a non-SE bundle that has the traditional black motif.

Although the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is your typical plastic affair, you can definitely feel in your hand that it isn’t the cheap and flimsy kind of plastic. It has a solid build quality that will be important if you plan on bringing this along with you a lot. The white surfaces are smooth and shiny, while the grays have different textures, depending on their purpose. The drawing area, of course, has a frosted texture that produces a more realistic drawing experience, while the rubber grip on the pens makes them more comfortable to hold.

The package also comes with a pen case that fits the two bundled pens, replacement nibs, a USB cable, and dongles for wireless connection. A pen case is already a rare treat on other tablets, but one that looks stylish inside and out is an even bigger deal. All in all, both the tablet and its bundled accessories look as premium as Wacom’s high-end offering, which shouldn’t really be surprising considering how much this bundle costs.

Ergonomics

As a tool that you’ll be using as much as pen and paper, it is critically important that this tablet and its pen are comfortable to use, especially for long periods of time. Despite the “tablet” being the main part of the product, it is actually the pen’s ergonomics that is even more important. Fortunately, Xencelabs doesn’t disappoint in this area either, with not one but two pens to fit your preference and style. One is the typical Wacom-style pen that swells near the bottom before tapering at the tip, creating a bulbous shape that is something uncommon with normal ink pens. The other pen is the regular barrel, which is more common among laptops and mobile devices that support a stylus.

While both pens are comfortable to hold, the choice won’t simply be a matter of preference. The larger pen has three buttons, while the smaller rod only has two, forcing you to decide between functionality and form. Fortunately, missing a button isn’t as devastating as it sounds since there’s a remote that comes with the bundle. Both pens also have erasers on the opposite end that you can map to other functions, a feature that, so far, only Wacom has been offering.

The ergonomics of the drawing slate itself boils down to two things. First is how light or heavy it is to carry around, which, in this case, is more on the heavier side, which adds to the weight of the laptop you already have in your bag. The other aspect is how well it supports your hand and your wrist while you draw on it. Unlike any other pen tablet, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium has a gently sloping bottom edge supposedly designed to be an ergonomic wrist rest. For those starting out with this tablet, that might indeed be comfortable, but those switching over from existing brands might find the curve a bit unfamiliar.

Performance

Xencelabs entered the drawing tablet scene with guns blazing, claiming to challenge Wacom on multiple fronts, especially the price. Of course, a lot of other brands have already been shouting the same thing, and their focus on the price tag produced less than impressive results. Admittedly, they have improved significantly over the years, but there’s still a gap between them and Wacom, a gap that the former Wacom employees that have formed Xencelabs are now trying to fill.

The good news is that Xencelabs isn’t all talk. Whichever of the two pens you choose, you’ll be able to get smooth, crisp lines with no jitter. You can definitely feel that 8,192 levels of sensitivity to the point that you might even want to dial it down a bit to suit your style and hand strength. The tablet’s surface has enough resistance that it doesn’t feel like you’re gliding plastic on glass, especially if you switch to the felt nibs that offer more traction. It’s definitely close to what you would expect from Wacom, but other more affordable tablets from XP-PEN, Huion, and the like are already catching up anyway, making this advantage less significant as time goes by.

The tablet’s value, however, goes beyond its raw drawing performance. For example, driver installation and software management has always been a bane of these computer peripherals, including Wacom. Xencelabs’ software, however, is almost perfect, except for a few glitches involving the included Quick Keys remote. The drivers work without problems, and the software to configure the tablet, pens, and remote is clearly labeled and easy to use. There are definitely a lot of features, almost too many for beginners.

One small but nice feature is the lights on the corners of the tablet’s active area, whose colors you can set on a per-app basis. It might sound inconsequential, but having very visible cues on the boundaries of the drawing area, as well as which app you’re focused on, can help a lot in staying sane during a crunch. That same light-changing feat can be seen on the remote’s dial, which can also change its hue depending on the mode it’s in.

If the tablet and the pen are the stars of the show, the bundled Quick Keys remote plays the supporting role. An accessory that comes as an expensive add-on on other brands, the remote offers 8 keys that can be assigned to different functions and 5 modes that bump up the total to 40 configurable shortcuts. That’s not counting the LED-lit dial that can be used to, for example, zoom in and out or change the brush size with a simple twist. Unlike other similar remotes, it has an OLED display that doesn’t force users to memorize which button does which action. The remote definitely works great and is one of the highlights of this package. Although it’s technically an extra, it actually becomes a necessity because the tablet, unlike others of its kind, only has three buttons that are awkwardly placed at the top. That might be far too few for the professionals that Xencelabs is targeting, making this $99.99 remote an essential part of its proposition.

Another thing that sets the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium apart is that it can work both with a USB cable and the included wireless dongle. The latter offers more flexibility in setting up your workspace or when working away from your desk without having to deal with the instability of Bluetooth. It does mean you’d be giving up a USB slot even when going wireless, which can become even more problematic when you use up another slot for the Quick Keys remote.

Sustainability

As a device that needs to be thin and lightweight, it’s really no surprise that the Xencelabs Pen Tablet and its accessories use plenty of plastic, although the packaging thankfully doesn’t have that much. If that weren’t bad enough, the track record of these kinds of devices being repaired and recycled isn’t that good, and most consumers opt to throw away and replace broken products instead of getting them repaired, especially when repair costs far outweigh new purchases. In that sense, there is very little that Xencelabs does differently from its peers, at least nothing that it has proudly revealed yet.

As an extremely young brand, it’s probably not that surprising that Xencelabs is laser-focused on actually cementing its place in the market. It has pit itself against a giant, and its survival and success is currently the most critical aspect of its business. At the same time, however, it is a young brand that could have made a difference right from the start with a stronger and more visible sustainability commitment. Only time will tell if it can get up to speed in this aspect, presuming it actually makes it through its first products.

Value

From a design and performance perspective, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is already quite a heavy hitter. It performs just as well as an equivalent Wacom Intuos Pro but also goes even beyond that with features like wireless connectivity, configurable LED indicators, and two pens right off the bat. The bundled Quick Keys remote definitely adds to the value, something that you’d have to buy separately with other brands.

Things get a little less clear-cut, however, when you start talking about the price. At $380 for the white Bundle SE or $370 for the standard Black version, it isn’t exactly the most affordable kit outside of Wacom. If you remove the remote, you’re still left at $280, easily three times the price of a medium-sized pen tablet from XP-PEN or Huion. Of course, compared to Wacom, you’re actually saving quite a lot, especially if you consider all the extras you’re getting. Needless to say, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is in a middle ground of sorts, muddling its overall value when compared against more affordable options, with or without an extra remote.

Verdict

Although it is still the household name among drawing tablets, both with displays or without, Wacom is no longer the only player in the field. A lot of rivals have risen up and have eaten away at its bottom line. There might still be a discernible difference between Wacom and other players when it comes to performance, but that gap is closing after years of improvement and development. Suffice it to say, there isn’t any lack of “Wacom alternatives,” which is what makes Xencelabs’ arrival both surprising and a little bit questionable.

Make no mistake, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle SE is impressive in almost all aspects. It looks and feels premium, especially with its uncommon white design, and its accuracy and responsiveness demonstrate its pedigree that can be traced back to Wacom itself. The bundle throws in plenty of nice extras, not least of which is the Quick Keys remote, which is still a great deal, even considering the price. It’s that price, however, that will cause many creatives to pause for thought when there are exactly many alternatives that can do just as well for a lot less. Xencelabs’ pricing makes a clear statement that it is aiming for Wacom’s throne, launching a premium device that puts it closer to the titleholder than other rivals. It remains to be seen, however, if this strategy will pay off or if the Xencelabs Pen Tablet will be a one-hit-wonder.

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Montblanc Ferrari Stilema SP3 fountain pen inspired by Daytona SP3 adapts to the writing style

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When two giants of their respective industry join forces, the end result is bound to be unique. The latest Montblanc and Ferrari partnership proves it with the Montblanc Ferrari Stilema SP3 fountain Pen.

The writing instrument is inspired by the curvy 2021 Ferrari Daytona SP3, and it does reflect in the final design as well. Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer, Ferrari himself delved deep into the creation of this limited-edition fountain pen. He passionately expresses that the creation was a “fascinating design challenge to translate the proportions and fluidity of the Daytona SP3, ideally contoured for dynamic performance.”

Designer: Montblanc and Ferrari

Those sexy sweeping lines of the Prancing Horse are instantly recognizable in the Ferrari Stilema SP3 contrasted by the semi-transparent blade-like section. This portion slices into the barrel of the pen that’s more like the sports car’s front section. The blade mentioned here slides back to one side to show the inner filling mechanism of the pen. Here the innards are made out of white gold.

As unique as the look is, the writing mechanics are also like none other. The pen’s nib is crafted out of malleable solid white gold to adapt to the user’s writing style or even sketching. Montblanc has used light titanium for the body frame, and the red blade alone took several months to research. The barrel has a monolithic solidity with a contoured section, balanced out with the flat surface for times when not in use.

The end result is a stunning illuminated material that reflects the same panache one would associate with a Ferrari power horse. In fact, Mazaoni says that the pen “supports the rapid movements of the hand as it writes, allowing thoughts to flow unimpeded.”

The function of this pen is also not neglected by any stretch of the imagination. It has an extremely ergonomic balance for writing pleasure. All this luxury will come at a steep price of $27,500. Keep in mind, only 599 limited pieces will be available worldwide through a special arrangement.

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This IoT ballpen uses built-in cameras and sensors to convert all your notes into a digital format

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Instead of spending nearly a grand on an iPad Pro and Pencil, the Nuwa Pen is a $179 device (pre-order price) that just actively digitizes your notes and doodles in real-time. Announced at CES 2023, the Nuwa looks just like any other ordinary pen, but comes with a built-in motion sensor and a triple camera array that captures what you’re writing, whether it’s a post-it note or a full-length essay, and saves a digital version of it, sharing it with you through the Nuwa app. All your notes are end-to-end encrypted too, which is more than what you can say for most note-taking apps.

Designer: Nuwa Innovation

The Nuwa pen outwardly looks pretty much like any other pen. There aren’t any wires, the gadget isn’t bulky. It looks sleek for the most part, and just has a slightly bulbous tip, where the sensors and cameras sit. Support for an infrared light sensor also allows the Nuwa to work in lower light conditions. The Nuwa pen is equipped to detect 4096 pressure levels, with the combination of sensors working in tandem to capture a high-quality version of your text in your unique handwriting. “Handwriting represents a deeply personal form of thinking”, says Nuwa’s founder and CEO, Mark Tunier.

The pen runs on a standard D1 ink cartridge that can easily be replaced once it runs out. Replacing the refill is easy too, and can be done without any technical expertise. On a full charge, the Nuwa can provide up to 2 hours worth of use, and can be recharged simply by resting it in its charging stand. The pen’s internal digitizing system only begins working when the pen touches paper, so as to cleverly optimize battery usage.

Notes are digitized right on the device and shared via Bluetooth to your phone. The Nuwa app can be used to sync your notes and take backups of them online, or even share them with team members via mail or through productivity tools. The Nuwa app is free of charge, although it does have a premium paid version that offers additional features like OCR which converts your handwritten text into an editable format.

The post This IoT ballpen uses built-in cameras and sensors to convert all your notes into a digital format first appeared on Yanko Design.

This toy-like modular highlighter is inspired by the flexibility of subway trains

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We’ve seen dozens, if not hundreds, of designs for pens so far, but these are not the only writing instruments you will have on your desk or inside your drawers. Although some might balk at the idea of leaving permanent marks on a book, highlighting text in documents or notes isn’t an uncommon practice to help zero in on important points. Compared to pens, highlighters don’t get as much attention or love, which almost suggests that there’s no room for improvement or creativity with their design. That’s not the case, of course, but it might require a little more outside-the-box thinking to get something that’s interesting and useful at the same time. Fortunately, there are designers that have taken up that challenge, and this fun-looking highlighter definitely checks those boxes and might even have the potential to be a sustainable design as well.

Designer: Wonjun Jo

Different countries have different train systems, some arguably better than others. Countries in East Asia, like South Korea and Japan, are known for color-coded lines that easily tell where a particular train is going, at least once you’ve memorized which color is assigned to which line. There’s an analogy there in how we also assign different meanings to different colors when we highlight books or notes, with similar colors forming a distinct line of thought or topic. It’s no coincidence, then, that this highlighter design gets its inspiration from Korea’s subway trains, but the way it implements this inspiration goes far beyond just color.

For one, the highlighter is shaped like a train, with the first or front car serving as the cap. A rectangular block like this might be the most ergonomic shape for a pen, but a highlighter can get away with it because you don’t use it for long periods of time. Unlike a real-world train that travels along a single colored line only, the highlighter has removable segments of different colors designed as individual train carts or carriages. And just like a real train, these pieces can be separated and rearranged as needed.

What this means is that you don’t need to have a different highlighter for a different color and only need to move the appropriate card to the front. The design doesn’t explicitly mention it, but there seems to be room to refill the “carts” or even replace the tips. In other words, you’ll only need one highlighter and one highlighter only, making the design more sustainable than regular highlighters, especially single-use highlighters.

The train inspiration can be seen even in the packaging, which mimics design cues from train maps and transit cards. LINE definitely gives this oft-ignored tool a refreshing and enjoyable design, highlighting how there can be plenty of opportunities to improve its experience.

The post This toy-like modular highlighter is inspired by the flexibility of subway trains first appeared on Yanko Design.