What really makes a desk stand out to me is the collection of stationery items placed on top of it (and also the manner in which they are placed). The true value and efficiency of your desk lie in the smart assortment of designs you adorn it with – these are after all the objects that are gonna help you get through your workday, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that really lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. And, we’ve curated a collection of innovative and nifty stationery designs that you must own! From a wobbly penholder to an analog writing tool and organizer – these are the modern stationery designs you need to meet your modern stationery needs.
1. The Slope
The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is made from bent steel sheets and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.
What we like
- If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard
- Smooth and easy to use
What we dislike
- You can’t save what you were writing into the cloud nor can you digitize it if you need to save what you wrote
2. The Curva Pen
You can say goodbye to the common old pens, and bring your love for writing back to life with the Curva pen! The unique Curva pen features an unconventional hook-shaped nib, which allows you to angle the pen in whichever direction you like, giving you the freedom to write to the left, to the right, or even downward. This one especially sounds like a boon for all the lefties out there (like me)!
Why is it noteworthy?
The moment you take off its cap, it is immediately evident that Curva Pen isn’t your typical ink pen and that it has an interesting story to tell. The unconventional hook-like shape of its nib might raise eyebrows, but its patented design was carefully thought out to solve two of the biggest problems with pens. More often than not, your fingers and hands block what you’re writing, especially if you’re a leftie that has to push the pen rather than pull like what right-handed people do. This makes not just writing but also drawing more cumbersome and more frustrating for some people, denying them the pleasure and the liberating experience of putting their thoughts down on paper clearly.
What we like
- Renews our love for writing
- Provides left-handed individuals with enhanced visibility and accuracy
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The ClampTape
The ClampTape by Peleg Design ensures you always have a tape dispenser handy no matter where you are. Its clothespin-inspired design clamps onto any tabletop surface, giving you an instant dispenser right at arm’s length. The best (yet most understated part)? It can be used with one hand, unlike some lightweight tape dispensers that need to be held down with the second hand.
Why is it noteworthy?
ClampTape comes from the minds of the folks at Peleg Design, known for their products that combine emotional design with problem-solving to deliver designs with fun experiences and strong storytelling abilities. The ClampTape is one such product that’s just cute and convenient at the same time. The clamp itself is made from bent sheet metal, with a rubber/polymer sleeve around the clamping jaws so that it doesn’t damage your table. It hardly requires any learning curve – just clamp it and begin using it.
What we like
- Comes with its own roll of tape
- Looks like a car battery clamp too
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. Wobbler
Wobbler is a product concept for a penholder that looks the way it sounds. It’s a thingamajig to hold your pens and other small pieces of stationery and supplies. But instead of being stable and actually stationary, it wobbles around in order to amuse or distract you
Why is it noteworthy?
The cylindrical part that looks a bit like an hourglass is where the pens are placed. It’s transparent so you’ll still be able to see the various colors and designs of your pens, scissors, or whatever long office item you want to put there. There’s also space underneath that to put paper clips, staple wires, rubber bands, or other small items you want to keep nearby.
What we like
- There’s a section underneath that opens up as a small storage compartment to put erasers, small staplers, and other small items
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Stilform AEON
The Stilform AEON is a pencil that literally lasts eons! Designed by the company that won the World’s Best Pen award for the Stilform Pen back in 2016, the AEON is the result of a nifty material innovation that turns the pencil immortal. The intriguing pen features a special tip pen that oxidizes the paper, and leaves a grey streak just the way a pencil would!
Why is it noteworthy?
Unlike graphite pencils, AEON’s lines are smudge-proof and waterproof. Besides, since this tip’s made of metal rather than graphite, you can easily put it in your pocket without worrying about it leaving any marks.
What we like
- Machined entirely from a single piece of metal
- Lined with beautiful FSC-certified wood veneers that provide a great contrast against the pencil’s all-metal design
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. The Wooden Pen Holder
There’s something almost poetic about the act of picking up a brush or a fountain pen from an inkwell, drawing your strokes, and dipping it back in to be ready for when the next inspiration strikes, a feeling that’s almost lost even with the most elaborate and extravagant pens today. Not unless you have a pen holder that brings back that atmosphere, like a block of wood that could be the most Zen pen holder to ever adorn your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
This wooden block is both unassuming and, at the same time, beautiful in its simplicity, as many minimalist products are wont to be. Made from genuine maple wood, each piece has grains and patterns that make it unique and special. Without saying explicitly, it’s an assurance that each black will be one of a kind, giving you the feeling that this pen holder was crafted just for you. Together with an equally stylish pen, this block transforms any desk into a thinker’s workbench, where the tools of the trade are just at an arm’s reach.
What we like
- The Wooden Pen Holder has a gently curving depression that can accommodate any pen with a standard size
- When you pick the pen up, you almost believe that the ink will also follow it up from an invisible well of ideas
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. The Fruition
Saving money is something we all consistently work towards but do not always succeed in. There’s something about saving money that can hamper the discipline of even the most disciplined person in the world. The piggy bank has been a great way of saving coins, for ages galore, although let’s be honest – it’s gotten a tad bit boring, and is losing relevance in today’s world. The Fruition on the other hand is an innovative and revamped way to save your hard-earned money.
Why is it noteworthy?
Fruition is a coin bank that uses semiotics or signs and symbols to convey the idea and feelings related to patiently waiting for the fruit to grow. The interpretation is almost both literal and metaphorical, with the silicone bag holding the coins that will bear the fruit of saving up. And when the fruit is ripe or, in this case, full, it simply drops, ready to be harvested.
What we like
- Creates a positive psychological effect of saving money
- Features a tray that can be used to store clips, and other tiny miscellaneous items
What we dislike
- No complaints!
8. The Colored Curve Pens
Dual-tipped pens are something that has been around for a while and is quite universally liked. However, these Colored Curve Pens from Aechy go beyond your usual dual-tipped pens! One end of these pens lay down patterns to help decorate your notebook – patterns such as waves, heart-roses, flowers, dots, and dashes.
Why is it noteworthy?
Basically what you get is a stamp-like roller that you can use for your journaling, doodling, drawing, scrapbooking, or any other paper-related tasks. The dual-tip markers come in 8 different colors and five mark line types.
What we like
- Helps the artistically challenged with drawing
- 40% more ink than the brand’s regular pens
What we dislike
- You can’t choose a specific color for a specific pattern so you’ll have to make do with the options that they have
9. Cyl
Desk organizers are a dime a dozen, but they themselves can actually be a source of headaches when they take over your workspace. No one can perfectly predict how much stuff we’ll accumulate over the years, and traditional organizers aren’t designed to grow with you and your clutter. You can buy more of them, in different designs even, but there’s a limit to how much room you have on the table. In contrast, Cyl uses the age-old stacking trick to free up horizontal space by utilizing often unused vertical space.
Why is it noteworthy?
This desk organizer concept doesn’t discriminate or put limits on what you can put inside. More importantly, you can easily see what’s inside and quickly get them without having to unstack the ones above. In theory, you can stack the containers as high as you can, presuming gravity doesn’t cause them to topple over.
What we like
- You can easily see what’s inside and quickly get them without having to unstack the ones above
- Organizers come in different sizes
What we dislike
- Not the most space-efficient design for your desk
10. The HMM Scissors
Our workspaces are often littered with two kinds of things. On the one hand, you have tools designed to accomplish a task. On the other hand, you have decorative items designed to please the senses. Of course, there are now stationary and desk tools that are designed to hit two birds with one stone, especially those that embrace minimalist aesthetics that fit well in almost any situation. These scissors from popular brand HMM are designed to bridge those two worlds together, offering a tool that not only creates a sense of wonder but also inspires confidence in every snip.
Why is it noteworthy?
Just as with the tools mentioned above, scissors often come in two classes. One type is clearly designed for cutting away at your problems, while another type almost looks too pretty to be used. The HMM Scissors is definitely not the latter, with an aesthetic that clearly exudes its power. The wide and flat blades are almost reminiscent of industrial tools, and its black Japanese steel body gives off an aura of strength and durability.
What we like
- Flip the scissors and hold it by the blades, and you instantly have a box cutter
- A custom-made magnet lets the scissors stand upright with its sharp tip safely hidden inside the base
What we dislike
- No complaints!
