Designing Minimalist Stationery: Creative Techniques and Ideas
A course by Marjolein DelhaasGraphic designer
A course by Marjolein Delhaas, Graphic designer
Explore stationery design through typography, sketching, and bookbinding techniques to create personalized calendars, notebooks, or diaries
“Archiving, systemizing, and bringing order to chaos are what I love most. My designs aim to organize complex information in a way that is logical but also aesthetic.”
Marjolein Delhaas is a graphic designer who specializes in minimalist stationery. She runs her own studio in Rotterdam where, alongside working on client commissions, she creates paper goods that are sold around the world in stores like Selfridges in London and Cooper Hewitt in New York.
In this online course, Marjolein teaches you her process for structuring information and translating it into practical layouts for stationery. Discover a “less is more” approach to creating your own journals and planners, and learn to design with efficiency in mind.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 11 downloads
The Materials
14 minutes, 55 seconds
Typography Research
7 minutes, 50 seconds
Organising the Content
4 minutes, 1 second
Trial and Error: Finalizing the Design 1
16 minutes, 37 seconds
Binding the Pages
6 minutes, 45 seconds
How to Create a Collection
4 minutes, 23 seconds
What's included in this course?
Explore the art of stationery design by diving into the world of typography, paper selection, and layout functionality. Begin by testing various paper types to understand their transparency, thickness, and structure, which are crucial for creating a professional look. Delve into typography research to discover what styles resonate with your content and how to design your own. Analyze existing works to comprehend how information positioning affects design aesthetics and functionality. These foundational skills will guide you in identifying what you miss in existing designs and inspire your creativity.
Embark on the journey of creating a personalized project, from conceptualization to completion. Start by sketching ideas by hand, assessing their feasibility in terms of budget and production. Develop your initial designs, make dummies, and engage in a trial-and-error phase to refine your concept. Experience the satisfaction of connecting the dots as you finalize your creation, ensuring it aligns with your vision. Gain practical insights into digital design tools to bring your stationery ideas to life. This course empowers you to produce unique, functional stationery that reflects your personal style and meets your creative aspirations.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Students will design a personalized stationery item such as a calendar, notebook, or custom diary by exploring typography, layout, and binding techniques. They'll transform their ideas into a tangible project, mastering the creative process from concept to final product.
Who is this online course for?
Aspiring graphic designers and stationery enthusiasts eager to explore creative design processes will find this course engaging. Ideal for those with basic typography and Adobe InDesign skills, it offers hands-on experience in crafting unique calendars, notebooks, or custom diaries.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of materials, you will need paper, a sketchbook, pencils, markers, a stapler, and other tools specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Great course, I really enjoy how she set up the master pages to make the process simple when creating the planner.
- 3 months ago
muy bien
- 7 months ago
amazing course so much to learn and so much good quality infromation to absorb from this . Thank you .
- 8 months ago
Me ayudó mucho a definir un estilo moderno y visualmente atractivo!
- 9 months ago
She made me realize that my love for paper—its textures, its scent, and its typography—is truly a gift. I aspire to be like her one day, building my own business around the things I adore, the things that inspire me most, and the things that keep me moving forward in life.
Driven by her lifelong fascination with paper, grids, and order, Marjolein began designing handmade planners and notebooks in 2008 — a collection that has since evolved into an international stationery brand sold in concept stores and museums worldwide. Her minimalist yet precise approach reflects her belief that good design transforms chaos into harmony.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Analysing, Researching, and Exploring
- The Materials
- Minimalism and Simplicity in Design
- Typography Research
- Exploring Binding Options
- Does the Product Exist?
- Collecting Content
- U3
Organising, Structuring, Sketching, and Creating
- Organising the Content
- Searching for Inspiration
- Sketching Ideas by Hand
- From the Paper to the Computer 1
- From the Paper to the Computer 2
- Trial and Error: Finalizing the Design 1
- Trial and Error: Finalizing the Design 2
- U4
Finalizing, Producing, and Developing
- Binding the Pages
- How to Produce Your Product
- How to Create a Collection
- FP
Final project
- Minimalist Graphic Design for Stationery Products
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate-level graphic designers looking to deepen their skills in typography, editorial design, and creating custom paper products.
You will need basic bookbinding tools, various types of paper, adhesives, cutting tools, and access to design software like InDesign for digital layout work.
You’ll learn information organization, visual identity system design, custom bookbinding, minimal layout techniques, paper selection, and how to create and prototype functional stationery products.
Yes, the course includes step-by-step tutorials on several bookbinding techniques, including pamphlet stitch, saddle stitch, pad binding, and perfect binding.
Absolutely. The course teaches how to evaluate paperweight, grain direction, coated vs. uncoated paper, and sustainable sourcing for optimal print and binding results.
You’ll explore grid systems, typography for readability, use of negative space, and balancing visual elements to create clean, compelling magazine and editorial layouts.
Yes, you’ll learn to apply minimalism by reducing visual clutter, using negative space, and selecting functional graphic elements for clarity and impact.