Power of the Pen

Maureen and I stopped at the W Hotel bar to have a drink before the February Chicago Women in Publishing program. Neither of us had been to the W before and we were a little curious. I liked the simplicity of the name and that was enough for me to give it a try. We agreed we'd leave if we didn't like it.

Well, we liked it. We sat in a quiet corner of the Living Room on cream colored leather couches that curve around, creating a nice ebb and flow to the space. A backdrop of light and motion create a bit of an other worldly ambiance. We had to touch the cocktail table to see if the surface was real or projected. We ordered wine and cheese and spent a lovely hour in our own little world.

All in all, an enjoyable experience, that did not end when the bill came.

As we signed our tabs, we both commented, "I really like this pen."  and "This is a really cool pen."

So what is it about the pen?

• It's square. It feels secure. It doesn't roll off the tray when the bill is delivered. It's a small thing, but makes the experience smoother, less distracting. Isn't that what design should do?

• It's a solid piece of some kind of matte rubber material. Smooth with an edge. Not shiny or slippery or cold. No clicking or twisting required.

• It has clean, uncomplicated lines. Simple brushed metal clip. Spare text, in silver, matches the clip.

With this pen, the smart people at the W continued the sensual experience of the W brand. Rather than being brought back to the reality of the bill in our hands, the pen served to charm us and cement the love. Never underestimate the power of the pen.