Sostanza: The Art of Simplified Design

Elastico Studio's Award-Winning Lead Holder Redefines Writing Instruments

The inspiration for Sostanza came from a desire to improve the user experience of drawing instruments. Traditional pencils, while warm and reminiscent of childhood, have a short lifespan. Mechanical pencils, on the other hand, are reloadable but often consist of many pieces that can easily get lost or broken. Moreover, their plastic bodies can feel cold and slippery. Elastico Studio sought to address these issues by simplifying the shape of the pencil and using warm, natural materials.

Sostanza stands out with its unique properties. It is a wooden lead holder that functions with only two pieces: the light wooden body that houses the graphite and the external ring that slides towards the top to lock it. The 2mm lead is easily found and can be sharpened using a sharpener or sandpaper. Sostanza is not only useful but also ergonomic, demonstrating that a simple object can be beautiful and function well with very little.

The realization of Sostanza involved high-quality craftsmanship. The main body is made in a specific centre for woodturning, while the silver ring is produced in a goldsmith laboratory specialized in high-quality casting. The lead holder is available in five essences in their natural colors (Mahogany, Eastern black walnut, Pear tree, Ebony, and Amaranth), each paired with a different finishing of the ring for a distinct aesthetic character.

Despite its simplicity, the design of Sostanza posed some challenges. The goal was to reduce the number of pieces in a lead holder to a minimum, which involved designing a simple ring to lock the lead in place. The most difficult part was making the 15cm hole for the lead, which had to be large enough for the graphite to slide through but thin enough for the ring pressure to lock the lead in place. This precision required a tolerance of tenths of a millimeter.

The result of these efforts is a lead holder that is both beautiful and durable. Sostanza changes the user experience by being pleasant to touch and long-lasting. It is in opposition to disposable products, aiming to make the user affectionate to writing gestures. This design has found remarkable success, surpassing set goals in a Kickstarter campaign within the first week and winning prestigious awards, including the Platinum A' Design Award in 2017.

In conclusion, Sostanza is a testament to the power of simplicity and sustainability in design. It is a beautiful, functional, and durable writing instrument that redefines our relationship with pencils. With its unique design and high-quality materials, Sostanza is not just a tool, but a piece of art that brings warmth and elegance to the act of writing.