Creator Balpen by Zhengliang Zhong and Fangeng He

Creator Balpen by Zhengliang Zhong and Fangeng He is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award in IJzer in Kunst- en Kantoorbenodigdheden Ontwerp Competition Category.

IJzerKunstbenodigdheden· 2023

Creator Balpen

by Zhengliang Zhong and Fangeng He

Client: Dong Guan Jian Lin Industrial Co., Ltd

A' Design Award in IJzer Winner in Kunstbenodigdheden Category

38,409

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #144967

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Creator Balpen

Book Text: Creator is een modulaire balpen die gebruikers zelf samenstellen. De uitgeholde metalen behuizing onthult de schroeven, veren en mechanische structuur binnenin. Externe accessoires in verschillende kleuren, vormen en materialen worden verbonden via een universele interface, waardoor de onderdelen als bouwstenen in elkaar passen en elke pen persoonlijk wordt. De behuizing is volledig van metaal gemaakt. Met uitzondering van vullingen en veren worden de meeste onderdelen in één enkel proces voltooid en zijn de materialen volledig recyclebaar, wat het energieverbruik en materiaalverspilling vermindert.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in IJzer

Creator Balpen is winnaar van de A' Design Award in IJzer, een prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan goede ontwerpen die voldoen aan de professionele en industriële eisen die worden verwacht van goed ontworpen creaties. Winnaars in IJzer tonen grote vaardigheid, hoge specialisatie, deskundig inzicht en het creatieve vermogen van hun makers. Creator Balpen wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerde, bewonderde en gekoesterde creatie te zijn die praktisch en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in IJzer heeft gewonnen, integreert de beste praktijken uit de sector en heeft bekwame technische kenmerken die verbonden zijn met knowhow en talent. Creator Balpen wordt gerespecteerd om zijn grondigheid en is ontworpen om verbeteringen van de levenskwaliteit te bieden die helpen de wereld een betere plek te maken.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The product has a hollowed-out all-metal pen body. Therefore, some parts such as screws and springs, and mechanical structure can be clearly seen. Users can assemble parts into a pen. Multi-style external accessories are available, so users can freely choose their favorite colors and shapes, assemble external accessories with different materials and shapes together like building blocks through the universal interface, and DIY a unique pen.
Dimensions & Packaging: L:145mm * W:13.3mm * H:13.3mm
Weight:27.5g
Tags: DIY, modular, mechanical structure, hollowed-out pen body, all-metal pen body, 100% recyclable, hexagonal shape
Production Technology: There are more than 50 production processes of traditional metal pens. Therefore, we have optimized the manufacturing process and reduced the production processes by more than 70%. The pen body is all made of metal. Except refills and springs, most parts are completed by only one process, and their materials can be recycled 100%, which greatly reduce energy consumption and resource waste.
Design Challenge: Main challenge: Fast and free assembly as well as adjustable height is realized in DIY process for users.
Solutions: All modular parts adopt universal interfaces, which ensures that users will successfully complete assembly whether interfaces are matching or not in the process. Moreover, the universal interface module greatly improves production efficiency and reduces waste of resources. It still remains 30% of infinite possibilities and expandability after assembly.
Research: Research type: To transform stationery into cultural and creative products.
Research goal: Users can assemble the product in person and enjoy the process.
Market research: Online research and professional research company data
Social impact: It creates a brand-new stationery form, which is personalized and beautiful. And the optimization of process reduces resources waste and energy consumption, which contributes to environment preservation.
Inspiration: Design draws inspiration from water element from the nature, which is hexagonal and can form various shapes in a sub-zero crystallization state. Aesthetics of mechanical structure is integrated, and the shape of the pen is formed finally.
Project Duration: The project finished in September 2022 in Dongguan city and came into the market in Asia, Europe, and North America in September 2022.
Operation Flow: It is a modular pen that can be assembled by users. They can buy multiple styles and freely assemble accessories and the pen into different styles according to their needs and preferences, so they can fully enjoy DIY in the process.
Team Members: Zhengliang Zhong, Fangeng He
Image Credits: DONG GUAN JIAN LIN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.