Over the years I have learned to embrace a digital + analog hybrid workflow process. While most of my work goes straight to the computer, tablet, or mobile phone that I’m working on at the moment, I still like having a pen and paper with me at all times to jot down things I’m thinking about or things I need to do. There’s something therapeutic about writing it down rather than just typing it out so products that can give me that convenience are always welcome.
Designer: Cortex
The Sidekick Notepad is basically a writing pad where you can jot things down while having a meeting or while doing your normal, every day tasks. It is designed to fit either above or under your keyboard and is meant to be your “sidekick” if you’re like me that sometimes likes to put her to-do list on paper rather than on pixels. There’s a section to put the date, a huge section for notes, and then on the side, there’s a to-do list section with checkboxes so it’s easier to tick things off.
It’s not meant to be like a journal where you keep it even after the tasks or notes have served their purpose. It’s a tear-away kind of pad where you can just tear it off and then throw it (or compile it somewhere else if that’s your thing). You can also scan your notes for posterity and then save it on your preferred notes app. It doesn’t seem to have a dedicated app that can automatically scan and store things for you so you have to do it the manual way.
The Sidekick Notepad has 60 pages of Munken Lynx paper so if you run out, you’ll have to buy a new notepad since it’s not refillable. The cover is made from something called “Extract”, a paper made from recycled coffee cups. This adds another layer of things that I love so this product seems to be created especially for people like me who still can’t let go of the analog stuff.
All of us experience distractions at one time or another, sometimes even more than we can actually handle. Some of those distractions come from external sources, like a co-worker dropping by to have a word. Other times, we are betrayed by our own brains that try to push ideas to the forefront when we don’t need them yet. In both cases, the simplest and most effective way to get back into the zone is to write down whatever comes to mind or to our attention the moment it arrives. That would, of course, presuppose that you have something to write those thoughts on, something you’ll be sure to be able to retrieve later on when you do need those ideas. That’s where this beautifully minimalist Japanese paper Memo Block comes in, providing a temporary shelter for those itinerant thoughts of yours.
In an age where a smartphone is almost always nearby, some might brush off the need for a dedicated paper pad to write things down in a snap. Given how most phones work, however, it takes more than just a few seconds to unlock the phone and get to your favorite note-taking app. Your computer might not even be available at that moment, so typing it out might not work either. Both devices also offer plenty of distractions, and you might find yourself getting sidetracked by other thoughts even before you could type the first one. In both cases, the best solution is one that has existed for centuries and has almost no opportunity to get in your way.
There is nothing more welcoming and more freeing than a blank sheet of paper that’s ready to record those fleeting thoughts, flashes of inspiration, or even tasks that were suddenly dumped on your lap. With no other markings, not even grids or lines, this white Memo Block lets you focus on the simplest task at hand, jotting that note down before you get distracted again. And with its smaller footprint, it’s easy to put a block of paper anywhere on your desk, in any position or orientation, so that it will always be within easy reach when your Muse or your colleague visits you.
The Memo Block Black has the same properties but adds a little extra, especially for creatives. Its pure black surface challenges the mind as if daring it to put an unconventional and exciting new thought on paper. It also adds a bit of flair to your notes, too, since you’ll be using ink that’s quite different from the one you use for mundane writing. Plus, the memo pad itself radiates personality, defying the usual conventions of memo blocks that come in white or bright colors.
Both white and black Memo Blocks use high-quality Japanese paper revered by many stationery connoisseurs. Its smooth texture and durability generate both comfort as well as confidence in use, transforming the act of writing from something mechanical to something enjoyable and almost meditative. The recycled cardboard base offers a pleasant contrast to the paper’s colors and brings stability to the pad so it won’t be sliding around when you write on it. A perfect companion to our Japanese Drawing Pad, this Memo Block will look at home on any desk while also giving a temporary home to those transient notes.
Yes, we all have notes on our phones but has that phased out the use of paper and pen at our work desks? Nope, in fact, most people still prefer to write down their to-do lists because checking it off is gratifying. As a reflex, we always tend to frantically search for a notepad to jot down a number, address, meeting feedback, last-minute lists, or notes during a class. To integrate this existing behavior with the technology we already use, designer Jeong Woo Kim created Ouverture – a conceptual keyboard accessory that is a number pad + a digital notepad when you flip the cover. It has a typing mode which is the number pad and a memo mode which is the writing pad. “The leather cover acts as a number pad on a conventional keyboard. Current from the fingertips passes through the special conductive fiber to the touchpad inside the leather cover,” explains Kim.
A quick survey showed that 98% of people take notes when they are working on computers and 70% of them said it is uncomfortable and 34% complained that their desk tends to get messy or notes tend to get lost. With a device like Ouverture, your notes are saved as image files and your desk remains clutter-free. But it would be interesting if technology also lets you convert it into text for easier transfer of information. Another important point to consider if this goes into production is to make sure it is modular so that the left-handed demographic can also be included – we all deserve to have a chance at being more efficient! Ouverture comes with a magnetic pen on the side so that you don’t need to look for pen or paper anymore – it retains the tactile experience and incorporates it with our digital lifestyle without us having to learn any new behaviors. No more messy desks, paper waste, or lost memos!
We’re just 4 months away from a new decade, yet we still use bifold wallets that are literally from a different millennium. Our phones have changed more in the past 20 years to adapt to our lifestyle than our wallets have, and the guys at Seek-Seen Studio think it’s due for a change. The Pluuus is the next generation of wallets, for our new, fast way of living. It isn’t your traditional leather or denim bifold wallet. Just like your smartphone is also your camera, computer, and music device, the Pluuus holds your cash, coins, cards, while also being a power-bank as well as a notepad. This EDC-for-the-new-generation crams much more into its wallet-shaped, 10mm thick profile than your leather wallet could… and designed to reflect the mindset of 2020, the Pluuus’s waterproof fabric is entirely made from recycled plastic bottles!
The Pluuus takes a more contemporary approach to a wallet… or an object to store your valuables. Given that the term valuable has changed so much in the past couple of years, the Pluuus accommodates it all… cash, coins, cards, battery power, and even ideas! A zippered pouch holds banknotes and coins, while a secondary slot holds up to 12 payment cards and business cards. An additional screw-on windowed card-holder allows you to store RFID or NFC-based cards to use at your office, subway, or even at a POS terminal. Designed to fulfill your tech needs too, the Pluuus fits a card-sized power-bank (with a retractable cable) into it too, with a battery capacity of 2000 mAh, perfect to give your phone a battery boost, or to charge your earpods when you notice they’re running out of power. While doing all this, the wallet even crams in a small but handy notepad and pen into its form, giving you a neat place to store your ideas, take notes, or capture doodles!
Built not just for versatile storage but for protection too, the Pluuus is made to be entirely waterproof. Crafted from a fabric that’s derived from recycled plastic bottles, the Pluuus repels water (a pretty necessary feature given that it houses a power bank within it), keeping your valuables completely dry in inclement weather. The zippers are waterproof too, and the Pluuus’ build is so durable, its makers offer a lifetime guarantee on any manufacturing defects. With customizable colored covers, as well as a carabiner ring to hold your keys too, the Pluuus is more functional, fashionable, practical, and durable than the archaic bifold wallet designs we’ve been roaming around with. I mean come on guys, it’s nearly 2020!
A Pocket-sized Everyday Bag Made of 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles
Pluuus is an eco-friendly, pocket-sized gadget that is completely customizable for your everyday needs. It’s a wallet, a credit card holder, a pocket notepad and a power bank. It can be one or all of these things! Pluuus is everything you need in one grab.
No More Card Clash
Easy Tap & Go Card Holders is a patent-pending design that eliminates the dreaded card clashing.
Have easy access to cards with only 3 steps: swipe, tap, and go. Which is useful, especially when you are at a busy ticket gate or looking for the right card to pay. The card holders are now in different colors and textures to match your style and to distinguish from each other.
Endless Notepad
Pluuus’s refillable notepad allows you to document your thoughts no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
Powerbank
A card-sized power bank that fits in your Pluuus, stay charged all day long.
Slim with Huge Storage
Each order of Pluuus comes with a zip pouch to store your small items, cash and coins. You also get a carabiner ring to hold your keys and charms!
Customizable
Choose the colors and the functions you like with their modular design!
Unlike pens, pencils don’t have a handy clip for securing them on your notepad. Pencil Note presents one simple solution that ensures you’ll never go pencil-less!
Like other notepads, Pencil note has bound pages of space to doodle, draw or write, however, it also features a nifty pouch for placing your pencil(s). The pouch remains taught to keep things secure no matter how much the notepad moves around whether it’s in a backpack or desk drawer. Made from translucent material, it also allows the user to visually check to make sure their utensil is where it’s supposed to be.
This modern stationary concept reimagines the sticky note as a reusable, eco-friendly alternative to wasteful paper notes. Simply called Reminder, the gadget works similar to a kid’s magnet doodle board, where magnetic particles are brought to the surface and made visible with a magnetic pen. Better yet, you can assign a timed alarm to each note via the smart dock. When it’s time, the sticky note will light up as a reminder!
Designer: Sun Jin
- Yanko Design Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world! Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design! (The Modern Memo was originally posted on Yanko Design)
With the advent of technology, the simple art of writing notes using pen and paper has literally gone down the toilet. Look at us, always with a stylus or on a keyboard, but never with a pen in hand! The Exchange is an innovative device that bridges this gap. It allows you take digital notes with a special pen, and can store it or let you share it with others in real-time.
The Exchange even doubles up as a scanner; it can scan notes or drawings and document them as digital journals.
- Yanko Design Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world! Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design! (Digital Love Notes was originally posted on Yanko Design)
The Little Note Clock is simply ingenious! So simple, in fact, it’ll make you say “duh, why didn’t I think of that!” The only thing different between this and your average wall clock is its face made of dry erase board. Users can scribble anything from notes to numbers or doodles to reminders. Best of all, no two are just alike once you’ve added your own touch to it!
- Yanko Design Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world! Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design! (Tick Tock Message Spot was originally posted on Yanko Design)
The Eco Clip makes it possible to compose your own notebooks by recycling old drafts, clippings, or any other paper. The innovative design works with various sizes and paper thicknesses by simply folding the sheets at the edge and binding. It’s easy to create journals, doodle-pads, or custom presentations for use at home or the office. More importantly, there’s lest waste by reusing both paper and the plastic binder.
