It’s an objective truth that the best part of going back to school each year is the back-to-school shopping. Not all back-to-school supplies lists are created equal, however, so we’ve done some design-lovers legwork to curate our ultimate guide to get you going. From striking pens to get your creative juices flowing, to unique hand-crafted notebooks primed to be filled with your brilliant ideas, mixed with a few helpful accessories in between, here’s a smattering of office supplies you’ll need to get back to the grind on the right foot.
Cake Sketchbooks from Ernie Studio
We all have a zillion empty notebooks kicking around already, but everyone needs a hand-made notebook that looks like a slice of cake to add to the mix! The Ernie Studio lovingly crafts these whimsical and celebratory sketchbooks from a cotton fabric cover decorated with modeling paste and polymer clay sprinkles on high-quality bookboard.
Klizia 97 Stapler
No desk is complete without a handy dandy stapler on hand, and these classic whale-like staplers from Klizia have a satisfying retro flair we love in our old-school office supplies. Plus they come in an assortment of fun colors!
Euroway Ring-A-Date Perpetual Wall Calendar
Your office is begging for a wall calendar, and it doesn’t get much better than the ring-a-date calendar design. Originally designed by Giorgio Della Beffa in 1970, the ring-a-date calendar was an instant hit back in the day, and remains a top-tier office must that can be used year after year.
Toyo Steel Boxes
If you’re a designer or artist, it’s imperative that you surround yourself with little boxes for all of your supplies. TOYO makes a line of colorful steel boxes in a variety of sizes to suit all of your needs.
Kaweco Sport Series Pens
Kaweco is a heralded German pen brand whose Sport Series line of pens is second to none. The range contains fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoint pens, and more, each in the same funky barrel shape available in a spectrum of materials.
Emilio Braga Notebooks
Emilio Braga Stationery is a fifth-generation stationery shop in Lisbon, Portugal, known for its funky interpretations of classic composition notebooks. With different colors and designs released periodically, these notebooks will surely help inspire you to do your best work.
OHTO Liberty Ceramic Rollerball Pen
We love the smooth and silky ink line of a rollerball pen, and the ceramic barrel of the OHTO Liberty is the perfect weight that means business without giving you a hand cramp. The cartridge is replaceable as well, and available in a variety of colors.
Koh-I-Noor Pencil Lengthener
Extend the life of your pencils with this pencil lengthener from Koh-I-Noor! Suffering through pencil stubs is a thing of the past.
Hand Painted Notebooks from Dana Herbert
For those who prefer spiral-bound notebooks, these beauties from Dana Herbert feature eye-catching covers that are painted by hand and foil stamped on antique foil presses, making each notebook completely one-of-a-kind.
Cloudnola Flipping Out Text Clock
For all of you analog clock loyalists, it doesn’t get much more analog than this text clock designed to evoke the nostalgia of airport and train station schedule flipboards.
Vintage Panasonic Electric Pencil Sharpener
Get transported back to elementary school classrooms with a vintage electric pencil sharpener. This Panasonic design even lights up once your pencil is fully sharpened!
Blackwing Pencils
Once you go Blackwing, you never go back (take it from me). Considered the Cadillac of pencils, Blackwing offers their pencils in a range of lead grades (hardness), and periodically releases new designs you’ll want to keep adding to your collection.
The Task Pad from Shorthand
Shorthand is a stationery store and letterpress print shop in Los Angeles that makes their own line of products. One of their most beloved signature goods is their Task Pad, whose pages feature boxes to check off your to-do list as you go. Plus they’re available in a handful of colors and made with love by human hands!