Wavy

Schneider Wavy - go to the product's website

It was a very conscious decision by its creators for the new beginners fountain pen to set itself apart from most of its market counterparts with a rather moderate, almost serious design, one that neither appears dull nor compromises on the writing posture. Wavy brings together two crucial elements that define an ergonomic and affordable fountain pen: a fully rubberized grip zone and a single-component body. The stainless steel nib with iridium grain can withstand higher pressure if the learning process of writing is not yet smooth. This fountain pen, equally suitable for left- and right-handers, ambitiously aims to attract both the youngest and older children. As is usual in a design process, aroma:id presented several distinct design concepts for this purpose. The choice fell on the design with the working title "Orca”, featuring cheerfully flowing, powerful lines that fit together intriguingly.

At first glance, the sturdy metal clip on the cap of the fountain pen catches the eye, faithfully fulfilling its primary function of securing. Its design initiates the play of curves: soft yet powerful S-curves are evident from every perspective. The entire clip profile transitions from a convex to a concave curvature. The clip's end is designed with a semi-circular rounding, adding a soft and friendly touch while emphasizing the circular 'eye'. Here, a small hemisphere emerges through the hole in the metal, assuming the role of the so-called clip droplet.

The overall silhouette of the fountain pen carries these dynamic shapes with their rounded tips. Almost as playful as a treble clef, the gently sculpted edges sweep across the entire cap, becoming clearly visible in the reflections of the shiny surface. When the cap is fitted, a special harmony of edges emerges when the clip's eye and the top of the barrel align in one direction. The line of the clip is extended into the barrel, and the matte clip droplet adds the proverbial i-dot to the matte surface carrying the embossed Schneider logo. When the cap is removed, it becomes evident that the lines seamlessly extending from the barrel into the grip section form an elongated mirror image of the cap. The shape of the matte surface is not entirely coincidentally resembling a traditional quill. However, aesthetic and semantic considerations were not the only factors at play. Rather, the edge guidance initiates the profiling of the grip section, ensuring that the thumb and index finger rest on an optimally angled surface. The rubberized grip surface neither enforces too rigid of a hand posture nor leaves pressure marks on the fingers. Even the anti-slip feature at the front of the grip area adheres to the aesthetics of the line work without compromising on ergonomics.

The close, continuous communication with Schneider, coupled with aroma:id's extensive expertise in collaborative pen design, ensured a seamless development process through to series production in this project. The Schneider Wavy beginners fountain pen is available in four colours, each boasting a distinctive, almost neon-like vibrancy. However, the pen shows restraint in its production: aiming to instill environmental awareness in its young audience, Wavy is carbon-neutral and manufactured in Germany using green energy. Thanks to Schneider's high level of dedication, as exemplified in projects with collaborators such as ClimatePartner, choosing Wavy signifies a commitment to climate protection and plastic-free oceans.

We are proud that the Wavy was awarded the "German Design Awards Special Mention" for "Excellent Product Design, Stationery".