design08 Ruthenium Fountain Pen

Introduced in 2021, the design08 is the second writing instrument created for Otto Hutt by Berlin-based designer Mark Braun, following the designC anniversary edition. The edition builds on the same Bauhaus principle of “form follows function”, but takes a more technical approach.

The body and cap are made from solid brass and finished in ruthenium, giving the pen its distinctive dark grey, almost monochromatic appearance. Fine guilloché lines cover the entire surface, running horizontally along the barrel and vertically across the cap and finial. The 90-degree change in direction is not only decorative: it subtly references the twisting movements used to open and operate the pen.

The Pull+Twist™️ mechanism remains a defining technical feature of the design08, alongside several other details that give the pen its distinctive character, including a mechanical spring-loaded clip built from five individual components. The clip integrates directly into the concave top of the cap and gently moves into it when pressed.

The fountain pen is completed by a matte PVD-coated grip section and a large 18k yellow gold XL nib that breaks up the otherwise dark ruthenium aesthetic.