Chris recently connected with Jonathan Simcoe and talked about craft, designing over long timescales, and our newest Kickstarter project: the Pocket Pen.
Here you have a little sneaky peek but you can read the full interview here
AJOTO is known for making thoughtful writing products with impeccable attention to detail. What prompted the shift from "heirloom" writing instruments to the Pocket Pen, an everyday carry essential?
It’s been nearly 14 years since we first launched AJOTO as a small independent studio. A lot has changed since we began, but at our foundation, we are the same company, just with a little more experience. The focus was on making the best version of the everyday tools that we used as designers, but in a way that allowed us to use state-of-the-art technology and connect with incredible specialists across the UK.
At the time our aim wasn’t to compete but to offer something different; an everyday tool that we wanted to use and celebrate the industrial craft and production. There was no one approaching this in the same way, especially as an independent company, and it felt like an exciting challenge.
The starting point for the Pocket Pen was to make a tool for our life on the go, where it’s more about making a quick note or capturing an inspired idea rather than consciously sitting down for longer periods of creative indulgence. The Pocket Pen was created for these moments and it led us to rethink not just the design, but the entire role of a high-quality pen in our day-to-day lives.