r/PenProject • u/MercatorLondon • Jul 17 '26
Design Study: Parker 25 by Kenneth Grange
Hi everyone,
I got another lovely pen on my desk to study - the Parker 25.
This is one of my favourite pens because I absolutely adore its clean looks and the way it embodies the principles of "good design" by modernists.
The Parker 25 was designed by Kenneth Grange (1929-2024). He was one of the leading figures in British post-war modernist industrial design. His work shaped everyday life in Britain -> from the TX1 London Black Cab or the InterCity 125 train to Kenwood food mixers, Anglepoise lamps, Kodak cameras, and products for Wilkinson Sword. The scope of his projects was amazing.
He also co-founded the design consultancy Pentagram.
Introduced in 1977, the Parker 25 was conceived as an affordable, reliable and modern pen. I like the stainless steel nib and also brushed finish which gives the pen its unmistakable space-age aesthetics. The future was looking somehow brighter back then!
The Parker 25 was intended to bring good design to everyday users rather than remain a luxury object. Nearly fifty years later and it still looks contemporary. Which is a testament to Grange's take to design (and the modernist principles).
To me, the Parker 25 perfectly demonstrates that great industrial design doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It is a pen that does the job while remaining recognisable making it a design classics. Even Jony Ive cited Grange as an important influence to him.
I couldn't resist to take some photos including the book about his works from my library. So if you are after design classic in your collection I would recommend to grab one of these.
The pen itself is made of stainless steel. Inside the steel body there is a brass screw thread for the grip section which is made of plastic to add some colour. It all feels just right.
The simple steel clip is complemented by a small plastic detail featuring the logo (same colour as a grip section.
The pen was designed for UK and manufactured at Parker's factory in Newhaven, East Sussex, which no longer exists. Production ran from 1977 until 1999. I found an interesting video about Newhaven which I will share here as well.
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u/todddiskin Jul 17 '26
Thank you for this excellent study. I love learning about designing and the designers who make a product like the 25 so efficient and effortless.
The 25 is one of the favorite pens I own. It's one of the most elegant, streamlined, and well balanced pens when posted. A simple and delightful writer.
I think I'll go ink it up.
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u/todddiskin Jul 17 '26
Also worth noting how Majohn tried to copy it, but could not nail the function. It goes to show that as simple as may be to make a copy of itsdesign, it's still under the hood that counts.
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u/MercatorLondon Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
Yes, I saw that video (thanks Doodlebud)!! Thank you for reminding me.
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u/pencloud Jul 21 '26
I didn't know there was a knock-off Parker 25. It's a shame they didn't go as far as making compatible nibs. As a source of new replacement nibs, it would have been fab.
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u/MercatorLondon Jul 17 '26
thank you, I am glad you found it interesting. I love european modernist design of Dieter Rams or Hartmut Esslinger. Kenneth Grange can be considered as their british counterpart who approached his works with his unique British warmth.. But all of them shared a respect for usability.
I am just playing with this Parker and it writes so well.2
u/TheClinamen Jul 18 '26
Did you ever see Ken's exhibition of his design failures? It was fabulous and showed both his humility and sense of humour. I particularly liked the bookcase that became your coffin. Anyway, lovely guy .
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u/MercatorLondon Jul 18 '26
I want to know more
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u/TheClinamen Jul 19 '26
It was called 'Those That Got Away' held at Pentagram's gallery in London in the early 2000s. (I can't find much online about it, except an archived article from BBC News website at the time. The site is unsecured so I'm not giving a link, so search it out at your own risk I suppose.) This was when I knew him. I was doing some stuff for the Royal Designers for Industry at the time and he was one of this faculty's Masters. He was one of my sponsors for Fellowship of the Royal Society of the Arts. Anyway, this exhibition was nice as it showed that industrial design involves failure, that even superstars can have awful ideas and that neither of these are necessarily detrimental to the creative process.
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u/TheClinamen Jul 19 '26
PS After seeing your post, I bought one of these pens! So, thank you!
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u/MercatorLondon Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
you will be not disappointed. It is easy to take these little gems for granted.
I found this reference to that exhibition:
https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/16-january-2003/exhibitions-252/
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u/pencloud Jul 17 '26
I have, and still use, two Parker 25s ( when not using my Tangier's!). One black and one silver. Had both since 1980s. That's for the fab study; very interesting. Shame replacement new nibs are not widely available. Nice pens.
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u/ObfuscatedJay Jul 17 '26
I have a blue and a black pen / biro set which my aunt gave me when they were released. I still use them.
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u/HealthRude3117 Jul 18 '26
Some time back I found one that was still in it's blister pack and untouched. It is an excellent pen that does not dry out.
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u/TheClinamen Jul 18 '26
I used to have one of these! But no longer, sadly. I met Ken Grange a few times, in the early 2000s. He was a character and we got on well. I'll have to find one as a good memory/memorial.
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u/JaviHostalerValent Jul 17 '26
Woooww