EGOUNDESIGN TRILObyME Portable Art Pencil Case, Achille Castiglioni

Achille Castiglioni’s last design, made pocket-size: a 3D-printed, three-lobed case holding a pencil, a pen, wax crayons, highlighters, an eraser and a sharpener.

TRILObyME is the portable atelier of CENTO3, the writing instruments Achille Castiglioni drew in 2001 with his friend, the architect Gianfranco Cavaglià. Their three-lobed section was too complex to produce at the time and stayed in the archive for twenty years, until the Fondazione Achille Castiglioni, Cavaglià and the Bologna design studio EGOUNDESIGN brought it to life with 3D printing. The case is printed in biodegradable PLA, closes with magnetic caps at both ends and measures just 10.5 cm (about 4.1″). Inside are a CENTO3 Multifunction Art Pencil with a 5.5 mm graphite lead, a black ballpoint insert, blue and red write-on-anything wax crayons, green and yellow dry highlighters, an eraser and a built-in sharpener. Each piece is printed individually in Italy, so the surface has a subtle non-slip texture, and the trilobed shape keeps it from rolling off a desk. It comes gift boxed, in 11 colors.

Specifications

• Brand: EGOUNDESIGN (Bologna, Italy)
• Collection: CENTO3 / TRILObyME
• Design: Achille Castiglioni and Gianfranco Cavaglià, 2001
• Type: Portable art kit in a three-lobed case
• Length: 10.5 cm (about 4.1″)
• Case: 3D-printed biodegradable PLA; magnetic caps at both ends
• Contents: 1 CENTO3 Multifunction Art Pencil, 1 × 5.5 mm graphite lead, 1 black ballpoint pen insert, 2 write-on-anything wax crayons (blue, red), 2 dry highlighter wax crayons (green, yellow), 1 eraser, built-in sharpener
• Colors: Graphene, British Green, Red, Gold, Incense, Myrrh, Yellow, Quiet Blue, Natural Ivory, Pink, Blue
• Packaging: Gift boxed
• Made in: Italy
• Item number (MPN): EM-TRIL- plus color (e.g. EM-TRIL-GPH for Graphene)

Features

• Six drawing and writing tools plus eraser and sharpener in one 10.5 cm case
• Magnetic caps at both ends
• Three-lobed shape from Castiglioni and Cavaglià’s 2001 design: comfortable to hold, won’t roll
• 3D-printed one at a time in Italy, with a subtle non-slip texture
• 11 colors, gift boxed

Best for

Architects, designers and illustrators who sketch on the go, students, and anyone who would rather carry one object than a pencil case of loose tools. It fits a coat pocket, a bag or the corner of a desk. See also: EGOUNDESIGN CENTO3 Trittico Writing Set by Achille Castiglioni.

Who this is not for

• Anyone who needs a full range of drawing pencils in many grades: it carries one graphite lead.
• Fountain-pen users: the pen here is a ballpoint insert; the EGOUNDESIGN CENTO3 Trittico Writing Set by Achille Castiglioni includes a pocket fountain pen.
• Young children: the case holds small parts and magnetic caps.

Why we carry it

We’ve been curating design-led pieces since 2009. EGOUNDESIGN is an independent design studio and brand in Bologna that designs and produces with 3D printing and an all-Italian supply chain. With the Fondazione Achille Castiglioni and Gianfranco Cavaglià it turned CENTO3, Castiglioni’s last design, into real instruments. The awards EGOUNDESIGN lists include the Archiproducts Design Award 2021, the SaloneSatellite Award 2024 and selection for the ADI Design Index.

Buy once: durability and care

Wipe the case with a soft, dry cloth, and keep it away from strong heat such as a car dashboard in summer, since PLA softens with heat (our advice). Keep the caps on when it travels so every tool stays in place.

Frequently asked questions

What is inside the TRILObyME case?

A CENTO3 Multifunction Art Pencil with a 5.5 mm graphite lead, a black ballpoint pen insert, blue and red write-on-anything wax crayons, green and yellow dry highlighter crayons, an eraser and a built-in sharpener.

How big is the TRILObyME?

It is 10.5 cm long, about 4.1″, small enough for a shirt or coat pocket.

Which TRILObyME color should I choose? (our styling advice)

Graphene and British Green suit a classic desk; Gold, Incense and Myrrh make a gift with presence; Yellow, Pink, Red and Blue are easy to find in a bag; Natural Ivory and Quiet Blue keep things soft and minimal.

Who designed the TRILObyME’s three-lobed shape?

Achille Castiglioni and the architect Gianfranco Cavaglià, in 2001; EGOUNDESIGN engineered and produces it in Bologna with 3D printing.

Is the TRILObyME a good gift?

Yes. It arrives gift boxed, and it is a natural present for architects, designers, illustrators and graduating students.

Can the TRILObyME go outdoors or travel?

Yes, that is what it is for: the magnetic caps keep the tools in place on site visits and trips. Just don’t leave it in a hot car (our advice).

Trade pricing for design professionals

Interior designers, architects, contractors and builders can apply to the MetropolitanDecor Trade Program for trade pricing on EGOUNDESIGN and the rest of our catalog, a dedicated trade support line, and free catalogs and finish swatches. Applying takes about three minutes; our trade team reviews every application personally, usually within one business day. Ordering for a hotel, office, studio or corporate gifts? Contact us with models and quantities and we’ll confirm availability and lead time.

Shipping & returns

Ships in 2–3 business days. Orders over $100 ship free by ground to the 48 contiguous states. All sales are final, so check the size and specifications above before ordering; if your order arrives damaged or isn’t what you ordered, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos and we’ll make it right.

Please note: Because this item is made to order or specially sourced, it is final sale.