Leila Ensaniat Receives the Golden A' Design Award for Pulse Functional Writing Instrument in 3D Printed Forms and Products Design

Leila Ensaniat recognized for 3D printed forms and products design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Pulse Functional Writing Instrument by Leila Ensaniat, designed for N I L A, has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in the 3D Printed Forms and Products Design category. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

About the Golden A' Design Award

The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.

Regarding Pulse Functional Writing Instrument

Pulse is a pen designed as both a writing tool and a sculptural object. The form is inspired by the calm shape of a cloud and appears to float. Generative patterns drawn from nature create biomorphic structures on the surface. Pulse is produced by lost wax casting, a method that reproduces fine organic detail. The pen can be cast in aluminum, silver, bronze or gold, with a polished or brushed finish. The height is 160 mm and the diameter is 13.5 mm. Metal finishing adds depth, texture and a tactile quality to a familiar everyday object.

About Leila Ensaniat

Creative Industrial Designer with a strong track record of success at Cisco, specializing in consumer electronic products. passionate about creating value through human-centered design, leveraging insights into human experiences to craft innovative solutions. Committed to understanding and addressing user needs and developing strategies and experiences that shape the future. Thrives in collaborative, cross-functional environments, working seamlessly with diverse teams to uncover new opportunities.

Award Record

With this recognition, Leila Ensaniat is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. The awards span the editions from 2019 - 2020 to 2024 - 2025 of the A' Design Award & Competition.

About the A' 3D Printed Forms and Products Design Award

The A' 3D Printing Design Award is an international 3D printing design competition recognizing good 3D printed works by designers and creators worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to 3D printing designers, industrial design studios, product designers and 3D printing brands from all countries. Entries typically include products designed and realized with latest technologies, 3D printed products, prosthetics, architectural models, jewelry and furniture. Awarded 3D printed designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/3d-printing

About A' Design Award & Competition

A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://designers.org/172434
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/172434
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!172434
Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/214366
Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.leilaensaniat.com/

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: Pulse Functional Writing Instrument
Function: Functional Writing Instrument
Category: 3D Printed Forms and Products Design
Discipline: Industrial Design
Industry: Manufacturing and Innovation
Colors: Rosy Brown, Light Gray, Dark Gray, Dim Gray and Dark Slate Gray
Images: 5
Client: N I L A

The Recognition

Laureate: Leila Ensaniat
Country: United States of America
Recognition: Golden A' Design Award
Edition: 2024 - 2025
Design ID: #172434

Credits

Design Details

Unique Properties: This project explores the potential of generative patterns inspired by nature, transforming them into biomorphic structures that enhance both the visual and functional qualities of the product. By experimenting with a variety of metal finishing techniques, the design gains depth, texture, and subtle reflection, turning a simple object into a tactile and visual experience. The process also offered valuable insight into the craftsmanship of metal finishing and plating, bridging digital design with traditional material processes.
Inspiration: Pulse is a floating pen, inspired by the quiet grace of a cloud. It brings new life to an everyday object that has remained unchanged for years. Light, calm, and balanced, it invites a moment of pause in a busy day. Each detail was shaped to feel natural, clear, and easy to use a small object made with care, to feel just right in your hand and your space.
Research: This project explores the balance between everyday function and sculptural form by reimagining the pen as a minimal, floating object inspired by the elegance of a cloud. Biomorphic patterns and surface treatments enhance its tactile and visual quality. Crafted through lost wax casting in aluminum, silver, bronze, and gold, Pulse blends traditional metalwork with contemporary design to create a writing tool that invites interaction and reflection.
Challenge: The challenge was to redesign a familiar object, the pen. into a sculptural, functional piece. Inspired by nature, the biomorphic form required careful balance between aesthetics and ergonomics. Lost wax casting was chosen to capture detail, but limited studio access during early 2022 required adaptability and hands-on experimentation. This process deepened the understanding of material, craft, and emotional design.
Realization and Technology: The piece is crafted using the lost wax method (investment casting), allowing for precise reproduction of organic, detailed forms. It can be cast in a range of metals, including aluminum, silver, bronze, and even real gold offering versatility in both finish and value. This traditional technique brings a refined, timeless quality to a contemporary design.
Operation and Interaction: Pulse functions as a writing tool, but invites interaction as a sculptural object. Its form encourages touch, exploration, and visual appreciation even when not in use. The unique surface treatments add depth and texture, creating a tactile experience that goes beyond writing. More than a pen, it becomes a moment of pause and beauty on your desk.
Project Duration and Location: The project began in January 2022 in Los Angeles and was completed in February 2023. It started as an exploration of surface treatments that could transform the pen from a simple writing instrument into a sculptural object. This artistic approach guided the design process from concept to completion
Specifications: Pen Height: 160 mm Pen Diameter: 13.5 mm Materials: Cast in aluminum, silver, bronze, or gold (via lost wax method) Finish: Polished or brushed metal options
Keywords: Floating Pen, Sculptural Object, Biomorphic Design, Generative Pattern, Everyday Object, Nature-Inspired, Minimal Design, Tactile Experience, Functional Sculpture, Craftsmanship, Artistic Tool