Silver Art and Stationery Supplies Design · 2021
Qui Magnetic Pencil Holder
- A' Design Award 2021 Silver Winner in Art and Stationery Supplies Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Ozio design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 47,747
- Verification code 7AAB7282D2 · Verify this award
About Qui Magnetic Pencil Holder
Qui is a magnetic clip holder for pens and pencils. The name means here in Italian. The clip fits pens and pencils of different sizes and attaches to any metal surface. An adhesive magnetic disc is included for non-metallic surfaces, such as a wall, a computer, a bag or a notebook. The body is made of ABS by injection molding, and the metal parts are cut and laser engraved. Qui measures 38 mm in height, 12 mm in width and 13 mm in depth. Bright colors make the holder easy to find at a glance.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Are you looking for a pen or pencil amongst the chaos of your home or office? Look no further; here is Qui. Qui (which means “here” in Italian) is a magnetic pen and pencil holder that allows you to attach them wherever you like. The adhesive metal disc can be applied to any surface. Just hook Qui to your pencil or pen and, thanks to the magnet, you can hang it wherever you want, so that you will always know where to find it.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Product dimensions
Height 38mm x Width 12mm x Depth 13mm
Package dimensions
Height 76mm x Width 76mm x Depth 21mm - Tags
- holder, pencil, magnetic, stationery, disc, metal, office, home, accessory, minimal, colors,
- Production Technology
- Injection molding of ABS, metal cut and laser engraving of the logo for the metal components
- Design Challenge
- We have worked to create a unique object that stands out on the stationery market for its originality and particular function. We wanted to design a product capable of surprising the user and stimulating his imagination. Among the design challenges, the most difficult one was to make the object adaptable to the different formats of pencils and pens available on the market. Numerous technical constraints have been overcome, such as assembly and quality control over the entire mass production.
- Project Duration
- The project started in November 2019 in Pisa and finished in September 2020 in Pisa.
- Operation Flow
- The magnetic clip fits your pen or pencil and allows it to stick to any metal surface. For non-metallic surfaces - for example, if you want to clip the pen to your diary or agenda - Qui comes complete with an adhesive magnetic disk that can be attached to any surface: on a wall, on a computer, on a bag or on a notebook. With Qui your pens and pencils are always where you want to find them, with the benefit of a splash of color that makes it easier to spot them at a glance.
- Research
- Although technology has invaded everyone's life, many people love to use analog products. For all these people, pens, pencils, charcoals etc. besides being useful are also objects of affection. In terms of data, despite the growing trend of digital products (notebooks, ebooks, smartpen, etc.), there is still a good part of the population that prefers paper instead of screens. With Qui we have worked to meet the needs of this particular group of people. Our intent is to give a special place to analog tools that are indispensable for activities such as reading, writing, drawing, studying, etc.
- Inspiration
- Leisure represents the time in which we are free to devote ourselves to our passions and interests. In order to regain our perspective on the world and to truly be ourselves, we often have to escape the constant flow of everyday worries. This is what inspires us: the time a person dedicates to himself, deciding to ignore, at least for a little while, the frenzy of an increasingly fast-paced and stressful world. A world which has ended up making us feel more often dissatisfied than truly connected to our needs.
- Image Credits
- COPYRIGHT Pq design studio
- Patents
- EUIPO Registered 03/02/20 No 007654793-0001
Colors of Qui Magnetic Pencil Holder
Get Qui Magnetic Pencil Holder
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G0E3 ShopGrand Interview about Qui Magnetic Pencil Holder
The idea for Qui was born from a very simple but meaningful observation: many people still have a “favorite pencil” or pen, and they feel a small but real sense of frustration when they cannot find it. Analog tools move constantly—from the desk to a notebook, from a bag to the sofa—and this creates both clutter and mental noise. With Qui, I wanted to transform this daily friction into a small ritual: “your pencil is here.” From that insight, we worked to create a minimal object capable of restoring emotional value to analog tools and making them feel more personal and precious again.
One of the main challenges was ensuring that Qui could accommodate different writing tools while maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic. We didn’t want a complicated object; we wanted a quiet presence. This required careful work on proportions, tolerances and internal geometry, supported by multiple rounds of prototyping to fine-tune the relationship between weight, grip and magnetic strength.In addition, Qui is not a single object but a complete system: an ecological pencil, a magnetic accessory and a thin metal disc with an adhesive backing. The disc makes the set compatible with any non-metallic surface, which added another layer of engineering complexity because the product had to perform reliably in very different environments and materials.
We chose the name “Qui”—Italian for “here”—because the project is fundamentally about giving a clear place to something that is part of your everyday life. Naming it “here” emphasizes presence, intention and care. When your pencil has a specific “here,” it stops being just another object on your desk and becomes a companion you return to. This reflects my broader design philosophy: good objects should quietly structure our routines, reduce noise and help us protect what truly matters.
Our research showed that despite the dominance of digital devices, people across many professions still rely heavily on analog tools for clarity, focus and creative thinking. At the same time, these tools were often misplaced or lost throughout the day. This tension guided our design decisions: we wanted Qui not just to “hold” a pencil, but to highlight it, give it visibility and turn the act of placing it back into a small, intentional gesture. The goal was to strengthen the emotional bond between users and their analog tools.
The evolution of the magnetic mechanism required extensive testing, because small variations in strength or distance drastically change the user experience. A magnet that is too weak feels unreliable; one that is too strong becomes frustrating. We experimented with different magnet grades, layouts and internal distances to achieve the perfect balance: a secure, reassuring attachment combined with an effortless release.A key part of this work involved the adhesive metal disc, which enables Qui to function even on non-metallic surfaces such as wooden desks, smooth walls, rigid planners or notebooks. We had to ensure that the magnetic interaction felt equally consistent whether the user relied on a naturally metallic surface or on the disc as an interface.
I believe the jury appreciated how Qui transforms a very ordinary object into something quietly poetic without sacrificing practicality. It is minimal, accessible and industrially feasible, yet it introduces a new, almost meditative gesture in everyday life. The balance between emotional value, clarity of use and manufacturability is likely what made the design stand out to the jury.
Ozio’s mission is to create objects that protect and enhance quality time—moments that are often overshadowed by a rushed, hyper-connected lifestyle. Qui fits perfectly within this vision. By giving your favorite pencil a dedicated place “here,” it reduces micro-frictions and invites you to pause, jot down a thought, sketch an idea or reflect on paper. It does not demand attention; it gently improves your routine. This is exactly what Ozio stands for.
We wanted Qui to deliver a subtle sense of surprise—the satisfying “click” of the magnet—while remaining fully intuitive. No buttons, no moving parts, no visible complexity. We observed how users naturally tried to interact with early prototypes and removed any potential ambiguity. The final product offers a gesture that is instantly understood and memorized, yet always pleasantly tactile.
In studying workspace behavior, we noticed two consistent patterns: people accumulate many pens but use only one or two favorites; and visual clutter increases stress and reduces focus. Traditional organizers often place tools away from where thinking actually happens. With Qui, we wanted to bring the favorite tool closer to the point of action—on a notebook, next to a screen, on a wall, on a shelf.The adhesive metal disc greatly expands this freedom: users can create their own “here” anywhere—on a monitor, a planner, a shelf or a vertical surface—turning virtually any area into a functional docking point for their favorite writing tool.
Although Qui is a small object, I see it as a meaningful step toward rebalancing the relationship between analog and digital tools. As our lives become increasingly digital, the value of physical objects that support focus and creativity will only grow. Qui demonstrates that even a minimal accessory can encourage people to use their analog tools more intentionally, preserve their emotional value and integrate them more seamlessly into everyday routines. I believe this approach will inspire new innovations in stationery design, especially those that bridge the gap between analog rituals and digital workflows.