French stationery brand BIC's signature Big Crystal ballpoint pen has been reborn as a giant lamp. To celebrate the Big Crystal's 75th anniversary this year, Italian design brand Seletti has unveiled a collaborative project. This is an example of a familiar everyday item transformed into a lifestyle object of entirely new scale and functionality.
The newly unveiled Big Lamp is characterized by its size, approximately 12 times larger than the original ballpoint pen, while maintaining its original form. It faithfully follows the proportions of a circle, from its hexagonal body and transparent barrel to its colored cap structure. The design, by Italian designer Mario Paroli, focused on preserving the proportions and impression of the Big Crystal, first designed in 1950.
During the day, LED lights illuminate the transparent body, which once contained the ink, emitting a soft glow. The cap and tip are available in three colors: black, blue, and red, and the power cable is also finished in the same colors. The lamp is available in three versions: wall-mounted, stand-alone, and pendant, all measuring approximately 178 centimeters in length. Like the original, it is made of plastic.
The Big Crystal Ballpoint Pen is an iconic figure in design history. It is also well-known as a permanent member of the collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. It has been recognized as more than just a writing instrument, but as a design icon embedded in our collective memory.
The Big Lamp was first unveiled at Maison&Objet in Paris in January 2026. Its official launch is scheduled for late March or early April, and it will be available on the Seletti official website and at select retailers. It's priced at approximately $350. The idea of a design long hidden in a pencil case becoming a fixture in your home is becoming a reality.
