Seasons and Synergy

Staedtler comes full circle with Pen of the Season: Californian Winter.

- Suzanne C. Lee

Ease and mechanization define modern production.While the benefits of this system are clear in terms of efficiency, the segmented nature of manufacturing can result in inconsistencies, dooming a potentially perfect product to inferiority; it has mostly destroyed the true artisan, the visionary who sees a product’s construction from start to finish.

Note the caveat “mostly.” Friedrich Staedtler, referenced in Nuremberg city annals as early as 1662, was the quintessential artisan, the first to oversee each element of the pencil manufacturing process, from initial idea to active construction to the meticulously finished result. Although the German writing instrument company wasn’t officially founded until Friedrich’s descendant, J. S. Staedtler, did so in 1835, his holistic approach and dedication to unity remains, even now, one of Staedtler’s essential values.

The emphasis of Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG on cohesion requires a careful, orchestrated attempt to continuously germinate as well as tend. Handwriting education, therefore, is a top priority; conceived as a means to breed interest and to help the general population comprehend the vital importance of the culture of handwriting, Staedtler participates in many programs and projects intended to do just that.