My official review formats

Posted: May 6th, 2010 | Author: Thomas | Filed under: Ink & stationery | 2 Comments »

When doing reviews I try to present the product in question somewhat differently than the norm, which brings me to my big issue these past couple of months.

Diamine inks sent me 86 bottles of ink to review!

Whats the beef you ask?

Originally I presumed that I would steam ahead, easy as pie and bang out a review every 2 days like a pro! But when it came to it I just didn’t know how to write an ink review in a fun and “me” sorta way.

I don’t want to settle and be boring because I feel that will waste both my time and yours which just isn’t cool.

So I have been scrunching my gray matter over this with regards to conjuring up a solution that will please everyone and thus I bring you my official review formats!

Now, why have a review format in the first place you ask?

In the name of fairness.

All my reviews share the same format (based on product range of course) and if I use one format for one brand and another format for another brand then comparisons become very biased which isn’t fair to the companies sending me stuff thus I try to remain consistent while still having my own style.

Onwards with the formats then!

 

Papeterie

1) Model & specifications

2) Size, Feel & Appearance

3) Features

4) Writing Performance

5) Conclusion

 

Stationery

 

1) Model & specifications

2) Size, Feel & Appearance

3) Writing Performance

4) Conclusion

 

Ink

 

All the others are self explanatory, but ink was a tough one to think of.

How do you create a review format with pro’s and cons on something as ubiquitous as ink?

All inks for all intents and purposes “work” , the flow and consistency when writing with them is derived from a number of external third party factors that cant be quantified in a scientific format in a way that can be replicated by the viewer since you may not have my paper, humidity, fountain pens etc.

How viscous ink appears to be can be attributed to the pen utilized (nib + feed etc.) or the paper and your mileage will vary regarding how you feel it rates as either a good ink or a bad ink, some like dry inks and others like wetter more flowing ones.

Which is good and which is bad?

Its not up to me to tell you to like or dislike an ink brand, ink is about color which is 100% emotion and personal taste.

Not science.

So I wont be writing on a glorified “pros and cons” basis but rather I will show the ink in question with sexy photographs (and not a boring swatch or writing sample but something more groovy) along with a segment on evoking emotion that I will call “Colorful musings”.

So, onwards with the format!

 

1) Reference & specifications

<I will list out the reference in terms of manufacture & model + any other specialty information that may be pertinent such as waterproof’ness & other miscellaneous attributes.>

 

2) Sample

<The ink in action! Will be done on Rhodia paper in a more fun way than just a swab of ink, most likely Japanese calligraphy because I dig it and its sexy.>

 

3) Colorful musings

<Just something cool that I will attach to the review in order to (hopefully) evoke some emotion. Might be a drawing, might be a song…perhaps even a poem.>

 

Anyway I hope you like my conclusions on review formats and are looking forward to my ink reviews (to come shortly)!

 

A+

---