Editing The Pen Addict 453/transcript (section)

== Icon Pen Design Philosophy ==


'''Brad:''' Yeah, I like the orange with the black. I like the lime in general, but I like the lime with the blues. Oh, yeah, but that looks good. Or other colors, yeah. Yeah, the lime and-

'''Myke:''' I could get out of there, but I wouldn't have expected it any other way. Yeah, it's a deep thread. Yeah, I mean, which it should be, because I don't want this thing falling out when I'm unscrewing it, right? Just in general. And I just think that it's so cool. It's such a cool idea. And from a business perspective, so not as a user, I think it's genius because you can just keep selling new colors to existing customers. I think that's just a really smart idea. You could do some wicked and wild anodization thing and do a limited edition insert and have just another revenue stream for the business for existing customers who love their icons. I think that's just super clever. I don't know if you did it for that reason, but I just think that it's super smart. But as a user, I really like it because I get to give my pen a fresh paint job. I thought about maybe, again, in the future, you could buy a couple and I could change out the color depending on what ink I've got in it.

'''Brad:''' Right.

'''Myke:''' So it could be a fun visual thing. The ink that I'm using right now doesn't match at all just because I wanted to use. I haven't used any of those Sailor Studio inks that Adina got. Oh, yeah. So I've gone with 731, which is a really bright pink one, which I just wanted to use it purely because it was like, I have enough orange pens. I'm not going to put enough orange ink in this pen. So I'm trying that out. But I just think it's very clever. But also, you know, I love customization in things. Right. And I think allowing people to choose and mix and match and stuff like that, I think that's just super cool. And I'm really into it.

'''Brad:''' And so the thought process, the design thought process had nothing to do with, like, can we figure out, like, how to, you know, sell more parts, you know, down the line.

'''Brad:''' Because we had no idea if this would even technically work. Right. We like we want to make a cool fountain pen and we like making these really wild colors and crazy designs. And how can we make them in the spoke style? And then Brian just up and up and shows me this one day. And I'm like, do that again? It's like, what is even happening here? So, like, those those things don't happen until, like, we're way down the line. And then I was like, oh, you mean we can change that color and we can change these parts and do these different colors and add those on? I was like, yeah, that's cool. It's like that comes way down the line because you want to see, like, do you have a technically, like, stable product first? Yeah. And that's Brian's forte. Yeah. He's really, really strong at that.

'''Myke:''' But now I'm just suggesting to you as a business owner to consider that as a potential future. Oh, yeah.

'''Brad:''' Well, so now we have long ago considered that. But I'm saying, like, in the initial, like, there's, like, this isn't a product that should exist.

'''Myke:''' Yeah. Like, look, take everything with a grain of salt from me because I'm just so deeply in love with Brad. He could give me anything and I think it's fantastic. But I, like, so for me, the Axel, it's a fun pen that I would put in a pen case and would have as a little EDC kind of package. Right? Yes. So I could imagine I'll put that in with a notebook, a Field Notes notebook. That would stay in my backpack. Right? And then I've got it there whenever I need it. The Icon, straight up in general rotation for me, is an absolutely stunning, fantastic pen that you have made. And it should be something that you are proud to put your name on. Absolutely. Like, because this is a Brad Dowdy fountain pen. Because it looks great. It's got some fun trick to it that you don't see anywhere else. And it just feels good to use. So, like, that absolute home run.

'''Brad:''' So, I feel that this is a flagship product. Yes. But you only get to the, you don't go into it to say, let's design our flagship. Right? That comes after. When you feel like you've made something good. The feedback has been good. The position of that product within your, the rest of your product line and how it tells the story of whichever brand you're involved in. Like, with Knock, like, I think we have two flagship products. I think it's our Brasstown and Sinclair. Right? Those are our flagship cases. But you don't go into it and say, today we design our flagship. You know? So, but I think that's, in the end, what has happened here. At least for fountain pens, right? You know, Spoke's always going to be known for awesome pencils and awesome pens. But for a fountain pen, like, the icon is the flagship.

'''Myke:''' Yeah. I mean, I'll say, if you went into this not thinking it would be the flagship and called it Icon, I don't know what you're doing.

'''Brad:''' Like, it honestly, that never crossed my mind. No, I don't. Like, it was. I like to tease you about the name. Yeah.

'''Myke:''' Because it's a great name, but it's just such a statement name.

'''Brad:''' Like, at some point, you have to stop thinking about names and pick one. Yeah, because you'll just go forever. Yeah. And that's where we were. We just, like, wanted, like, a solid name. And then Brian's like, well, how about Icon? And I'm like, it goes like this. What do you think about this name? And then the response is, that's not terrible. It's never like, yes, that's exactly it. Right? It's, that's not terrible. Most names are just what you can live with.

'''Myke:''' Like, what you best can live with. So you can continue the project.

'''Brad:''' Yeah, that's exactly right. So naming, that's how names get decided is, what is the least terrible option you've come up with? Because there's never, like, an absolute lock winner. Although Axl was pretty easy.

'''Myke:''' Axl's great. But for me, subtlety. Like, there was just, that was a whole, that was just like, I nailed that. One try. Perfect name. Move on. Yeah. So maybe the only time I've ever felt like, yeah, no, I got that one. That is a lock.

'''Brad:''' Yeah, but you know that, right? You know that way early in your done.

'''Myke:''' Oh, I mean, I genuinely think. Most of the time it comes down to the wire. The name, I think, was actually drove the product. I had the idea for the name and then just moved and created an idea around it. So that's kind of, that's a different thing. So yeah, I love it, man. I'm into it.

'''Brad:''' I thought you would like it. Like, I thought you would for sure like the icon. Yeah. So good. I'm glad you do.

'''Myke:''' All right. Let's take a break. You actually sent me some more stuff. We'll talk about that in a minute. Let's thank the Canalea Pen Company for their support of this week's episode. Canalea Pen Co. makes stunningly beautiful pens that are inspired by images of Hawaii. Canalea's founders, Hugh and Carol, not only are they incredible people, they believe that these locations can help recharge our spirit and help us connect with nature. And they embody that in the products that they produce. While the story behind these pens is a wonderful one, the execution is what sets them apart. You can have the best story in the world. Like you can, you know, come up with something unbelievable. But it's got to come through in the product. And in my mind, nobody does it better. Every single Canalea pen is handmade in a process that means that no two pens are ever going to look alike, with every nib tuned before it ships to a customer. And what you get is something truly unique to you. They all look different. Every Canalea pen is a one-off, which is kind of incredible, really. Their most recent releases are the Kona Snow and the Kona Cherry. They were both created to celebrate the lifestyle of the Kona coffee plant. Kona Snow is named for the fragrant white coffee blossoms each spring that make the area of Hawaii Island look like it is covered in snow. And Kona Cherry is named for the glowing red coffee beans, the cherries, that are handpicked at their peak of ripeness. Canalea pens feature Yo-O No. 6 nibs, the exact nib that I was just praising, right? You use Yo-O No. 6 too, right? Like it's just a superb product. You can buy steel or 18-karat gold nibs direct from Canalea, and they offer sizes from extra fine to 1.1mm stub, with every pen shipping in a beautifully packaged keepsake box. Also, best packaging in the game. The Kona Snow, Kona Cherry, and the Eolani, which is a stunning purple and blue model, can all be created especially for you within just four weeks. But there are many more beautiful Canalea pens that you can choose from, with tons of different styles and colors. There really is a Canalea pen for everyone. Go and see for yourself right now at CanaleaPenco.com. That's K-A-N-I-L-E-A-P-E-N-C-O. Canalea Penco. Go there right now to choose your aloha today. Thanks to the Canalea Penco for their support of this show.

'''Brad:''' So I haven't done it yet, but the next time I get a Canalea, because there will be a next time I might get one of the existing ones, to be quite honest. I really, really want to get, and I think we talked about this before, the Classic Slim, because I usually get the Classic Flush, which is kind of the largest size. The Classic Slim has a little bit of barrel differentiation and cap differentiation, like there's a little drop-off there. And I'm going to get it with a clip. Like, I want to do something different next time, because I've been seeing pictures of the ones with a clip. And I just want to try that. So that's my next move, Myke, my next Canalea move.

'''Myke:''' I'm looking on their website now. I haven't noticed this before, but they have, because they always had the size comparison, like the shape comparison. But now the image is actually featuring one of the Kona Snow.

'''Brad:''' Okay. I was looking at the Kona Snow one, so I didn't notice it was different, because I was on the Kona Snow page.

'''Myke:''' Because previously it had just been an outline where they showed the different shapes. And I find this actually much more helpful, because now I can see how it looks on an actual real pen and compare them. The Classic V looks kind of interesting.

'''Brad:''' Yeah. Like, I'm definitely going to branch out. So I have two of the large, the Classic Flush. So the next one will be different. Like, you got to mix it up.

'''Myke:''' I might have to do that, because I think I have like five or six of the Classic Flush. Maybe I should look at some extras. But I do really love how that whole thing comes together.

'''Brad:''' Yep.