Design Flaw and Solution to the Micron Pen 005 Sydney Jacobson University of Minnesota—Twin Cities DES 1101V Intro to Design Thinking Design Flaw and Solution to the Micron Pen 005 Sydney Jacobson University of Minnesota—Twin Cities DES 1101V Intro to Design Thinking

Abstract This paper serves to analyze the Micron Pen 005 and its efficiency. Created as a high quality item, with its aptness for high detail and sustainability, the soft tip of the pen shortens the lifespan through attrition. I propose a solution to increase the amount of soft tip available in the pen by redesigning the pen to assimilate a mechanical pencil. I then delve into detail about the Micron Pen 005’s reflection on society in regards to accessibility, quality, and frugality. This analysis is then concluded that my solution would create a more reliable product.

Design Flaw and Solution to the Micron Pen 005 Even in today’s technology dependent world, a quality pen is a necessity. People desire something that has permanence and accuracy for daily tasks such as writing reports, scratching down notes, or drawing out rough drafts. A pen that glides onto the paper with precision is necessary to get the job done perfectly. Now enter Sakura’s Micron Pen. Designed with the user in mind, the average person is able to handle it with the simplest of motions. However, specifically with the Micron Pen 005, there are flaws that have some considering this pen as inefficient and thus needs to be redesigned. As Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, stated in his TEDTalk, “Human need is the place to start” (Brown, 2009). What consumers need from Sakura is a Micron Pen 005 that lasts. Although most people can navigate around simple design flaws, some might go to other brands to attempt to solve the problem. In this proposal, I will characterize the product, analyze the flaw, recommend a solution, and reflect on the Micro Pen 005 in comparison to society and its values.
Description of the Product The Micron Pen 005 measures 13.5 centimeters from top to bottom with the cap on. It is constructed from a piece of hollow, green-beige colored hard plastic (Figure 1). Alone, the cap measures 3.5 centimeters in length. Its purpose is to cover the needlepoint and soft tip of the pen. There is a metal rim encompassing the top of the cap, providing a clip to make mobility of the pen more accessible (Figure 2).
The needlepoint rests atop the body of the pen, measuring 0.50 centimeters long. It is composed out of a durable metal to ensure that the soft tip it contains is held safely in place. The soft tip, which is 1 millimeter in length and 0.20 millimeters in diameter, serves as an exit for the ink contained within the bulk of the pen (Figure 3).
Description of the Flaw Typically, prolonged use of a marker will reduce the amount of ink supply within the pen. However, in the case of the Micron Pen, the soft tip will erode much faster than the ink is being used (Figure 4). The soft tip of the pen is highly vulnerable to wear and tear – especially due to its size. Since the tip is only 0.20 millimeters in diameter, it is not as sturdy as perhaps a soft tip that is 0.50 millimeters in diameter. The minute size of the tip makes the finest Micron Pen more susceptible to circumstantial variables such as the pressure of pen to paper and surface texture. This fast erosion gives the pen a shorter lifespan, forcing the consumer to buy pens more frequently – or contemplate other brands for a pen that will last longer.
Possible Solution The longevity of the Micro Pen 005 can be fixed with a straightforward solution. The result is a Micro Pen 005 that resembles that of a mechanical pencil. A mechanical pencil constantly has lead either wearing away or breaking off. Similar to the Micro Pen 005’s soft tip, lead is susceptible to texture and force. In order to promote a longer lifespan, the lead within a pencil can easily be replaced by pushing the eraser up into the pencil. For the Micro Pen, I propose a similar idea. Instead of pushing the bottom of the pen and more soft tip material being present, I suggest a crank system. This way, a certain amount of tip is being released from the body of the pen merely by twisting the bottom (Figure 5). This solution would increase lifespan of the finest Micro Pen, because the tip wouldn’t grind away faster than the ink supply is emptied.
Reflection of Society According to Pat Hemmis, the “Meanings of designed objects and spaces reflect the society and culture that produces them” (Hemmis, 2015). The Micro Pen stands as a symbol for convenience and quality. Artists, journalists, scientists, and the like all rely on Micro Pens for a multitude of reasons. For one, their archival ink is chemically stable and has been scientifically tested to last. Not to mention, these pens were specifically created for precision. Ink flows smoothly from the cartridge in the body of the pen to the tip, creating smooth and even lines. All a person has to do is grab a pen, put it to paper, and voila. Conversely, society demands cost effective items. With the soft tip of the Micro Pen 005 eroding away, consumers are required to dash to the store more frequently to retrieve a new one. The finest pen Sakura can offer becomes unusable quickly, eliminating the idea of their products being more convenient than quill and ink.
Conclusion
Sakura’s Micron Pen 005 has a specific purpose: to provide high quality penmanship in a convenient way. Artists can create masterpieces with high amounts of detail, doctors can quickly write prescriptions without worrying about smearing, and researchers do not have to worry about notes fading throughout time. Despite the multitude of tasks this pen can perform, the fact that the tip has a short lifespan can create frustration to the user. By implementing my solution of a twistable pen that increases the amount of soft tip, the Micron Pen 005 will be able to fulfill its purposes and have a longer lifespan. Thus making the product easy to use, high quality, and economical.

Figure 1 – Whole view of pen.
Figure 1 – Whole view of pen.
Figure 2 – Pen cap.
Figure 2 – Pen cap.
Figure 3 – Close up of pen tip and needle point.
Figure 3 – Close up of pen tip and needle point.
Figure 4 – Close up of the eroded tip.
Figure 4 – Close up of the eroded tip.

Figure 5 – Model of my solution, incorporating a twistable bottom that allows the extra soft tip to arise from the needle point.
Figure 5 – Model of my solution, incorporating a twistable bottom that allows the extra soft tip to arise from the needle point.

References
Brown, T. (Presenter). (2009, July). Designers – Think Big!. TEDGlobal. Podcast retrieved from http://www.ted.com
Hemmis, P. (2015). Lecture notes: the Design Process [PDF document]. Retrieved from https://ay15.moodle.umn.edu/course/view.php?id=1759