Briefing

In the digital age, you would expect the art of handwriting to rapidly become a thing of the past, gently making way for the ‘keyboarding’ that now dominates our working lives. But nothing could be further from the truth. Most people still use a pen or pencil daily, and pens remain the world’s most popular business gift. So the pen still has a future. Can you come up with a design that combines the proven strengths of the classic pen or pencil with new and practical functionalities? Do you know what it takes to create a pen that ‘feels right’? How would you design a pen that is stylish, exclusive and that people immediately recognize as high-quality? The Marksman Design Award 2007-2008 challenges you to do just that.

Design the perfect pen

It’s not surprising that the pen is still going strong. Most of us still find it easier to use a pen to jot down a phone number or take notes during meetings. If you want to illustrate an idea with a quick sketch, you will most likely reach for a pen and paper. Or, in the near future, for a digital pen and tablet PC. But the pen is more than a highly practical instrument. Like a wrist watch, it is an accessory that often reflects the identity of its owner. Which is a major reason why pens are still the world’s favourite business gift.

Design the new figurehead of 'writing instruments'

The challenge set by the Marksman Design Award is to produce an innovative and original ‘writing instrument’ to spearhead the Marksman collection. That means you will have to meet high standards: our collection is characterized by exclusive aesthetic design, the use of high-quality materials and excellent ergonomics. You can design a rollerball, ballpoint or fountain pen, a pencil or a set of writing instruments. You can also opt for a package, case or accessories. Whatever your choice… make sure that you share the thinking behind your design with us! We are looking for non-traditional designs for what is seen as a traditional market. Part of the challenge is to overcome this apparent paradox.

About the design

Obviously, we expect you to stick to the theme of ‘writing instruments’. Your design must also be commercially feasible, because our intention is to include the winning design in next year’s catalogue. As well as these two basic requirements, there are explicit rules by which the entries will be judged. To fit in with the Marksman collection, the design must be innovative and of high quality. It must also have space to imprint the logo of the giver. And it must offer added value: recipients will only use their gifts regularly (and so be frequently reminded of the giver) if they are functional and practical.

Suitable for production

Because PF Concept International intends to put the winning design into production for the Marksman collection, your business gift must be suitable for cost-effective mass production. Production costs must not be higher than US$ 15, and the product must have a life cycle of more than three years. Because business gifts must be able to be posted without the risk of damage in transit, no fragile materials may be used. Furthermore, the design must not contain food, drink or perfume. Finally, you have to pay attention to the materials used, the production processes and environmental and safety aspects: the design must be as environment-friendly as possible. And of course the product must be safe to use, and must not endanger the user’s health.

Think of your audience

You should put the recipient of your business gift in the spotlight – not the giver. So ask yourself: for whom is my business gift intended? On what occasion will it be presented to him or her, and for what reason? Be aware of cultural differences that may be involved. The occasion on which gifts are given, the importance attached to presentation and the reasons behind a business gift can vary from one country to the next. A European executive might feel uncomfortable receiving an expensive gift from an Asian business partner, whereas a Japanese businessman could be offended by the lack of attention paid to the wrapping and presentation. Take such differences into consideration, and give the jury a clear picture of the public for which your gift is intended.

Submitting your design

There is only one accepted way to submit your design: as a detailed concept with images or visualized sketches on a maximum of six panels (A3 format, which is 11.7 x 16.5 inches or 29.7 x 41.9 cm), including the description and reasoning behind the design. The presentation must also be provided on CD in the form of digital documents suitable for reproduction, including high-resolution files of all the images or sketches used in the presentation.

Prizes

The first prize of the Marksman Design Award is US$ 10,000, plus the possibility that your design may be put into production if it meets certain requirements. The winning designer may also be invited to visit the Far East, where most of the products are manufactured, and be given the chance to follow the process from concept to end-product. There is a second prize of US$ 2,500, and the third prize winner will receive US$ 1,000. The jury is also authorized to make up to five honorable mentions, and the senders of these will each receive US$ 500.

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