Andrea Bogoni
- Jan 30, 2018
- 3 min read

Goodbye Prodir!

There are certain objects that each of us have had in their hands at least once in their life time: the Prodir DS3 is one of these.

For those unfamiliar with it, Prodir is the leading Swiss manufacturer of promotional writing instruments and the DS3 is its most iconic model and one of the most widespread pens. If you didn’t recognise the name it’s because this kind of product is specifically designed to communicate the brand that it represents from time to time.

What makes this brand special compared to the many other products on the market are three specific ingredients. Design above all: Prodir pens are essential and elegant, their shapes are designed to adapt to any identity and stand trends. Over the years the products have won the most prestigious international design awards. The second element is the research for the highest quality: a Prodir pen is designed to be long-lasting, it’s made with top quality plastics and equipped with a refined and durable refill, comparable to those of luxury pens. Last but not least, the very high leveled communication which has also been recognised by the jury of the Red Dot Award as "exemplary for aesthetics, innovation and pregnancy".

When you hold a Prodir in your hands you feel the higher quality: you probably can’t explain why but the reasons are clear to those who design them and deal with the quality of the plastic, the thickness of the body, the precision of the mechanism and the quality of writing. A Prodir promotional pen, that for many is a small and insignificant object, is produced with the same care that one would imagine to be applied in the production of a luxury item.

When I first walked into the company about six years ago, I never imagine the complexity of the world of writing. During the first weeks I was fascinated by the industriousness and the maniacal precision of each single department, from the productive ones to the offices. It seemed that we were all working as if the company belonged to us. I once remember, when faced with a small defect deemed invisible to the customer’s eyes, the product manager opposed this in a decisive and enthralling way: the pen had to be perfect in every detail, because the customer would have never identified the defect but he could have perceived, even unconsciously, a slightly lower quality.

What also pleasantly surprised me was the centrality of design and communication in every aspect of the company’s life. Each product launch was precisely defined, in time and with the utmost attention to the smallest detail. It was clear that functionality, expressiveness and pleasure represented transversely shared principles on different levels. At the behest of the same owner, the marketing and communication department must be at the center of almost all company initiatives, from the most strategic projects up to those less tied to the business, such as the new and functional company canteen.

In the past six years I had the opportunity to take care of very interesting projects, including the development of the new corporate website, the management of direct email marketing, social media and the launch of Open - the company blog. Above all I had the pleasure of spending most of my time (which we all know how precious it is) with very special people which I gained a lot from. They know who I am referring to and I thank them all.

Bye Prodir, good luck!

Being Swiss, by Prodir