Top 10 Stationery Designs That Are The Best School Supplies For You

Posted on 22/02/2024 by Srishti Mitra

If you’re currently in school or university, then you know how important the right set of stationery designs is. You need to have a collection of stationery designs that provide you with value and make your everyday tasks easy to complete with efficiency. These are the objects that are gonna help you get through your day, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. From an everlasting all-metal pencil to minimal Japanese drawing pads – these are the modern stationery designs you need to meet your modern stationery needs at school.

1. Pen Fan

Called the Pen Fan, this nifty and unique stationery design is a must-have school supply. It is designed to be a cross between a Pantone shade card, and a stationery set, accommodating 8 different flat-head sketch pens in a nifty, compact, and pretty easy-to-carry set.

Why is it noteworthy?

The various flat pens are interconnected, creating a cute little Japanese-fan-style layout that proudly showcases all 8 colors, letting you pick and choose from them. The pens are detachable, and you can easily snap on and off the pens, to create a palette that caters to you.

What we like

Easy-to-carry portable set
Reduces the risk of losing any of the pens

What we dislike

There are only 8 colors to pick from, which can be limiting. There could have been more color options

2. Everlasting Metal Pencil

If you’re looking for a pencil to carry to school, you could consider the Everlasting Metal Pencil. It is a Wacom-like style with a tip that doesn’t need to be sharpened or replaced. It is a unique and one-of-a-kind pen that lets you focus on the task at hand – whether it is writing, drawing, sketching, etc.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.95

Why is it noteworthy?

The pencil’s octagonal shaft is built from aluminum, and it has a special alloy core. This may make you feel that it might just leave heavy grooves on your paper, but it draws like a real pencil, without the tip getting worn down, even after dozens of marks. It’s a great tool for school, where you constantly need to be scrolling or sketching something away.

What we like

Features a metal core, not a clay or charcoal one, so it wears away quite slowly, and might even outlive you

What we dislike

If you’re someone who uses smudging techniques at school, this pencil isn’t recommended, as it doesn’t smear or smudge like normal graphite

3. Japanese Drawing Pad

If you’re a true stationery connoisseur, then you are well aware of the value and beauty of Japanese paper. It’s a wonderful material that has been revered by artists and designers for its quality. And if you want to take some lovely Japanese paper to school with you, then you could get your hands on the Japanese Drawing Pad.

Click Here to Buy Now: $26

Why is it noteworthy?

The Japanese Drawing Pad is a premium-quality pad that freely lets you jot down your thoughts, and sketch out your innovative ideas without the worry of accidentally damaging the durable paper fibers. The Drawing Pad is a catalyst for the explosion and outpouring of your exciting and vivid ideas. It creates a smooth, cohesive, and engaging writing/sketching experience for you.

What we like

The Drawing Pad is microperforated, making the sheets of paper easy to tear and separate from the pad
It is available in different sizes and colors, letting you pick the pad that meets your stationery needs

What we dislike

The aesthetics of the pad are quite simple, and it seems like an ordinary pad with no USP. But its high quality and value can only be experienced, not simply seen

4. Bowl Sharpener

Designed by Jiachun LV, this adorable Bowl Sharpener is shaped like a cute little soup bowl. The base of the bowl includes a sharper opening, through which you can slip in the pencil, and sharpen it. As you sharpen the pencil, the pencil shavings and residue are collected in the bowl, creating an interesting visual.

Why is it noteworthy?

If you sharpen colored pencils in the bowl, then the multicolored shavings create a beautiful visual. Since all the shavings and residue are collected in the bowl, it is quite easy to throw them away, and they don’t fall or scatter anywhere, causing a little mess.

What we like

Collects the shavings in one place, and no shavings go astray
Minimalist form and pastel color options add an adorable touch to your desk

What we dislike

It is larger than typical sharpeners and isn’t an easy design to carry around

5. Gravity Pen

Called the Gravity Pen, this unique pen is the perfect sidekick to carry to school with you. It places the center of gravity closer to your fingers, creating a cohesive writing experience for you, where the pen is easy to hold and easy to make agile strokes with. It has a larger grip than the barrel, creating more space for a comfortable hold.

Click Here to Buy Now: $45

Why is it noteworthy?

The grip has a faceted form, making the pen easy to hold, while providing a more stable grip. The Gravity Pen has a super ergonomic design since it was designed using the smart application of physics and minimalist design principles. It is a no-fuss and no-nonsense stationery design!

What we like

Ergonomic design that is easy to hold with a sturdy grip
A durable and lightweight body that is easy to carry around

What we dislike

There isn’t a variety of color options to choose from, limited choice of product

6. Serenity Pen Stand

A pen is one of the essentials we need to carry when we’re at school. However, a pen can be quite easy to lose, and if you’re always losing track of your prized pen, then you could procure the Serenity Pen Stand. It is a minimal design with a metallic hint designed to hold your pen upright, keeping it ready for you to use!

Click Here to Buy Now: $39

Why is it noteworthy?

The Serenity pen stand ensures you always have easy access to your pen, safeguarding it, and ensuring you never lose it. Made using aluminum and copper, it forms a well-balanced cylinder, that adds a pop of subtle color and character to your study desk.

What we like

Features a heavy copper bottom that lowers the center of gravity, offering it a stable form
Sleek minimal design that is easy to carry and set up

What we dislike

The pen stand is quite small in size and could be easily misplaced if not handled carefully
There isn’t availability in different color options, you are limited

7. ForeverPen

Dubbed the ForeverPen, this pen is made of Ti + Ag, and it sits neatly on your keys! It resolves the issue of you needing a pen and never being able to find one. It is said to be the world’s smallest inkless pen, and it never needs refilling. In fact, it is not just a simple pen, you can even write underwater with it, or open boxes!

Why is it noteworthy?

The pen is made from specialist Silver composite, combined with the choice of material you choose. It is only one inch in length, but strong enough to jot down all your notes, while also letting you slide open packages and boxes, and prying open lids.

What we like

Portable and easy-to-carry design
Multifunctional tool that can be used as much more than just a pen

What we dislike

Not well-suited for users with big hands, can be difficult for them to hold and use it
Since it is quite tiny, you can easily lose or misplace it

8. The Horizon Helvetica®

If you’ve come across the Horizon Helvetica®, then you know that it is an artist-oriented piece of EDC that is designed to be an interesting alternative to conventional stationery kits. It is said to be one of the most creative-oriented EDC multitools on the market!

Why is it noteworthy?

It has a credit-card-shaped form that lets you sketch and doodle, form grids and circles for drawings, measure distances, and angles, and even feature a dedicated measuring scale for pixels and picas! It is also an excellent tool for graphic and interface designers who can utilize it to create UI sketch prototypes on paper.

What we like

Using the tool you can sketch, ideate, plan, and measure anywhere
Portable and easy-to-carry design

What we dislike

It is only available in metal, there are no other material options

9. ColorPik Pen

Meet the ColorPik Pen – a super cool and extraordinary pen that accommodates 16 million colors! With the ColorPik Pen, you don’t need to buy different pens, you can simply use it and have fun with an unlimited number of colors. You simply need to scan the item whose color you want to imitate, and then doodle with it.

Why is it noteworthy?

The ColorPik Pen uses a smart color, that is light fast, and water resistant, and can’t just be weathered away. You can control the texture and dimension for writing by selecting any of the multiple tips, allowing you to beautifully and write as well as draw.

What we like

Combines 16 million colors into one nifty pen
Features re-fillable smart cartridges

What we dislike

10. World Clock

Do you ever find yourself lagging in school, not able to complete your tasks in the expected duration?! Well, this is where this unique clock design comes in, but with a twist. The World Clock isn’t your typical desk clock, and has a dodecagonal shape, with only one hand on its clean minimalist face.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49

Why is it noteworthy?

The design and form of the World Clock is intentional, as it gives you the right information about your country, but also some additional and fun details on the time in other parts of the world. One quick look and you can instantly tell the hour, while a closer inspection will tell you which quarter of the hour it is.

What we like

The 12 sides of the clock have individual markings for a city that represents a particular timezone

What we dislike

The World Clock has only 12 set time zones

The post Top 10 Stationery Designs That Are The Best School Supplies For You first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Must-Have Stationery for Back-to-School and University

Posted on 31/07/2023 by Pooja Khanna Tyagi

It’s that exciting time of the year to get back to school or university. Buying stationary and other essential items is an incredibly exciting experience and it motivates us to be the best version of ourselves in the next academic session. Apart from new pencils, pens, and books, take a look at some cutting-edge stationery items that will not only allow you to study well but will also ensure that your creative juices flow and that you are motivated throughout the year.

Click Here to Buy Now: Quick-Access Organizer ($69)

1. Storage

Designer: chengshe.design

The ONEBOX is a versatile woodworking marvel that integrates various tools within an intricately crafted wooden box that employs the time-honored mortise and tenon technique seen in ancient buildings. When ONEBOX is disassembled, its pieces function as stationary tools and fidget toys. Made from poplar, beech, or black walnut wood, this multi-part storage box houses stationery, an adjustable scale, a phone stand, and a compact Gomoku or Checkers board. The wooden pieces connect effortlessly with magnets, creating a cohesive and functional stationery box. Each component serves a specific purpose, including a stationery container and the Eternal Pencil which is a long-lasting writing instrument that requires no sharpening.

Designer: LEGO

Launched before the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, LEGO introduces an adorable yet functional creation: the Star Lord Helmet. This LEGO builds doubly functions as a stationery holder and pen stand, featuring the iconic headgear with intricate details like red-tinted eyepieces and face mask valves. With 602 pieces, it stands 7 inches tall and is part of LEGO’s Infinity Saga series. It combines collectability with practicality and is perfect for storing items like stationery, cables, or even AirPods within the hollow space. The building process is satisfying, and one can also enjoy a 3D virtual build using the LEGO builder app.

2. Organizers

Designer: Nakabayashi

With an increasing number of objects on our work tables, it becomes crucial to save space. This desk organizer offers an effective solution, allowing tools and objects to be stored out of sight when not in use. Although one might have numerous stationery items and tools, we tend to use only a few and the rest take up unnecessary space. This ingenious organizer design resembles regular file binders when closed, but opens up to reveal ample space for various tools and supplies and one has to simply pull out the desired item using the ring hole for easy access.

3. Scissors

Click Here to Buy Now: Scissors w/ Base ($49)

With a practical and minimalist design, these scissors balance functionality with aesthetics. Its flat blades are reminiscent of industrial tools that complement its black Japanese steel body. The extruded part of the finger ring serves as a focal point and enhances its usability. This multifunctional scissor can transform into a box cutter just by flipping the scissors and holding them by the blades. The best part of this design is that the scissors come with a custom-made disc base that holds them upright using a magnet. This enhances the safety of the scissors as it keeps the scissor’s sharp tip safely concealed.

Click Here to Buy Now: Rockstar Guitar Scissors ($25)

These guitar-shaped scissors are inspired by the iconic electric guitar designs and it not only cuts through paper but can also cut through boredom and creative blocks. Their authentic design, integrating curves, strings, and frets resonates with the craftsmanship of Seki in Japan. Each scissor has a matching cap that offers protection, these sharp scissors are not only inspiring but highly durable too.

4. Multifunctional Table Lamp

Designer: Pelin Özbalcı

The sPINmemo lamp is a minimalist and multipurpose solution for modern study tables. Its rotating cork body allows personalization with notes or reminders, while a discreet cavity on top offers storage for small items. The lamp is crafted from white ceramic and it illuminates pinned notes. With its interactive features and provision for convenient storage, the sPINmemo lamp combines functionality, and personalization, and helps in creating a clutter-free environment.

5. Reusable Note Book

Click Here to Buy Now: Personal Whiteboard ($49)

Who says that notebooks can only be made from paper? This compact reusable notebook provides a smooth surface for writing, erasing, and rewriting where it retains the simplicity of traditional paper and the convenience of a whiteboard. The notebook’s soft felt cover functions as a large eraser and it incorporates features like a pen holder, stand, and storage pocket.

6. Pen and Pencils

Designers: Odin Ardagh and Noah Bier of Makers Cabinet

The Lazlo pen beautifully demonstrates that complex mechanisms aren’t necessary to elevate the ballpoint. Designed with simplicity and sustainability in mind, its all-metal construction is recyclable. The removable steel clip and front cap provide easy access to the refill. Compatible with Schmidt MegaLine and Euro-Style cartridges, it promotes longevity and reduces the need for new pens, and is packaged from recyclable materials like cork or metal drop stands.

Click Here to Buy Now: Everlasting All-Metal Pencil ($19.95)

The everlasting metal pencil offers a revolutionary solution for students, writers, artists, and designers. With an octagonal aluminum shaft and a special alloy core, it writes like a real pencil without wearing down and can create about 10 miles of marks before needing attention. Yet, it can be erased and doesn’t smudge. With a luxurious feel and balanced weight, this full-metal pencil provides uninterrupted moments of writing and creativity.

7. Highlighter

Designer: Wonjun Jo

This innovative highlighter takes inspiration from Korea’s subway trains. This product is shaped like a train, with the front car serving as the cap and it features removable segments representing multicolored train carriages. This design promotes sustainability and is more practical than a single-use highlighter.

8. Sharpener

Designer: Wang Cheng (Dwfuture Design)

Writing with a small pencil can be difficult so designer Wang Cheng has come up with a clever solution. His Eco-Friendly Pencil Sharpener allows one to connect a small pencil to a larger one, resembling cabins on a train. The product comprises three sharpening areas, enabling you to sharpen the pencil conventionally or transform them into wooden screws by threading and tapping them. This is a great way to reduce waste and increase the lifespan of the pencil.

9. Tape Dispenser

Designer: Peleg Design

Inspired by clothespins, this tape dispenser is a convenient tool and its design allows it to clamp onto any tabletop surface so that it is easy to access. Designed by Peleg Design, the product solves problems and is practical to use. Crafted from bent sheet metal, it features clamping jaws covered with a rubber/polymer sleeve to protect your table. It is perfect for desks ranging from 0.4 to 1.8 inches in thickness and comes with its tape roll, which can be easily refilled.

10. Convert Notes into Digital Format

Designer: Nuwa Innovation

The Nuwa Pen was unveiled at CES 2023 and although it appears like an ordinary writing instrument it integrates a built-in motion sensor and a triple camera array. It digitizes one’s notes and drawings in real-time by saving a digital version through the Nuwa app. Its sleek design includes a bulbous tip housing the sensors and cameras, while an infrared light sensor enables low-light usage. With 4096 pressure levels, it accurately captures your handwriting, it uses a standard D1 ink cartridge, can be easily recharged on its stand and it optimizes battery usage by activating its digitizing system upon contact with paper. The best part about this device is that digitized notes can be shared via Bluetooth using the Nuwa app, which offers backup and sharing options, including OCR for editable text.

The post Top 10 Must-Have Stationery for Back-to-School and University first appeared on Yanko Design.

A brick music school in Mexico features a cantilevered roof made from locally sourced coconut wood

Posted on 11/06/2023 by Srishti Mitra

Mexico-based studio Colectivo C733 has built a brick music school called the Casa de Música in Nacajuca, Mexico. The 1325-square-meter school includes two structures and a lofty cantilevered roof created from coconut wood. It “provides a space for social gatherings with warm materials and natural ventilation, while musicians benefit from spacious, isolated classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment,” said C733.

Designer: Colectivo C733

The school is a part of the state’s urban development program and includes two volumes that are connected via a public boulevard. The larger structure is an open-plan community center that features a massive offset gable roof. One roof plane extends over the ridge line, and cantilevers over the skylight and the opposite roof plane. The north and south sides of the building are provided support by a series of double brick walls that house the 24-meter trusses. While the west side of the facility features rectangular glass panels which are protected from the street by means of a porous brick wall. The east end houses a service core.

The social space also accommodates a mezzanine stage for workshops and local musicians. The smaller second volume, on the other hand, functions as the music school. It includes eight classrooms, a cafeteria, restrooms, and management offices. “The sloping roof of the building creates a double-height space in each of these areas, with an upper terrace offering views of the treetops,” said the team. The structures have been equipped with local coconut wood, brick partitions, and clay tiles that provide the space with some warmth, acoustic control, and natural freshness.

“The project draws inspiration from the traditional Mesoamerican pocho dance and contemporary expressions, incorporating warm materials, natural ventilation, and a focus on local resources to create a space that pays tribute to its location and enhances existing elements,” the team said.”It is essential that projects pay tribute to their location, particularly when they have the potential to highlight what already exists.” The locally sourced coconut wood used has the ability to capture carbon dioxide, thereby generating a smaller carbon footprint as compared to other materials. It also promotes craftsmanship and employment for the local workforce.

The post A brick music school in Mexico features a cantilevered roof made from locally sourced coconut wood first appeared on Yanko Design.

Foldable stool and desk concept is a low-cost solution to school furniture problems

Posted on 11/02/2023 by JC Torres

While most people recognize education as a basic human right, the painful truth is that, just like many other rights, it isn’t universally available everywhere. There is always a resource problem, from books to teachers to even rooms to hold classes in. While that last one might sound superficial compared to the lack of books, a good and comfortable environment can go a long way in improving children’s reception to lessons. In some cases, a permanent classroom isn’t even an option, so makeshift rooms are the only recourse. Of course, that still requires proper desks and chairs for use, but you don’t have to go overboard with these. While cheap plastic furniture sounds like the easiest solution, this design concept shows an alternative that isn’t only more sustainable but also more flexible when it comes to storage and portability as well.

Designer: Claudio Larcher

In areas with no fixed rooms designated as classrooms, being able to move around or clear out desks and chairs is just as important as having school furniture at all. Typical tables and chairs are single solid pieces that are difficult to move around, not to mention keeping them in storage. A good portion of time is wasted in setting and cleaning up such rooms, presuming they even have rooms or furniture. Even simple school furniture can be expensive, and cheap plastic options have hidden costs that actually make them more expensive in the long run.

Paco y Paco is a design concept that tries to check all the right boxes for a low-cost school furniture solution that is also sustainable and, to some extent, fun. Both the desk and the stool share the same basic shape of wooden planks connected in a row. The basic idea is for these to fold into trapezoidal form, with the two sides serving as legs while the middle one is the actual tabletop or seat. When no longer in use, they can lay flat for easier carrying and storage until their next use.

The design of the furniture is also quite interesting in how it uses ropes as the primary mechanism to fold or collapse the two. Many people, kids included, will be familiar with such cords used to loosen or tighten bags. A wooden ball acts as the stopper to keep the knot from slipping, while metal grommets keep the rope from fraying. With perhaps the exception of the rope, the entire desk and chair could be made from 100% sustainable materials that can be easily made or procured anywhere.

It’s probably arguable whether such a furniture design is going to be comfortable, but for schools or villages with meager budgets, it’s definitely better than nothing. Perhaps a bigger question is the stability of the design, especially the chair, given how a rope is probably the only thing that will keep it from collapsing beneath a child’s weight.

The post Foldable stool and desk concept is a low-cost solution to school furniture problems first appeared on Yanko Design.

Forest lets students create interactive bubble to help them focus

Posted on 13/05/2022 by Ida Torres

If you’ve ever dealt with someone with neurodivergent issues, specifically ADHD and other related developmental issues, concentration is a hard thing to practice. It is important to give them the tools that can help them focus on the task at hand, especially while they’re still young and studying in school. But it’s also crucial that they are able to not be too isolated from their classmates and learn to work with them while dealing with their own issues.

Designer: Shion Ito

A Japanese designer thought about this problem and decided to come up with a concept that would let students with ADHD create their own physical bubble to help them with their concentration issues. At the same time, it will not totally isolate them from their classmates and even get them to participate in creating this bubble if they wish to do so. What he came up with is something called Forest, a set of desk partitions and slot profiles to attach to the student’s table.

Basically, the partition can be created using cut-outs of things like animals, plants, and trees, hence the Forest name. Students will be able to choose what kind of forest they want to create for their bubble and how high or how low this bubble will be. During the prototyping and testing phase of this concept, other students also found the building of this “fortress” to be something they’d like to participate in, therefore eliminating the isolation that the student with ADHD may feel.

Some of the existing partitions for students with concentration issues are too big and too isolated. Forest has small partitions and cut-outs so that it will not be too intimidating both for the ADHD student and his neurotypical classmates. These cutouts are made from wood and painted with soft colors like yellow, green, and turquoise blue, which help the students focus on their studies by calming their eyes.

Hopefully, the Forest will be something that schools with students with ADHD will be able to test this out. Anything that can help them focus and concentrate and also get their classmates to participate will be a welcome tool.