The Pencil Sharpener

Personal selection (what are some reasons you selected this tool?)

My design object choice is my pencil sharpener, when I first saw it, I thought it was pretty cool and different from I have seen before. It looks very simple and it can be easily put into a pencil box. The reason I selected this tool is I see it every day when I open my pencil case, and I think it is convenient and I like the design.

History

At the time of my parents’ childhood, most of pencils were sharped with a knife or sand paper, even now, some people are used to using a knife to sharpen pencils because it can be easily controlled by different angels and sharpness. Later, the first pencil sharpener appeared with the same concept of knife but created into a little box, which can be hold and let the pencil twist. This method was much faster and easier than knives for someone who does not like using a knife. The first pencil sharpener I have used was a hand shake sharpener in my primary school. I stuck it on my desk so that it would not move while using it. It color is bright and very cute.

Function/Purpose

The primary function of this object is absolutely sharping pencils. There are two conical holes with different size, which is suitable for most of the size of pencil. There is also a container for pencil crumbs so that we do not need to go to a trash can every time, and its volume is big enough.

User

This product can be used by anyone who is using pencil, especially for student. Because of its small size and simple function, it can be easily hold by kind. This is also useful for someone who is hanging out for painting.

Materials + Production

This pencil sharper is made by plastics, but obviously, the inside part of sharpening pencils is meatal, which be hard and made shaper enough for wood pencil. The plastic material makes it light and easy to carry. I got it from Plaza, so I think it must be mass produced, some market and art store must sell this kind of pencil sharpener.

Affordance

The form of this sharpener is geometric, it is round on the one side and square on the other side. I like this kind of simple design and I think it is not hard to figure out how to use it. It is simple look make me easily find the out the raised part with texture, that is for finger holding to rotate out the sharping part. It can also be showed out by pushing another side. Overall, I think it is really good.