One of the most important tools for a designer are selected drawing pencils. In order to have them always at hand during the working process, I designed the Trekanter pencil holder.
The Idea
My first design started as a rectangular shape with 23 holes on the upper side. The prototype was made out of paper.
The most important aspect of the design is that the finished product can be formed from a single surface. From a sustainability perspective, as less waste as possible should be generated. Because it is manufactured in one piece, no additional materials or adhesives are necessary.
However, when testing the prototype, it turned out that the pencils did not yet have a good grip. Additionally, I didn’t like the shape at all.
Drafts
In order to improve the grip of the pencils, I decided to change the profile of the second prototype to a triangle. I designed four different variants and tested them for functionality.
Testing Series
In all designs, the holes for the pins are arranged in a line at the tip of the triangle. There are further holes in the foot section as a second holding point. So, the problem of stability was solved. Three symmetrical and one asymmetrical designs were tested. One contained an additional storage space for an eraser.
The new design has proven more stable and more material-efficient. I wanted to set the focus of the design to provide an organized storage location for the most important drawing pencils.
Final Prototype
I decided on the symmetrical version shown here without an eraser holder. Using the laser cutter and high-quality cardboard, I created a final prototype. The finished design offers space for five pencils. The pencil holder is suitable for round, triangular and hexagonal pencils.
Rendering in Fusion 360
The product was modeled in Fusion 360 and rendered into a typical usage context.
The final Product
The product was manufactured using an SLA 3D printer. I made versions in two different colors. The product meets all the criteria that were important to me. For the sustainability aspect, I consider making it out of a sheet of metal.
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