Hindustan Pencils
How do we make pencils fun in a digital world?
2016
Industrial Design
About
Hindustan Pencils is a ubiquitous stationery brand in India; every child has used their distinctive red-and-black hexagonal pencils at some point. Facing competition from newer, bolder competitors, the brand was looking to refresh its identity and find new ways to engage customers.
As part of that effort, I designed a modular pencil holder that could work as a desk toy, a collectible, or the building block of a larger shop display or installation - all built around the pencil's own hexagonal form.
Design Process
The structure is based on a truncated icosahedron (a soccer ball shape) with extrusions sized precisely to hold the pencils. Getting there started with taking detailed measurements of the pencils themselves, accounting for variances in the manufacturing process.
Multiple iterations were 3D printed in different materials - ABS for rigidity, Fila-Flex for a softer finish - before the dimensions were finalized and a run of units printed in PLA.
Render
Render
3D Printed Mockups
FIla-Flex Mockup
ABS Mockup
Final "Sculpture"
At the final client presentation, the pencil holders were handed out along with a set of pencils. The clients assembled a tree together. It brought out their inner children; which was the goal of this project.