We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Dave Colliver about their original and creative Ballpoint Pen design work. Dave Colliver is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original ballpoint pen works.
Dave Colliver ("DC") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Possibilities Ballpoint Pen. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
DC : Elegant simplicity for daily inspiration. Removing barriers and complication to allow the basic elements of a design to give the most enjoyable experience in a simple every day task we often take for granted.
DC : Products that people use every day can have a positive influence on them. They can provide concepts and ideas that give them the motivation to do great things, amazingly creative things. That’s what I wanted to achieve.
DC : Manufacture it and share it with the world.
DC : All up it’s been over five years but because of the holistic approach taken, it can be a bit of a fuzzy divide between market research, design, prototyping and business start-up effort.
DC : It was definitely pursuit of an inspiration. I wanted to get it right and take as long as was needed to do so.
DC : The design is ready to be tooled but not yet being manufactured. I am currently looking for the right funding model to allow me to produce it myself. I want to keep in touch with the product in the most basic way possible.
DC : Despite the onset of more and more electronic devices and applications, I believe writing is one of those simple necessities and in fact pleasures that will endure for many people. In keeping with that, it was important to create something that was timeless and durable and that people wanted to use every day.
DC : There are products and brands in particular that I draw my inspiration from. They have stood the test of time and are quite varied but all have some common values. Zippo, Audi, Porsche, Sony, Remy Martin and the perhaps lesser known Crix and R.M. Williams have all played a part. There are also a number of Italian pen manufacturers who’s passion for visual and tactile subtleties have reminded me of their importance and, to some extent, given permission to increase the focus on them. Lessons from my university lecturers still resonate with me too: Sandy Walker, Heinz Luettringhaus and Stuart Gluth at UniSA, Thanks guys.
DC : If I were a utilitarian purist, I would say anyone who wants reliability and durability in a pen but I’m not. There is a huge range of emotions that go with putting ideas on paper that creative people of all types appreciate. These are the people I believe will enjoy this design.
DC : I wish you could touch it, hold it in your hands and run your fingers along its curves. Feel the shapes and textures, the balance and the action. Functionally, there are many individual features and benefits that set the if… pen apart from other writing instruments but it’s how they all work together with a neat minimalism that doesn’t compromise on the experience that has been the focus.
DC : I love the idea that all creative solutions are already out there just waiting to be discovered. If we can just put aside preconceptions and explore the possibilities unhindered (if… then…) we can achieve anything.
DC : Subtraction, but even further, Eliminate – Combine – Rearrange – Simplify (ECRS). I have always found this approach the most successful in good design. A holistic use of Value Analysis and Lean principles were invaluable too.
DC : I would have to say the activation method is the most unique aspect. It’s intuitive and its motion is nicely seen from end to end. But it’s also the basis for many of the other features, the protective cover, the ergonomic grip, the closing pocket clip and the refill replacement without disassembly.
DC : There has been considerable collaboration with local quality manufacturers and of course, people who love pens.
DC : Materials and manufacturing techniques are improving every day which is very exciting. In the case of the mechanisms, the materials selected improve reliability and durability. The metal injection moulding process for the barrel reduces cost, increases quality and minimises waste.
DC : Lots of market research influenced the design from the very beginning. A key goal was that people could be proud of their purchase as well as the product itself so it had to offer greater benefits than other market players at an equal or lower price. Value Analysis was used to make sure this was achieved. I wasn’t out to exploit any potential prestige value. That’s not my thing.
DC : The first concepts were pitched at an ideal, of a simpler internal mechanism, with even less parts. It was very elegant on paper but the available prototyping technology just wasn’t precise enough to prove its viability so I had to make some compromises. It was hard to let it go but necessary in order to move on to something I could prove would be reliable and durable.
DC : It’s in keeping with my goal to share my best with the world.
DC : Reach for the sky first and let pragmatism take effect during resolution. If we only aim for what we think is possible without exploration, we will never find the limits.
