Programming Process- An Experimental Design

Serendipity/discovery/unexpected outcomes are a unique ability for Schon DSGN since we do design, engineering, programming and manufacturing in house as a small team. 

The milling pattern on this pen is not designed per say, but programmed and discovered through a unique iterative approach. Because we design and manufacture all of our pens in house, we were able to perform a series of thought experiments based on two parallel lines along a single plane, written into code that the machine understands. The paradigmatic relationship between machining and coding then led us to hone in a set of parameters which produced unexpected, often serendipitous outcomes. For example, the changing of a single number within our line of code made the difference between 10 pattern repetitions or 100, a freestanding line or intersecting lines. We arrived at this milling pattern as a team, each providing feedback at various points of the design process to create what you see here. What began as a set of parallel lines evolved into both a pattern and texture tethered to our unique ability to design, program, manufacture and engineer our pens in a setting where every step of the process continually informs the others.

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The "Pocket Six" is the first fountain pen offering from Schon DSGN. A compact cartridge fountain pen designed for everyday use. Like the Classic Schon DSGN pens, these pens are compact when capped but a nice full sized fountain pen experience when the cap is posted on the back of the pen. The name "Pocket Six" comes from the fact that this pocket pen houses a #6 sized nib, which is a full sized nib and not a smaller #5 commonly found in pocket size fountain pens. 

 These pens are made from brass and will change and patina over time, darkening the metal and aging them. Eventually the patina will stabilize and the color will stay a consistent aged brass look which is quite beautiful. Brass and Copper are my favorite materials due to this patina effect. 

Nibs!

Each pen comes with a #6 Jowo nib. These nib units can unscrew and be swapped for another Jowo #6 nib. Please be careful and leave this process to a nib smith if you are uncomfortable with it. Bock grip sections are available in the "spare parts" section of the site, but I no longer offer Bock nibs. 

Rollerball grip sections and tips are available if you want the pocket six but in a rollerball style. 

Ink!
Pens use standard short international cartridges regardless of if they are fountain or rollerball. Each pen comes with one box of cartridges: three black, one blue, and two empty (for syringe filling) cartridges.

Weight/Size
Each material has a different weight and feel:
Black or Multi-Color Anodized Aluminum Pens- 0.50oz 
Polished Brass Pen -1.40oz 

The pen is ½ an inch (12.7mm) in diameter and 3.55” (90.2mm) long when capped. When the cap is posted on the back it is a full 5.2” (132mm) long. 

The pens are machined in my Philadelphia workshop and the nibs are from Germany.  The Bodies, Cap and Sections are 100% made in the USA.