6 Best Notebooks for Designers to Increase Their Creativity
As a designer, you may feel that you look around everywhere to gain inspiration for your projects. Some of us will try gaining our inspiration while taking a walk, going to a coffee shop or even looking online; but all of those methods can take time away from your already busy schedule. Instead, have you ever looked at your notebook for needed inspiration?
The following six notebooks were made with you in mind!
Despite the abundance of digital devices, lots of web designers and graphic designers prefer to work with pen or pencil and paper, the old-fashioned way.
These designer notebooks were built to save you time and money by giving you the needed inspiration to get your projects done regardless the task! Use them for taking notes, preparing a to do list, sketching, wireframing websites, jotting down the ideas on how to improve the UX design of the app or more! Sometimes we all need a little inspiration to further our creativity.
This list of notebooks provides you with great options for different types of pages, including dotted, flat lined, and blank so you can get your designs done when you need them done without having to seek inspiration elsewhere!
Baron Fig Confidant
Most people claim that this is the best notebook for designers so far. And it’s no wonder why. It’s build for designers, by designers.
A great eye for detail and first-class materials make Baron Fig notebooks stand out from the crowd. Compact size and minimalist-inspired design make this notebook perfectly fit your everyday carry kit.
As a great bonus, the notebook lets you enjoy 3 types of pages: plain, ruled and dot grid. Baron Fig made of thick 90 gsm paper and come with a bookmark and 192 pages. And it’s worth mentioning once again – it looks brilliant.
So if you are on the lookout for a first-class notebooks for designer - Baron Fig has something to offer.
- True lay flat
- Great design
- High quality
- No pocket
Product details
| Number of pages | Paper weight | Cover type | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 192 | 90 gsm | Hardcover | 5.4" X 7.7" |
Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Smart Notebook
The Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Smart Notebook is the last one you’ll ever need to buy! It is friendly to the environment with its reusable pages. It is produced with a spiral binding allowing it to be economically friendly. While other writing instruments can be used, the pages can be wiped clean with water and the included, soft cloth when it is used with the included pen or with other Pilot FriXion markers, pens and highlighters.
Each page is designed to be used with the Rocketbook app. Inside, the blank pages open flat and are great for making to do list, drawing or creating professional designs! Simply draw your design or write notes into this notebook. Afterwards, snap a picture using the Rocketbook app. Rapidly turn a picture into a nicely formatted file that looks clean and professional. This uniquely intelligent notebook is so smart that it can identify where you want your drawing sent just by you choosing a symbol at the bottom of the page! This will allow you to quickly you’re your articles or sketches to friends, family, colleagues or the creative cloud almost instantly!
A great feature of Rocketbook is that it was designed for usage anywhere! It stays in airplane mode so it can be used in places where other electronics are not allowed. This notebook truly could be the last notebook you ever own!
- Pages are reusable.
- Comes with one pen.
- Only needs water to clean pages.
- Icons tell the book where to send drawings.
- Drawing can be stored in the cloud.
- Pages can only be cleaned if manufacturer’s pen or marker was used.
- No lines for writing.
- Cover isn't durable enough.
Product details
| Number of pages | Cover type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Softcover | 6"x8.8" |
Leuchtturm1917 Medium Hardcover Notebook Dots Anthracite
The Leucttrum 1917 notebook presents a beautifully designed notebook with a quality hardcover. This notebook is durable and has an elastic strap to help keep it closed while not in use. The numbered pages come with a classic dot grid paper. The notebook was designed with thread binding which allows it to openly lay flat. It can be used for many purposes from note taking, to do list, designing, playing games and many more. It also includes 8 perforated and detachable pages.
One great feature of this notebook is the table of contents. The table of contents was left blank so you, the designer, can accurately assign page numbers to your designs and quickly find your notes. Quick and easy access can be paramount when time equals money! Another feature included is the expandable notebook pocket that allows you to compile and store additional notes or drawings. The attached bookmark allows the user to quickly pick up where they left off.
Finally, the Leucttrum 1917 is designed to be unique and versatile while allowing your designing uniqueness and versatility to shine!
- Includes table of contents and stickers for labeling.
- Perforated and detachable sheets.
- Lays flat.
- Thin pages.
Product details
| Number of pages | Paper weight | Cover type | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | 80gsm | Hardcover | 5.75" x 8.25" |
Moleskine Batman Limited Edition Notebook
The Moleskine Batman Limited Edition Notebook allows you to keep Batman at your side where ever you go! The hardcover, designer illustration comes in black and white while depicting one of our favorite crime fighting individuals in action; Batman!
This notebook is contained by an elastic strap that allows all your writings or drawings to stay secret and confidential while easily being carried around. Its fun design encourages you to use it for writing, drawing and taking field notes. An expandable inner pocket is included along with themed stickers and a bookmark make this an everyday carry item. Take it to school, work, home or on outside, crime fighting adventures! This notebook would make a great present for any Batman or superhero fan
- Cover artwork.
- Ribbon bookmark.
- Good looking notebook.
- Stickers.
- Thin paper/bleed through.
Product details
| Number of pages | Paper weight | Cover type | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 70gsm | Hardcover | 5" x 8.25" |
Field Notes Pitch Black Memo Book
The Field Notes notebook is tiny but mighty! It’s small, yet flexible design, allows the user to store it in a pocket while at work or outdoors. Carry it everyday for making to do list, taking notes or to freehand sketches in.
The cover design is simple yet warm and inviting. The rounded corners prevent this notebook from becoming dog-eared over time while still protecting the dot grid pages within. It makes a great sketch pad or journal that can easily be taken on a bike ride, while hiking or for a camping trip thus allowing you to save your memories in your own handwriting!
Field notes are probably the best among small notebooks.
- Great for carrying in a pocket.
- Little to no bleed through on pages.
- Cover is made of paper.
Product details
| Number of pages | Cover type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Softcover | 3.5" x 5.5" |
Rite in the Rain Notebook
The Rite in the Rain Notebook was truly built for use while outdoors! Its hardcover helps to protect the water proof, plaid ruled pages from a variety of elements such as rain, snow and mud. Arriving with a conversion chart as well as imperial and metric rulers this notebook allows designers like you to quickly convert measurements during time when you venture outside of your cell service range.
The cover design was made with a simple, vintage feel but will hold up to the test of the differing elements while working outside! Favorited by many Geologist because of its long-lasting materials. Twenty pages of reference materials are included. A standard pencil or all-weather pen must be used on the waterproof pages. Although waterproof, it still provides an eco-friendly design and can be recycled. This is a must have for anyone needing to spend time drawing or writing outside!
- 20 pages of reference materials.
- Imperial and Metric Rulers.
- Conversion Chart.
- Pages can warp when exposed to water.
Product details
| Number of pages | Paper weight | Cover type | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | 32gsm | Hardcover | 7.5" x 4.8" |
Conclusion
As you can see, designers may have varying needs from writing to sketching and more but they all have one thing in common… they need inspiration!
Our top 6 notebooks for designers were all created for designers to gain inspiration in their current environments while also providing quality materials that allow them to capture their designs at any given moment.
All the notebooks come with high-quality thick paper that’s perfect for writing and sketching.
Whether your design is simple, complex, written or drawn, these creative notebooks will help you to stay on task, track your progress, keep your place and most importantly, they will inspire you to keep doing what you do best… Design!
