09/01/11 - WoodMates Packaging wins 7 NRHA Packaging Awards

Our identity and packaging design for the new WoodMates line of staining tools won a Gold award and six Silver 2011 NRHA Packaging Awards.
Learn more about NRHA Winners (PDF)

07/05/11 - U by Kotex dispenser concept announced as finalist for IDEA awards!

The U by Kotex tampon dispenser is a concept for a new kind of vending and educational system. The dispenser transforms the traditional ugly white metal box found in most womens restrooms into a unique and powerful new brand touchpoint, providing young girls with personal choice, helpful information and a sense of community.
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07/01/11 - WoodMates announced as finalist for IDEA awards!

WoodMates by Mr LongArm is a complete solution for outdoor wood staining, from decks to picket fences, tailored to the specific tasks involved. These tools anticipate the needs of DIY users who might be unaware of all of the challenges ahead on their big project.
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06/16/11 - Marco Perry quoted in the Center for Urban Future report

Marco Perry was cited in the Center for Urban Future report on the future of design businesses as a engine for growth in New York City.
The NYC Future Report

03/15/11 - Clik Clok concept ready for Kickstarter - hint...we are kidding

Tired of having to carry your iPad in a bag? Or worse yet... in your hand?!?! Looking for a convenient way to have your iPad with you at all times whether you are at work, out with friends, or working out...? Have you ever looked down at your stylish giant clock necklace and wondered, "HEY! Why can't this thing browse the internet, play music, and let me video chat with my friends?!?!" If you answered "Yeaaah Boyeee!" to any of these questions, then click your iPad 2 into the Clik Clok! Just attach the Clik Clok necklace to the magnetic points on any iPad 2 and the clock app automatically launches. Voila! Form, function and fashion all together in one convenient iPad accessory. Available in Silver, Gold or Anodized Aluminum Look for it at a Kickstarter campaign soon! Brought to you by Pensa.
More images of the Clik Clok (PDF)

02/19/11 - Jim Best of Pensa is a juror at the 2011 Medical Design Excellence Awards.

From the MDEA website: "Members of the MDEA jury are selected each year by a panel of editors from UBM Canon. The jury panel typically encompasses experts from a wide range of healthcare- and design-related fields, including clinical practice, biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, manufacturing, and other areas. When considering juror nominees, UBM Canons editors pay particular attention to the need for a balanced, multidisciplinary, and impartial jury. For this reason, jurors cannot be affiliated with a company that is submitting a product for consideration. MDEA jurors have set a high standard for judging excellence and fair competition. Following are the jurors who will be evaluating entries in the 2011 MDEA competition."
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12/16/10 - Pensa wins a Good Design Award for Mr LongArm WoodMates staining tools!

Pensa has been awarded a 2010 Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum for their design of the Mr LongArm WoodMates tools. This entirely new suite of tools is designed to work together seamlessly to get tough, outdoor staining tasks done quickly, easily, and more sustainably. More about the Good Design awards here:
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11/30/10 - Pensa celebrates Mo-vember!

Everyone at Pensa (or almost everyone) grew a mustache to raise awareness for men's health and prostate cancer. Some of us are still sporting mo's... anyone ready for Beard-cember?
Click here to make a donation

11/08/10 - Alice Ro, Director of Research & Strategy, speaks at the Healthcare Design Conference on November 16th.

Topic: Reducing the Microbial Burden of the Built Environment with Copper and Evidence Based Design
Speakers: Alice Ro, Director of Research & Strategy, Pensa, and Michael Schmidt, PhD, Professor and Vice Chairman, Medical University of South Carolina

Each year hospital-acquired infections (HAI) result in substantial loss of life and cost the healthcare system billions of dollars, and the risk is high with approximately 5% of all admitted US patients acquiring an infection. This study applies an evidence based design approach in order to mitigate this problem.
Evidence will be presented demonstrating the average microbial burden as 32 times higher than benign, how the best cleaning efforts haven't restricted the microbial burden and how the application of antimicrobial copper alloys can reduce this burden to acceptable levels, thereby mitigating the role that the built environment plays in HAI acquisition.
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11/08/10 - Pensa included in the book "1000 Product Designs" by Eric Chan

Pensa's design of the Labnet Mini Rotator and OXO Digital Instant Read Thermometer are featured in this comprehensive look at the best of contemporary product design.
Buy the book here