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 an everlasting all-metal pencil to an eerie desk pen holder – these are the modern stationery designs you need to meet your modern stationery needs.
1. The Note
Dubbed the Note, this compact desk whiteboard enables you to take down notes with complete efficiency. The Note isn’t your everyday ordinary note taker, but it also has a few exciting tricks up its sleeve!
Why is it noteworthy?
This “whiteboard” twists or flips over, giving you twice the space to write down your notes. One side features a dotted grid surface to help with diagrams, while the other side is plain, or they both can have the same designs as well. You can also place sticky notes on it.
What we like
- Equipped with a multi-purpose vertical screen that you can use to view the time, calendar, and appointments
What we dislike
- The screen doesn’t support and show videos, a function that may be important in some people’s fields of work
2. Everlasting Metal Pencil
Dubbed the Everlasting Metal Pencil, this Wacom-like style has a tip that doesn’t need any replacing or sharpening. The innovative pencil allows you to focus on the creative process entirely.
Why is it noteworthy?
The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.
What we like
- It has a metal core instead of clay or charcoal, so it wears down slowly, and may actually outlive you
What we dislike
- The pencil doesn’t smudge or smear like normal graphite, which could be a disadvantage for those who use smudging techniques
3. Grovemade’s Hardwood Cups and Planters
Grovemade’s collection of cups, planters, and dishes is crafted from solid maple or walnut. The containers are functional and efficient while also being extremely good-looking. The containers are made the hard old school way in Grovemade’s Portland OR factory.
Why is it noteworthy?
The attractive and functional pieces are hand-sanded and finished using a clear vegetable-based oil which accentuates the natural warmth, and sheer beauty of the elegant wood. The entire collection includes cups, dishes, and planters in a bunch of different wood. The tall containers are excellent for storing your pencils, pens, scissors, and markers.
What we like
- Available in various metal and material options so that you can pick and choose
What we dislike
- Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and boring and could have been worked upon more
4. UFO Desk Pen Holder
Dubbed the UFO Desk Pen Holder, this unique pen holder is designed to hold your pen while suspending it in mid-air, giving the feeling that aliens are going to kidnap your pen! The pen stands completely straight and upright in the holder.
Why is it noteworthy?
The top of the pen holder looks exactly like your stereotypical alien spaceship in the shape of a flying saucer. You could place the USS Enterprise or a Star Destroyer, but the irregular shape would break apart the illusion, and take away from the eerier atmosphere of the design.
What we like
- Adds a fun + functional element to your workdesk
- The saucer also provides light, proving to be multifunctional
What we dislike
- As a single pen holder, it takes up a lot of precious real estate on your desk
5. The KNOB.
Called the KNOB., this minimal and unique pen tray features soft rounded edges that provide your work desk with some personality and character. The tray is designed by Changho Lee and offers your desk a simple yet refreshing twist.
Why is it noteworthy?
The KNOB. pen tray is quite innovative as it is inspired by the knobs you find on a gas burner. The designer was influenced by the language of gas burner knobs, and replicated it in his tray, building a piece of stationery with interesting-looking knobs.
What we like
- The knobs or multiport radar allow you to adjust the internal space of the pen tray, helping you store and place different kinds of stationery
What we dislike
- Does not have a chance to accommodate unusually shaped objects, and isn’t a very large tray
6. The Gravity Pen
Dubbed the Gravity Pen, this unique pen puts the center of gravity closer to your fingers, making the pen quite easy to hold, and make agile strokes with. The pen ensures this by having a larger grip than the barrel, providing more area for a super comfy hold.
Why is it noteworthy?
The faceted form of that grip also makes it easier to grip the pen, allowing for a more stable grip as well. It’s the ultimate ergonomic pen design, thanks to a smart application of physics and minimalist design principles.
What we like
- Ergonomic design that is easy to hold and use
- Durable and lightweight body
What we dislike
- Not available in different color options, hence there is a limited choice
7. Grovemade Note-Taking Kit
Called the Grovemade Note-Taking Kit, this product is designed to effortlessly and efficiently capture, process, and store your notes, creating a note-taking process that feels simple, free-flowing, and enjoyable.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Note-Taking Kit essentially consists of a refillable notepad with dot grid paper and a solid metal base, with a display rail to hold and accommodate your notes and devices, creating a vertical organizer that stores your notes until you need them and are ready to use them.
What we like
- Provides a neat workdesk, that helps you complete the important tasks at hand
What we dislike
- Occupies a substantial amount of real estate on your desk
8. Wipe
Called Wipe, this innovative whiteboard notebook is a pretty unique one, since it is equipped with its own erase allowing you to write erase and write over things again, and again.
Why is it noteworthy?
Wipe features a personal size that’s a bit smaller than A4 paper. It is a portable size, and you can write on it, take a photo that you could save or send to the cloud, erase it, and write again. It is a fast and simple product that doesn’t need any preparation.
What we like
- Features a newly developed Mag Force system that merges magnets and rubber bands creating a handle that also functions as a pen holder
What we dislike
- You will need to utilize a dry-erase or whiteboard pen instead of a permanent marker
9. ONEBOX
This woodworking wonder is called the ONEBOX, and it combines multiple different tools into an intriguing interlocking Jenga-like structure, using the same traditional mortise and tenon jointing technique seen for centuries in large-scale buildings in ancient times.
Why is it noteworthy?
When assembled, the ONEBOX looks just like any ordinary wooden box. Pull the pieces apart and you discover that each piece is, in fact, a stationery tool or fidget toy.
What we like
- It is meticulously crafted from solid wood, with flawless mortise and tenon joints and built-in magnets
What we dislike
- The aesthetics are a bit unassuming and boring
10. The Oakywood Wooden Cubic Pot
Designed to be a stylish and elegant addition to your workdesk, the Oakywood Wooden Cubic Pot can easily and efficiently store your stationery, or be used to pot some greenery. It features a cup holder to pot a mini-plant!
Why is it noteworthy?
The unique dual-purpose design of the pot makes it a functional and excellent addition to your desk space. It features a stainless-steel insert to protect the wood from moisture and dirt. The surface of the pot has been coated with eco-wax oil, making it smooth to the touch.
What we like
- Sustainable + fashionable design
- Minimal product with maximum functionality
What we dislike
- The aesthetics are a bit simple and unassuming