Mini-Challenge: Small UX Fix, Big Daily Impact.
Viewed from above - It is impossible to tell what pen you are selecting.
Mini-Challenge Brief: Improve the user experience of this fine liner pen set.
At Team Human, we understand the impact a poor design can have on the success of your final product. We know that excellent user experience lives in the details. I use a fine liner set in a vertical pencil case, but the lids were blank—so from above, every pen looked identical. That tiny friction adds up: slower selection, more errors, more annoyance.
So we treated it like a real product problem. First, we analysed the existing pen and lid geometry, then measured the critical features and tolerances.
The goal: a snap-fit “lid topper” that seats cleanly into the circular groove on each cap and clearly communicates nib size at a glance.
Iterative Process and testing tolerances for snap fit.
We designed the part in Fusion 360, dialled in the snap-fit tolerance, and 3D printed on Bambu printers using AMS to combine two colours in a single print—high contrast, easy readability, and a finish that feels intentional rather than DIY. The result: a simple add-on that makes the product faster, clearer, and more satisfying to use—every time you reach into the case.
Final Result: A new and improved user experience
Interested in finding out how Team Human can help your business with our design services? Contact us today at info@teamhuman.ie or on our website www.teamhuman.ie
Team Human is a Product design and innovation consultancy based in Wicklow,
Ireland. Team Human can create prototypes of varying levels depending on project
requirements and budget from rapid foam models to slick high end demo products.
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