PHEN

“pHen” is an open-source, refillable marker-style drawing tool that you can 3D print at home, allowing users to create with a single pigment source while producing multiple colors using just one pen. Through innovative engineering, the pHen allows the user to customize colors by adjusting the pH balance of fruit and vegetable-derived inks contained within the pen. In this way, one single pen creates a range of colors, reducing the need for multiple markers and challenging the disposable culture of traditional art supplies.

The project originated as a university collaboration and quickly grew into an international initiative, earning the Outstanding Art Prize at the 2024 Biodesign Challenge in New York. This recognition led to a six-month solo exhibition at the BioBAT Art Space in Brooklyn, titled Adaptive Hues & Circular Futures. The exhibition not only showcased the functional prototypes of the pHen but also explored the broader implications of biodesign, featuring collaborative artworks, microscopic research on natural pigments, and interactive installations that critiqued plastic waste in the art world.

Developed by the pHen Artist Collective—comprising myself, graphic designer Szonja Somogyvári, and material researcher Nóra Gulya—the project represents a deep integration of design, chemistry, and sustainability. As the initiative continues to evolve, we are currently participating in a startup mentorship program to transition the pHen from a conceptual artwork into a commercially available, sustainable product.