CENTO3 - Mechanical Pencil

3x .7mm HB graphite leads included, Gift boxed

CENTO3 started with an unpublished 2001 design collaboration for writing instruments by Achille Castiglioni and his friend architect Gianfranco Cavaglià. The trilobate shape proved too complex for production techniques of the time and was forgotten. After twenty years hidden away, Fondazione Achille Castiglioni, architect Gianfranco Cavaglià and Italian design firm EGO.M have found a way to bring Castiglioni’s last design into reality. Each instrument is 3D printed with an extremely durable, sustainable and feather-light Graphene/PLA filament. The long additive process creates a subtle nonslip texture, and each piece a unique artifact as each instrument is printed individually. The ergonomic trilobate shape prevents CENTO3 from rolling off the table.

3D printed biodegradable graphene PLA

Design by: Achille Castiglioni, Gianfranco Cavaglià

Design year: 2001

Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) was an Italian designer and architect who was known for his innovative and playful approach to design. Castiglioni worked with his brothers, Livio and Pier Giacomo, and together they created some of the most iconic pieces of Italian design. Castiglioni's design philosophy was rooted in functionality and simplicity, and he believed that design should serve the user's needs while also being aesthetically pleasing. He is perhaps best known for his lamps, including the Arco floor lamp and the Snoopy table lamp, both of which are now considered design classics. Throughout his career, Castiglioni received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Compasso d'Oro, Italy's most prestigious design award.