Introducing The Go-To Notebook from Chronicle Books

How did you arrive at those beautiful beveled corners?
The chamfered corners were a practical consideration. If you carry a notebook around long enough the covers become dog-eared. To preclude that, we beveled them. In addition to practicality, this design move also gave the notebooks a unique look. 

Tell us a bit about the layout of the pages. How did you arrive at the division of pages between projects and blank pages?
First, we felt the numbering of the pages was important to differentiate this series of notebooks. Physically, not too thin, nor too thick was our preference. We thought of ourselves as typical users of this product, people who take notes, sketch, and ultimately make things. In essence, we envisioned a productivity tool. So we built in a series of project pages, made from Mohawk Via Light Blue, providing the user with a means to record an overview of projects. Depending on the user’s preferences and needs, the notebooks are produced in plain, lined or dotted versions.

I hear that this all started with some Strathmore notebooks and Mohawk’s archive…tell us more about that.
We had a chance meeting with Mohawk at the National Stationery Show in New York back in 2014. At the time, Mohawk had produced a series Strathmore paper notebooks for their own use. We were intrigued by this notion of a paper mill producing their own brand of notebooks and wondered if there was an opportunity for us to explore this idea together in greater depth. So began the collaboration between our two companies. To get the ball rolling, we visited the Mohawk paper mill in Cohoes, New York and delved into the Strathmore Archive as a potential source of inspiration.

Why did you choose Mohawk Superfine for the final piece?
Our initial design exploration was focused on the Strathmore brand. Over time, our focus shifted to Mohawk Superfine, a grade that holds an elevated reputation in the design and printing communities, and something we thought we could build a story around. In the everything-digital world we inhabit, tactility is paramount and we felt Superfine was an appropriate choice in this digital-tactile dichotomy.

Tell us more about your relationship with Mohawk.
Aside from traveling in the same circles—the makers’ world of design, paper, and fine printing—we share values around well-designed, well-made products. The way Mohawk and Chronicle talk about their materials, our obsession with details gave us a level of comfort, a mutuality that is key to a collaborative working relationship.

What role did the Mohawk team play in the design and paper choice for the Go-To Notebooks?
From the get-go we’ve had a cordial and productive relationship with Mohawk. Prior to developing the Go-To line, we produced a series of letterpress notecards on Mohawk paper so we were well acquainted. Everyone we worked with has been supportive of our joint efforts, offering critiques and envisioning marketing opportunities. Based on this mutual respect and common goals, we look forward to working together again on future projects.