In the first installment of our ongoing “Guide to Notebook Systems” series, we discussed a few different categories, one of which was a “single bound notebook” category. This group, which I’ll discuss today, includes the Midori MD and Stàlogy brands. While you can argue that it’s a broad catch-all, the main reason I personally consider this particular group to be self-contained notebook “systems”, as opposed to simply different brands of notebooks (such as Rhodia or Clairefontaine), is the well-developed ecosystem of brand-specific accessories that allow you to customize your experience. If you stick with a particular notebook long-term, you can take advantage of these accessories to offer you more structure (though perhaps not as much customizability as a system like Traveler’s Notebook might offer). You can also avail yourself of the dedicated community of users who regularly share their tips and hacks for maximizing use and enjoyment of your favorite system.
Midori’s covers are known for their durability and relatively reasonable price points. Left is the “Paper” cover, which uses a thick Japanese craft paper that many believe ages like leather. On the right is my Gfeller undyed natural leather, which isn’t Midori-branded but ages in a similar manner to the Midori goat leather.
What Separates a “Notebook System” from “Just a Notebook”?
Before we get started, I need to insert a disclaimer here - everything I’ve been writing about in this particular series, from the categories themselves to recommendations as to whom each system might be a good fit for, represents my opinion. Since there are so many different notebook brands out there, these categories of different types of notebook systems are a construct I created for purposes of making sense of the different options and organizing my recommendations on the blog. That said, I consider a true notebook “system” to require, at a minimum, the ability to pair the notebook itself (or notebooks) with brand-specific accessories that you can carry over from book to book, hopefully year-after-year.
In other words, it implies more continuity and more of a long-term commitment to a specific notebook than simply keeping, say, a bullet journal and using whatever notebook you have on hand. At the same time, you can still consider these types of systems as “Non-system Systems”, in the sense that the notetaking and organization itself takes place in a standard notebook, and doesn’t require you to adopt any particular method of organizing your notes, such as buying a brand-specific hole punch, adopting a new organization strategy, or figuring out the best way to rig together different Traveler’s Notebook refills.
Midori MD Undyed goat leather, prior to any use. This particular product is the A5 vertical sleeve, designed to hold standard A5 MD and MD Light notebooks.
Example: The Midori MD Line of Notebooks and Accessories
The Midori MD line is probably the best example of what I’m talking about here (or at least the example that I’m personally the most familiar with). You can of course use Midori MD notebooks and other products on their own, without ever delving into the “system” aspect, and they’re excellent for that purpose. MD paper is among the most fountain pen friendly, relatively inexpensive, and it comes in most formats and sizes, ranging from A6 to A4 bound notebooks to writing pads to sticky notes, as well as lined, grid, dot grid, blank, and specialty layouts such as the A5 “Framed” Journal and the 365-day Codex, day-to-a-page journal.
Where this particular system begins to get interesting, at least for me, is when you delve into the available accessories. Midori makes a line of covers specially designed to fit both the MD and MD Light notebooks, in options that combine the utilitarian (the inexpensive plastic covers), the unique (durable Japanese paper covers, which actually age in a manner similar to leather), and the outright luxurious (natural undyed goat leather covers, which take on an amazing patina with long-term use). You can also use Midori’s brass tabs and notebook dividers to create a multi-subject notebook or to mark important pages, and Midori sells fountain-pen friendly sticky notes and even calendar/diary stickers if you want to incorporate planner functionality into your notebook. All of the paper products use the same MD paper (even the sticky notes and diary stickers) for a consistent experience across the line.
Advantages to Using This Sort of Notebook System
Flexible, unstructured layout that allows you to experiment with different notetaking systems and otherwise use your notebook however you like.
Notebooks and covers typically come in a variety of nonproprietary sizing, including A6, A5, and the somewhat uncommon A4.
Accessories such as notebook tabs, dividers, and even covers can typically be used with other stationery products or systems (though YMMV with the covers, as there can be slight variations even in standard sizing between brands requiring you to trim the notebook).
Who This Type of Notebook System is For
Someone who doesn’t necessarily need to compartmentalize their notes or writing in a way that requires moving individual pages or sections. If this sounds like you, you may want to check out a ring-based or modular system.
Someone who doesn’t need a lot of accessories such as pouches, moveable pen loops, dedicated planner inserts, etc., but at the same time enjoys having a dedicated cover and a few other items designed to work with their favorite notebook.
Someone who organizes their journals and notes by notebook, and keeps separate notebooks dedicated to specific subjects, yet still wants consistency in the form of interchangeable covers, tabs, etc.
I’ll plan to discuss further in a future post in this series, but I am a HUGE proponent of borrowing accessories from different notebook systems and customizing your own notebook to best suit your own purpose. (Shown here: a Traveler’s Notebook with a cut-down Stàlogy notebook insert, divided into sections using Midori sticker tabs)
Where to Buy Midori and Similar Brand Recommendations
As I mentioned, I used Midori as the example in this post because it’s the brand I’m most familiar with. The purpose of this post isn’t to serve as an advertisement for Midori - though I obviously think Midori is great. The goal is give you an idea of the depth of options available within a specific brand. As a relatively long-time Midori retailer, I have access to the different size and paper options, as well as the accessories. There are similar options out there on the market, some of which I sell directly and many of which I don’t, including Stàlogy, Maruman Mnemosyne, Nanami Paper’s “Seven Seas” and “Cafe Note” series, the Baron Fig Confidant, and even arguably the Hobonichi Techo and Kokuyo Jibun Techo Planners, which were designed as planners but many people use as notebooks and journals. Go with what works best for you!
Further Reading
i’ve enjoyed writing this series on Notebook Systems, and if you missed the earlier installments in this series, get caught up here! Recent posts include:
Guide to Notebook Systems, Part I: What Is a Notebook System/System Techo? The first post is an overview of what I consider a “Notebook System” to be, how I use them, and the general goals of the series. Start here!
Guide to Notebook Systems, Part II: Plotter Is NOT a Planner. This installment specifically looks at the popular “Plotter” System Techo, which arrived from Japan last year and exploded in popularity at this year’s San Francisco Pen Show. Note that the Plotter store still has stock of the 5th Anniversary Limited Edition Bible Size cover in Olive Green (and other accessories). I received mine literally 10 minutes before I left the house and will be setting it up while I’m away.
Guide to Notebook Systems, Part III: Traveler’s Notebook and the “Modular Approach”. The latest installment looks at one of my favorite systems, Traveler’s Notebook, and similar “modular” systems that allow you to combine multiple notebook inserts and accessories with a single cover.