Every designer out there has one, they hang around us at all times so that we may fill them with our sketches, thumbnails, and thoughts. However, finding the perfect sketchbook has always been an issue. There are a number of issues to consider when selecting a sketchbook, including the paper quality, size, price, gridded or plain, and most importantly the cool factor.
Currently I am in between three different books, some Field Notes, One from Ex Libris Anonymous, and finally my trusty Moleskine. I have loved each of these books, they each have their strengths and on top of that they are very stylish.
Field Notes
These are currently my favorite sketch book. These things are soo amazing in fact that I have a hard time actually using them. Never has a sketch book been so awesome! I also really enjoy the small form factor and limited number of pages. Why? Well I can now devote a single book to a project and then file it away when I am done. I have no need to rip out pages and store them with old source materials because the entire book gets archived. Not only that, but on a potential job interview I have an entire project’s thought process archived up in a convenient and impressive looking package. The inside cover even helps this by including an area labeled “For Internal Records” to place the dates and name of the project .
Price: $9.95
Size: 3.5” x 5.5”
Paper Type: Gridded, rounded corners
Benefits: “Archival” Areas and ability, Free pen and Pencil Included
Drawbacks: None that I can see?
Website: http://www.fieldnotesbrand.com/
Moleskine
The solid fail safe, you can never go wrong with a Moleskine. What’s not to like? Solid construction, tons of options for size, grid, or ruled, a page marker, a pocket and a band to hold it all together. Long the staple of trendy creative professionals, a Moleskine will never do you wrong.
Price: Varies by retailer, expect $13 - $25 on average.
Size: Ranges from 2.5” x 4” - 5 x 8.25”
Paper Type: Plain, Ruled, Gridded, Plannerr, Diary, Cahiers, Music Staff, Address, Storyboard, & More
Benefits: Solid Construction, Bookmark, Elastic Band, Pocket, Endless Format Options
Drawbacks: Spine is kind of stiff and some pages can be hard to write on.
Website: http://www.moleskine.com/
Ex Libris Anonymous
I think that I actually found these about two years ago. Each book is hand-made and features the cover from a recycled book. Not only that, some pages from the original book are used inside with original illustrations intact. Each of these books has their own story that you will never know, and it’s fun to think where they might have been. Thank you Lacamas Heights Elementary in Camas Washington for your cool book that has now become my sketchbook!
Price: $12 - $15 (including shipping)
Size: 4” x 6” - 8” x 10” (there is slight variation due the recycled nature of the books)
Paper Type: Plain
Benefits: Cool covers and illustrations within the book
Drawbacks: I am not a huge fan of the plastic spiral
Website: http://www.bookjournals.com/
Dot Grid Book
If only these weren’t out of stock, then I totally would have one. I have dreamed of a sketchbook where I have the benefits of both worlds: a grid to help guide my thoughts and the open feeling of a blank page ready to have my thoughts spilled on it. Behance, hurry up and secure some more stock!
Price: $14
Size: 9” x 10.5”
Paper Type: Dot Gridded
Benefits: Great minimal grid system, the only of its kind
Drawbacks: Size is kind of big, I would prefer a 6”x 9” version
Website: http://www.creativesoutfitter.com/
If you have an option that works well for you, please feel free to post a link!
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March 13th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
If only Moleskine came in a spiro bound version. For me spiro is an absolute must with notebooks so I can get the darn cover out the way. If possible, a semi-transparent plastic front, allows you to put your own cover on things, which is cool.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Mike,
I have been wishing for a spiral bound Moleskine for a long time as well, maybe they will hear our request? Lets hope.
March 14th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Fantastic Post! Signed up to RSS feed just on the strength of this post!
Sketch Books Rule!
March 14th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Meh all boring. I just print out a neat title in a neat font on a piece of white paper. Then staple 20 or so pages together. BAM instant home made goodness
Though if they made unruled spiral notebooks I would so eat though up. Not blank artbooks. No that cheap paper they use for school notebooks; just get rid of the lines and I would be sooooooooo happy. But even the rep from Mead said they don’t make them. :<
March 14th, 2008 at 7:00 am
tripdragon, man you are hard to please. Everything is boring to you man… Why all the hate?
Arkrep, Thanks for the subscribe I am glad you like the post.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Am I the only one bothered by the Moleskine paper? After hearing of the hundreds of artists using Moleskine, I bought one to use as my sketchbook. But the paper (off-white, which I don’t like much) seems too slick and a tad too thick for my taste. So I checked out the thinner paper in other Moleskines, but that paper seemed too thin. And I don’t use lined paper for sketching so that rules out all their other sketchbooks. So I’m still looking.
I bought a Lomo books, which is sort of a camera journal book and I like it a LOT, except that it has preprinted stuff at the top and bottom of each page. If it didn’t, I think I’d have the perfect book.
I’m looking for something around 5.5 x 8 inches: Any ideas would be appreciated. I’ll check back to see if anyone has commented.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Yeah, field notes are the best. For exactly the reason you state; no drawbacks.
I use one booklet per subject at uni, and it works great. I keep them permanently in my bag, and are super easy to use.
March 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 am
I’ve been using Moleskine, but the small ones that come in 3 packs… they actually look a lot like the Field Notes books.I like them because you can stick a pen in the page that you’re up to, maybe put a rubber band around it to keep the pen and any other random bits in. They come in plain and grid.
I have a general note book and then sometimes dedicated ones (used one to take notes during a recent trip and another for uni related stuff).
I’m wondering whether I want to buy one of the thicker Moleskines or whether the thin+pen features of the small one are better.
I’d love a dot grid book, but I don’t love spiral bindings.
Someone needs to do custom notebooks. A variety of page styles and bindings (plus page markers, bands to go around etc) and you mix and match to your liking.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Kristarella,
I totally agree with that, custom books would be awesome. I however don’t think that the larger moleskins are all that amazing compared to field notes, because of the spine. It makes them a little harder to hold and use on a crowded train ride home. But otherwise they are great.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Nice. I’ve been using a notebook from Miquelrius ( http://www.miquelrius.com/swf/index.htm ). It’s standard graph paper which is good for font ideas, though the dot grid book seems more appealing. But this one was a decent price for a couple hundred pages.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Ryan,
I can’t figure out how you purchase anything from that site? I love the paper with the grids already printed on them, that would save me soo much time when I do sketching. Awesome link share :)