People are much more productive on coffee, they say. A single cup can get you working with more energy and focus, but one company is making your cup of coffee a little more productive than you think. While the coffee you drink enriches your mind, the coffee grounds you throw away after the brewing process can apparently be bound into pencil leads, letting you literally write/sketch/doodle WITH coffee! Meet GRIND Z – a pencil lead that ditches graphite for coffee, giving you an all-natural zero-waste alternative to regular pencils. The 5.6mm lead fits into any clutch pencil that accepts leads that size, allowing you to scribble, write, take notes, doodle, and sketch with coffee. Each lead is made up of recycled coffee grounds along with a combination of binding agents – and the result is an earthy brown lead that writes on paper and actually has a coffee aroma too!
Coffee grounds are a major contributor to landfill waste, with millions of tons ending up in dumps each year. GRIND Z effectively diverts these grounds from an unwanted fate, giving them a new life as a creative tool. The company behind this project, Zirobio, is a biotechnology firm dedicated to developing sustainable solutions through bio-based materials. Initiated by Hailey and Miles, avid coffee drinkers, the GRIND Z was their way of seeing if this humble cup of coffee – a symbol of work, happiness, and hustle – could be channeled into something else. Something that transforms coffee waste into even more productivity.
This is a 5.6mm pencil lead containing 20% recycled coffee grounds and other components like wax and adhesives.
Coffee has been embraced by the art community already, with people using espresso and black coffee to make stained art. The liquid imparts a brown or ochre tint on paper, depending on how diluted it is – Zirobio’s idea builds on this already existing trend, transforming it from liquid to lead. One cup of coffee can generate enough grounds for up to 6 leads, Zirobio says. Each GRIND Z lead boasts a unique blend of 20% recycled coffee grounds and 80% essential binding agents like waxes and adhesives. This carefully formulated combination ensures a smooth writing experience you expect from high-quality pencil lead. But the real magic lies in the subtle, natural coffee aroma (with a hint of bitterness) that lingers with each stroke, adding a delightful sensory element to the drawing/writing process.
The lead comes in a standard 5.6mm size, ensuring compatibility with most clutch pencils – the refillable mechanical pencils commonly used by artists and designers. Zirobio even offers a sleek aluminum clutch pencil as part of their Kickstarter rewards, creating a perfect match for the eco-friendly lead. The natural brown hue of the coffee grounds eliminates the need for artificial coloring, resulting in a unique aesthetic that complements the sustainable philosophy behind the product.
Beyond its eco-friendly credentials, GRIND Z offers a captivating visual appeal. The subtle variations in the brown tones add a touch of organic charm to your artwork or sketches. This earthy aesthetic sets it apart from traditional graphite leads, allowing artists to explore a new visual language in their work. The lead can be used with a clutch pencil or even as a crayon. It supports being sharpened by a knife or a sharpener, with zero wastage (because there’s no wood being used), and if all that wasn’t impressive, the GRIND Z is naturally skin-friendly, allowing people with sensitive skin to handle it with ease.
You can grab yourself a 2-pack of GRIND Z leads (each pack contains 6 leads) for $26 and YD readers get a free custom-made coffee bean ring too. Alternatively, a $29 pledge gets you a GRIND Z 2-pack along with a compatible 5.6mm aluminum clutch pencil. If you own a coffee shop or a small studio, YD readers can also enjoy a 34% discount, getting a 10-pack of GRIND Z and 10 clutch pencils for $109, adding a sustainable highlight to your brand. Additionally, stretch goals have unlocked more free rewards with free shipping, such as art posters, coffee ground soap, and coffee ground mugs, included along with your order.
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.
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.
Despite what its founder once said, Apple has wholeheartedly embraced the stylus, at least for its iPads. In fact, you could even say it innovated an accessory that hasn’t seen much change in years, introducing magnetic charging and invisible touch-sensitive buttons to the design. Its minimalist aesthetic and familiar shape have also made it more open to custom designs and skins that allow owners to express themselves beyond a simple white or black stick. Of course, this also presented an opportunity for accessory makers to establish a new market segment made especially just for this Apple stylus. Skin manufacturer Colorware is just the latest to jump on that bandwagon, but its Apple Number 2 Pencil is quite unique in more ways than one.
The first Apple Pencil was pretty much a smooth and slippery cylinder that forced some people to put on grips or skins just to be able to securely hold the stylus. The second-gen Pencil improved the design with a somewhat hexagonal body that gave it a better grip but also inspired even more skins to embellish the Apple Pencil’s appearance. After all, with that familiar shape and generic name, it’s almost a dead knocker for the iconic Number 2 pencil known by people of all ages throughout the world.
The Colorware Apple Number 2 Pencil is one such makeover for Apple’s current stylus, but it takes the modification to the extreme. It definitely looks like the Number 2 or HB pencil with its glossy yellow body, orange eraser, and silver band that connects these two parts. Colorware, however, takes the homage one step further: even the tip is black, like a typical graphite pencil.
The nib of the Apple Pencil is, of course, white, and almost all skins stop at covering the barrel only. That’s because you can’t really cover the nib and expect its performance to be unaffected. The manufacturer naturally doesn’t divulge what it used to coat the nib, so you’ll have to trust that the Apple Number 2 Pencil will still remain as functional as a regular Apple Pencil.
The catch to this almost faithful recreation of the classic HB pencil is that it costs a whopping $215. Considering the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil retails for $129, that’s not a small cost added on top. A regular skin would only set you back $13 or so, though you’d also have to look for unofficial black nibs if you want to get the complete look. It also doesn’t indicate if that price includes extra nibs, so you might find yourself at a loss when this special black tip needs to be replaced.
We’ve all been through those panicked moments when we try to scramble for a pen or even a pencil and neither is in sight, let alone within reach. Thanks to a renaissance of paper notebooks and analog productivity systems, it’s no longer weird to be carrying a writing instrument with you all the time, sometimes even in your pocket. Not all pens and pencils, however, are made to be shoved in pockets, especially when it comes to pencils that have fragile leads that easily break at the slightest pressure. But what if you had a writing tool that never ran out of ink, never needed to be sharpened, and never snapped in two when you accidentally sat on it? That’s the kind of handwriting bliss that the Pocket Everlasting Metal Pencil brings to your pocket, bag, or EDC toolkit, ensuring you’ll have something to write down your thoughts with at the moment that inspiration strikes.
Although an ink pen is the preferred tool for jotting down notes, some prefer the centuries-old pencil for its more forgiving and expressive properties. That’s mostly thanks to the nature of the graphite core that leaves its unique mark on paper or other mediums. But whether the pencil is traditional or mechanical, it has the almost innate drawback of needing to be sharpened or replaced because the “lead” has become dull or has broken off. When that happens, not only does your flow of thought get broken as well, you also start to get stressed while scrambling for a sharpener or replacement leads.
This all-metal pocket pencil removes that weakness by using an ingenious special alloy core that barely needs sharpening or not at all. That alloy, however, still contains graphite so it leaves the same marks that a regular clay or charcoal-based pencil would. In other words, you get the same writing experience and quality as a 2H pencil, but without the hassles of “running out” of lead or even ink.
What makes this everlasting pencil even more special is its size. At only 4.7 inches (120mm) long, it is the perfect length to keep in your pocket so you always have it at hand when you need it. At the same time, it isn’t too short to make writing for long periods of time uncomfortable. It strikes the perfect balance between portability and ergonomics, something that a regular pencil can’t even achieve.
The design of the pencil is quite distinctive as well, sporting a faceted metal barrel with a matte texture that improves your grip and prevents the pencil from rolling off desks. It also comes with a rather cute leather cap so you don’t accidentally leave marks inside your pockets. Whether you’re scribbling notes or drafting your next designs, you can enjoy a stress-free and expressive writing experience by having this everlasting all-metal pencil always in your pocket.
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, we’ve curated a collection of innovative and nifty stationery designs that you must own! From an everlasting all-metal pencil to a note-taking desk accessory – these are the modern stationery designs you need to meet your modern stationery needs.
1. Everlasting All-Metal Pencil
Wouldn’t it be grand if, like a Wacom stylus, you rarely have to replace a tip or barely sharpen your pencil at all? That sounds almost like a pipe dream, but that dream has fortunately become real with this everlasting metal pencil that lets you worry less about lead and focus more on your creative process.
Why is it noteworthy?
At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.
What we like
It uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, so it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you
What we dislike
It doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques
2. Note
Paper can be simple, and apps can be quick, but not everyone needs all the commitment these two note-taking methods sometimes require. There are those that just need to jot down quick notes or even draw a diagram that can be discarded before the day is over. Note, which is the most generic name ever, is pretty much a small desk whiteboard that lets you do that with efficiency, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that a bit of spice and fun to your work.
Why is it noteworthy?
The “whiteboard” twists or rather flips over, giving you twice the space to write your notes down. One side can have a dotted grid surface to help with diagrams, while the other can be plain, or they can have the same design on both sides. As with any vertical slate, you can also place sticky notes on it, in case scribbling notes down on paper is quicker for you.
What we like
What makes Note unique is the addition of a multi-purpose vertical screen to its left side, this allows you to also have a view of the time, the calendar, and your appointments which are synced from your phone
What we dislike
The screen doesn’t show videos, a function that some people may need for their work
3. LEGO Star-Lord Helmet Pen Stand
Launched just a week before the new Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 drops, this adorably functional build from LEGO also doubles up as a stationery holder and pen stand for your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
The iconic headgear sits on a platform with a label underneath, measuring 7 inches in height and comprising 602 pieces. Even with as few bricks as that, the helmet looks impressively similar to the original, with everything from those red-tinted eyepieces to the valves on the face mask that helps Peter Quill breathe in outer space.
What we like
It is a functional device, that helps you store things inside the helmet’s hollow space, including stationery, cables, or even EDC like your AirPods
What we dislike
It is a niche product, only targetted towards LEGO lovers, so it won’t work for everybody
4. The Slope
The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is made from bent steel sheets and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.
What we like
If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard
Smooth and easy to use
What we dislike
You can’t save what you were writing into the cloud nor can you digitize it if you need to save what you wrote
5. The Levitating Pen
Much like its name, the Levitating Pen actually does seem to be levitating! It looks as if the pen is suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle. Designed to be a grand writing instrument, the pen features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and super easy to hold and creates a smooth and luxurious writing experience. And once you take a break from writing, the pen doesn’t go back to a boring old pen stand, it goes back to levitating!
Why is it noteworthy?
When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!
What we like
The pen is super fun to interact with
Quite easy to hold and write with
Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster
What we dislike
No option of personalization or custom color variations are available
6. Wooden Pen Holder
There’s something almost poetic about the act of picking up a brush or a fountain pen from an inkwell, drawing your strokes, and dipping it back in to be ready for when the next inspiration strikes, a feeling that’s almost lost even with the most elaborate and extravagant pens today. Not unless you have a pen holder that brings back that atmosphere, like a block of wood that could be the most Zen pen holder to ever adorn your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
This wooden block is both unassuming and, at the same time, beautiful in its simplicity, as many minimalist products are wont to be. Made from genuine maple wood, each piece has grains and patterns that make it unique and special. Without saying explicitly, it’s an assurance that each black will be one of a kind, giving you the feeling that this pen holder was crafted just for you. Together with an equally stylish pen, this block transforms any desk into a thinker’s workbench, where the tools of the trade are just at an arm’s reach.
What we like
The Wooden Pen Holder has a gently curving depression that can accommodate any pen with a standard size
When you pick the pen up, you almost believe that the ink will also follow it up from an invisible well of ideas
What we dislike
It occupies precious real estate on a bench that cannot be adjusted/reduced
7. Hexcal Studio
British company Hexcal created the Hexcal Studio desktop organizer, which aims to be the ultimate desktop organizer and workspace accessory you need!
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to be a monitor stand and a desktop organizer, the Hexcal Studio attempts to eliminate clutter, hide wires and provide shadowless lighting. The goal is to create a neat, tidy, and destressing workspace where wires are smartly hidden, and multiple screens can be installed to support a conducive work environment.
What we like
The organizer’s distribution system can support up to 14 devices, including those on AC, DC, and wireless power
Its patented cable management system will make all your wires disappear, providing you with a wire-free desk
What we dislike
Large + space-consuming design. It will take up a lot of space on your desk
8. The Japanese Paper Memo Block
The Japanese paper Memo Block comes in to provide a temporary shelter for those itinerant thoughts of yours.
Why is it noteworthy?
There is nothing more welcoming and more freeing than a blank sheet of paper that’s ready to record those fleeting thoughts, flashes of inspiration, or even tasks that were suddenly dumped on your lap. With no other markings, not even grids or lines, this white Memo Block lets you focus on the simplest task at hand, jotting that note down before you get distracted again. And with its smaller footprint, it’s easy to put a block of paper anywhere on your desk, in any position or orientation, so that it will always be within easy reach when your Muse or your colleague visits you.
What we like
Its pure black surface challenges the mind as if daring it to put an unconventional and exciting new thought on paper
Uses high-quality Japanese paper revered by many stationery connoisseurs
What we dislike
The pad lacks any cover or label that showcases its design qualities
9. Lifestyle Tool File Organizers
This rather ingenious organizer design comes in handy for your workdesk! From the outside and when they’re closed, they look like regular, nondescript file binders.
Why is it noteworthy?
Open them up, however, and you’ll see plenty of space for almost any kind of tool or supply. Simply pull one out using the typical ring hole, open it up, and you’ll have access to whatever you need to get the job done. It’s only a few steps more compared to reaching out for an open desk organizer but not much more compared to pulling out tools from a drawer.
What we like
Made from hard paperboard, the organizers also offer a more sustainable solution to the growing number of plastic products sitting on your desk
What we dislike
The design keeps the products hidden/away from sight, which is good for those who want a clean-looking setup but not for those who enjoy showcasing the products they have
10. Colored Curve Pens
Dual-tipped pens are something that has been around for a while and are quite universally liked. However, these Colored Curve Pens from Aechy go beyond your usual dual-tipped pens! On one end of these pens lay down patterns to help decorate your notebook – patterns such as waves, heart-roses, flowers, dots, and dashes.
Why is it noteworthy?
Basically what you get is a stamp-like roller that you can use for your journaling, doodling, drawing, scrapbooking, or any other paper-related tasks. The dual-tip markers come in 8 different colors and five mark line types.
What we like
Helps the artistically challenged with drawing
40% more ink than the brand’s regular pens
What we dislike
You can’t choose a specific color for a specific pattern so you’ll have to make do with the options that they have
Despite the variety of pens or the ubiquity of computers, the humble pencil has remained the tool of choice of writers, draftsmen, designers, and artists for centuries. Of course, there are different grades that determine the marks they leave behind, but nothing can be simpler than picking up even the most common Number 2 (2H) pencil and immediately putting your thoughts down to paper. That is, until your tip breaks or becomes too short, forcing you to break your train of thought to scramble for a sharpener. Wouldn’t it be grand if, like a Wacom stylus, you rarely have to replace a tip or barely sharpen it at all? That sounds almost like a pipe dream, but that dream has fortunately become real with this everlasting metal pencil that lets you worry less about lead and focus more on your creative process.
At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.
It isn’t magic but science, at least a very creative application of science. That special alloy core contains graphite, the very same graphite used in all pencils, and the friction caused by writing or drawing leaves particles of this graphite and alloy behind. But because it uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you. That means you can write on and on, for about 10 miles worth of scribbles, before you even have to worry about things getting a little too dull.
At the same time, however, this seemingly immortal pencil’s marks can be erased just like any regular pencil. Whether it’s gum, rubber, vinyl, or anything else, you don’t have to worry about immortalizing your mistakes, either. But because it uses friction to make the particles adhere to the material, it doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques, but it’s going to be a lifesaver for watercolor artists.
With a core that barely wears down over time, this might be the only pencil you’ll ever need. It’s a good thing, then, that it looks and feels great as well. The metal shaft gives the writing tool a well-balanced weight and a matte texture that makes it feel luxurious in your hand. Stop worrying about breaking your train of thought when you need to sharpen a pencil and start leaving your mark on the world with this handsome full-metal pencil that won’t fail you when you need it the most.
Despite the prevalence of digital devices and tools, people still have a special place for pens and pencils in their hearts. Pencils, most especially, have been a favorite for centuries when it comes to putting thoughts and ideas on paper, especially because they easily allow you to correct mistakes. The basic pencil, however, has remained the same during that period as well, and even the more recent mechanical pencil hasn’t changed much since its incarnation. Pencils still need to be sharpened or have their leads replaced, and there will always come a time when they can no longer be used. That doesn’t have to be where the story ends, though, and this pencil uses innovative technology to make it last more than your lifetime.
Traditional wooden pencils are cheap, easy to buy, and easy to use. That’s why very few people give a second thought to how wasteful they can be in the long run. Millions of trees have to be cut down to supply the world’s pencil needs, but billions of these wooden pencils are also thrown out even before every last bit of graphite has been used up. Common mechanical pencils are no better because most of them use harmful plastics.
Stilform AEON is an attempt to finally evolve the pencil beyond its graphite and wooden roots, creating a writing tool that works almost like magic. Instead of a tip or refill with graphite and a wooden body, you get a metal tip that writes on paper, almost like the real deal. In reality, that metal tip oxidizes the surface of the paper it touches, leaving marks similar to graphite. It’s significantly better than graphite, though, because it won’t smudge and is waterproof, but it can still be easily erased. It won’t even write on fabric, so you can keep the pencil in your pocket without worrying about stray marks.
An All-in-One Pencil with Switchable Magnetic Tips – In need of a pencil for note-taking or just a quick sketch? Made possible by Aeon’s neodymium magnet, you can switch freely between an “Eternal” metal tip and a graphite tip for different pencil uses.
That metal “Eternal Tip” is obviously something you don’t need to sharpen, and it will hardly wear down over time. If you do want or need to replace one, however, it’s easy to buy a spare and switch it out thanks to strong neodymium magnets connecting the tip and the barrel. There’s also a graphite tip available in case you really need a more conventional mark. The marks it leaves are darker than the metal tip but can still be erased just as easily.
The Eternal Tip – The natural and non-toxic Tin and Bismuth elements join together to create pencil-like marks. This tip hardly wears itself down over time.
Textile Safe. Smudge-free and Water-proof – When your work is finished, your hands or sleeves remain clean. Liquid won’t make the marks fade. As neat as its strokes are, they are still erasable like a 2H-pencil.
Graphite Tip. Sketcher’s Choice – For a more conventional pencil experience, just switch to the graphite tip. Its strokes are darker but easily erased too.
A Design with Pending US Patent – Tired of fractured pencil tips? You never have to worry about a fragile construction with AEON’s powerful metal body and Eternal tip combination.
Anti-roll Chamfers – The distinctive flat sides along the pencil, decorated with tasteful veneers, stop pen-rolling effectively.
While the Stilform AEON’s metal tip is magical, its barrel is magnificent in its metallic beauty. Its chamfered design ensures that the pen will stop rolling after a few turns, preventing it from falling or getting lost. Both the materials and production processes are guaranteed to be lead-free, making it safe and environment-friendly as well.
The Stilform AEON is available in four different metal bodies, including aluminum, titanium, magnesium, and brass. The latter will develop a unique patina over time, turning the pencil into a potential heirloom to pass on to family or friends. Each pencil also comes with a choice of veneers such as walnut, ebony, or maple, giving the barrel a classic look while also improving its ergonomics. With a price tag that starts at just $51, the Stilform AEON easily pays for itself in a short period of time, letting you simply create without having to worry about running out of lead forever.
Meet the Stilform AEON, a pencil that lasts eons, as its name rightfully suggests. Designed by the company that won the World’s Best Pen award for the Stilform Pen back in 2016, the AEON is the result of a nifty material innovation that turns the pencil immortal. Made with a special metal tip that oxidizes paper, leaving a grey streak as a pencil would, the Stilform AEON lets you write effortlessly and endlessly. Unlike graphite pencils, AEON’s lines are smudge-proof and waterproof. Besides, since this tip’s made of metal rather than graphite, you can easily put it in your pocket without worrying about it leaving any marks.
The AEON is designed based on Stilform’s classic format. The pencil takes on a minimalist cylindrical style, machined entirely from a single piece of metal. It does, however, come with two flat surfaces that prevent the pencil from rolling around, and with the AEON, these flat surfaces are lined with beautiful FSC-certified wood veneers that provide a great contrast against the pencil’s all-metal design. The ‘Eternal Tip’ which sits on the top of the pencil is made from an alloy of Tin and Bismuth, giving it the unique property to ‘write’ without actually ever depleting.
You can write on paper or on a variety of surfaces (it’s textile proof so don’t worry about getting marks on your clothes) and you never need to sharpen the tip or worry about it running out. However, if you just want a more traditional writing experience, the AEON’s Eternal Tip snaps out magnetically, and lets you add in the pencil’s modular Graphite Tip instead. With the Graphite Tip magnetically loaded into the AEON, your pencil is now a sleeker, sexier-looking version of the traditional graphite pencil. Its strokes are darker, but it’s erasable and can be smudged for artistic effect.
An All-in-One Pencil with Switchable Magnetic Tips – In need of a pencil for note-taking or just a quick sketch? Made possible by Aeon’s neodymium magnet, you can switch freely between an “Eternal” metal tip and a graphite tip for different pencil uses.
The Eternal Tip – The natural and non-toxic Tin and Bismuth elements join together to create pencil-like marks. This tip hardly wears itself down over time.
Textile Safe. Smudge-free and Water-proof – When your work is finished, your hands or sleeves remain clean. Liquid won’t make the marks fade. As neat as its strokes are, they are still erasable like a 2H-pencil.
Graphite Tip. Sketcher’s Choice – For a more conventional pencil experience, just switch to the graphite tip. Its strokes are darker but easily erased too.
A Design with Pending US Patent – Tired of fractured pencil tips? You never have to worry about a fragile construction with AEON’s powerful metal body and Eternal tip combination.
Anti-roll Chamfers – The distinctive flat sides along the pencil, decorated with tasteful veneers, stop pen-rolling effectively.
The AEON is available in as many as 4 different metal bodies, in a total of six styles. For an everlasting body to match the everlasting tip, you can opt for its titanium build, available in matte, DLC black, and mirror polished, or go for other materials like aluminum for a few anodized color options, magnesium if you want something lightweight, or brass, which weighs significantly more for a heavier, stabler writing experience.
The brass option is also the only one that will patina over time, giving your AEON a distinct look that’s unique to you. Stilform offers the AEON in a variety of combinations, matching metals with aptly chosen wood veneers placed on the flat sides to add an earthy streak to your pencil while also preventing it from rolling off tabletop surfaces.
Once you’ve decided which AEON you want, you can claim it through your pledge on Kickstarter, with the Aluminum/Magnesium variants priced at €49 ($50 USD) and the titanium/brass variants at €79 ($80 USD), or €109 ($111 USD) for the Titanium Black DLC version.
It feels like paper and works like paper, so you won’t believe it’s not really paper.
Paper notebooks haven’t really gone out of fashion despite the prevalence of smartphones, tablets, and computers. In fact, one could even notice that they have become even more popular these days, especially with the popularity of paper-based productivity systems like the Bullet Journal. Paper is ubiquitous, doesn’t require learning to use, and is biodegradable, but it doesn’t mean it has no impact on the environment, especially when there’s too much of them wasted or even unused. There is clearly a need and the market for a more sustainable option, and this innovative twist on the paper notebook, one that you can reuse infinitely and is almost as eternal as the ideas and experiences you will write on it.
There have been a few attempts at a reusable notebook, but they have all had their critical flaws. One requires a microwave to literally nuke the notebook and can only be reused up to five times or so. Another requires a special kind of ink, putting users at the mercy of manufacturers’ whims and bottom lines. nuka resolves all those problems with a very simple design that belies the creativity, imagination, and technology that make this notebook a true marvel.
There are three parts to what makes the nuka notebook tick, and the most important is arguably the notebook itself. Using a special material made of polypropylene, the notebook removes the need to cut down trees to fill up the pages. Thanks to its matte finish and smooth surface, the pages feel just like high-quality paper. Unlike paper, though, it is virtually indestructible. It is tear-resistant and waterproof, which means you can use it in almost any situation where you need to write something down, including in the rain. Those dreams of being able to jot ideas inside the shower can now become a reality.
Completely Rewritable
Cofee-proof
Water-proof
Tear-resistant
Of course, a blank sheet of paper, no matter how beautiful, remains blank until you write something on it. With nuka, you don’t have to use any special ink to leave a mark, and you can even use other kinds of ordinary pens and pencils (with some exceptions). The magic, however, really happens with the Eternal Pencil, a fitting name for a writing tool that doesn’t run out of ink and doesn’t need to be sharpened. Almost like an all-metal version of the Apple Pencil, the Eternal Pencil is a solid and ergonomic rod with a unique metal alloy tip that oxidizes the surface of the Eternal Notebook, creating marks that look like they were made by a regular pencil. You can even press harder to create darker marks, just like a regular pencil.
Last but not least, the Magic Eraser is true to its name and wipes off all traces on the page like magic. It can even erase marks made by other pencils and pens, with gel pens and permanent markers being the lone exceptions. Of course, you’ll want to save your pages first before wiping them down, and the nuka mobile app is the perfect way to capture and store your scribbles and sketches for reference and posterity. The app automatically straightens and cleans up the image to put your content front and center. It can even recognize tasks and schedules on specially-marked pages and add them to the app’s built-in to-do list and calendar app.
Reusable, sustainable, and eternal, the nuka notebook promises stationery that might even outlive you. Best of all, the $59 price tag on an Eternal Notebook, Eternal Pencil, and a bottle of Magic Eraser bundle quickly pays for itself with all the savings from new notebooks, refills, and pencils. Better be quick on those fingers, though, as this $30 discount for Yanko Design readers won’t last long, definitely not as long as the nuka notebook.
When pencils are used and become short, they are usually thrown away and contribute to waste. The eraser too goes to waste just because the pencil is shorter and uncomfortable to hold even though it is not entirely useless. So how can we make the most of the entire pencil and all its parts? Meet the Loop pencil – this clever design not only makes it easier to use the pencil till the end of its life but also uses the eraser to double up as a stand to keep your desk clutter-free!
More than 14 billion pencils are created every year, which is enough to circle the earth 62 times, and 82,000 trees are cut down every year to make those 14 billion traditional wooden pencils. While they are natural and almost 100% biodegradable, doesn’t mean we can get away with wasting them just due to their design while they are still good to use and that is where Loop comes in with its nifty tweaks to the existing pencil. If pencils were a pokemon that could evolve, Loop would be its final evolution!
Loop has three parts and each has an important function to optimize the product – the pencil, the clip and the eraser. Once the pencil becomes shorter, you use the clip which acts as an extended grip and it also doubles up as an attachment so you can clip it on your documents just like a pen. The eraser doubles up as a vertical pen stand so that the desk doesn’t have a cluster of pencils and you can easily find one that belongs to you. Loop’s simple yet modular design makes it effective, reduces waste, and maximizes the use of the product.
The idea was to extend the life of pencils and erasers but also make them more functional (and fun!). Loop believes that with one more rotation of using the pencil, you can decrease waste and make the most of existing stationery. Since pencils are made of wood and the raw materials come from forests, we should be mindful about using them fully and do our part in saving trees through small actions. You can freely combine different forms through the “one turn, one change” method and show more love to the environment as a stationery lover!
Designer: Ye Feng, Yu Zhenfa, Lin Weifeng, Tian Zhen, and Zhu Hengchang
