Fuseproject Imagines Montblanc's First Digital Pen

"The transition of an analog tool into a digital device doesn't mean its design has to drastically change; take on novel form even if the technology allows for it. Unlike how LEDs have radically shifted the shape of lighting (it doesn't need to be tangible), writing utensils still need to be conducive to ergonomics: the contour and grip of the human hand."

""When we design for a heritage brand like Montblanc, our job is to honor its past while creating a bridge to its future," says Yves Behar, Fuseproject founder and renowned designer in his own right. "Montblanc's writing culture is legendary. Our role was to translate that culture into a digital experience that feels timeless and captures the emotional richness of handwriting.""

"While the new design might not be a direct facsimile of its predecessor-that would be disingenuous and defeat the point-it maintains its vital tactility and decipherable shape. It has the same weight and balance. However, there was no need to replicate the traditional metallic tip mechanics that dispenses ink when gently pushed down. As a result, the entire design can become more uniform and mono-material."

The transition from analog to digital tools does not require drastic redesign; writing utensils must remain shaped for ergonomics, matching the contour and grip of the human hand. San Francisco-based design studio Fuseproject converted Montblanc's Meisterstück into a digital pen that preserves the bulbous contour, three-ring adornment, weight, balance and tactile feel. The digital design omits ink-dispensing metal tip mechanics, enabling a more uniform, mono-material body. The Digital Pen offers three tip options tuned to different digitally emulated paper textures on the Montblanc Digital Paper tablet. Paired with digital ink, the pen translates handwriting into searchable text.

Read at Design Milk