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Field Notes
View on WikipediaField Notes (stylized as FIELD NOTES) is an American stationery brand based in Chicago, Illinois that produces memo books and related stationery products.[2] Founded in 2007, it was established as a joint venture between Aaron Draplin's Draplin Design Company and the Chicago design firm Coudal Partners.[3][4] The brand's memo books were conceived as a contemporary take on agricultural memo books used by crop inspectors and farmers.[5]
Key Information
Field Notes sells memo books in packs and issues recurring limited-edition releases, including quarterly editions offered through an annual subscription program.[4][2] The brand has developed a notable following, with some profiles describing cult appeal around its limited editions.[4][2]
History
[edit]Field Notes was founded in 2007 as a joint venture between Aaron Draplin’s Draplin Design Company (based in Portland, Oregon) and the Chicago design firm Coudal Partners.[4][3][5] Its flagship memo books were conceived as a contemporary take on agricultural memo books used by crop inspectors and farmers, featuring a deliberately plain, utilitarian format modeled on field memo pads.[5][2] Draplin initially produced a small batch of notebooks by hand before the project scaled into regular production.[3]
The brand emphasized U.S. printing and materials and developed an early following in design-oriented communities.[2][5] In 2009, the company began issuing quarterly limited-edition designs through an annual subscription program.[4][2] It expanded beyond direct online sales into wider retail distribution, including international customers.[2] A 2010 J.Crew catalog feature broadened the brand's visibility beyond its initial niche.[4]
Products
[edit]Field Notes produces small-format memo books sold in packs, with editions varying by cover design and page style, including multiple ruling options (such as ruled, graph, or blank pages).[5] The notebooks include structured informational text on the inside covers, with product specifications printed inside the back cover.[4][5] The flagship memo books use a utilitarian design, with "FIELD NOTES" set in Futura on a kraft-brown cover.[4][5]
The product line includes recurring limited-edition releases that vary in materials, printing techniques, and design features.[5][4][6] Co-branded or special-edition notebooks have also been released through partnerships with other organizations and retailers.[2][4] Some collaborations include Levi's, Starbucks, Nixon, Loot Crate, J.Crew, and the United States Postal Service.[4][6][7]
Marketing
[edit]Field Notes' marketing has centered on quarterly limited-edition releases, with an annual subscription option that delivers each edition to subscribers.[4][2] The company has promoted its products through films and other narrative content produced by Coudal Partners, alongside social-media engagement with online communities and short documentary-style videos about design, suppliers, and production.[8][2]
Reception
[edit]Field Notes developed a notable following in design-oriented communities, and some profiles have framed the brand as generating a cult following.[4][2][3] Adweek reported that rare editions became sought after by collectors, with some reselling on eBay for prices above $300.[6]
The memo books have also been noted as a recurring object in "everyday carry" culture and related online communities.[3] Chicago magazine cited MythBusters co-host Adam Savage as one prominent example, describing his inclusion of Field Notes in his everyday-carry kit and quoting him praising their utility.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Kurutz, Steven (August 6, 2015). "A Design Guru's Work Lair". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cohen, Deborah L. (December 1, 2010). "Field Notes creates demand for nostalgic notepads". Reuters. Chicago. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
Since Field Notes began production in 2008, it has developed a significant following in the design community.
- ^ a b c d e f Moser, Whet (January 16, 2018). "Why Field Notes Have Remained Curiously Addictive for a Decade". Chicago. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Petit, Zachary (June 17, 2025). "How Field Notes went from side project to cult notebook". Fast Company. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Tschorn, Adam (July 25, 2012). "Lines from Launch LA: Field Notes serves up the write stuff". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c Monllos, Kristina (January 12, 2015). "How Field Notes Made 48-Page Notebooks Worthy of Collectors". Adweek. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
Some willing to pay upward of $300 on eBay for rare editions.
- ^ Martin, Saleen (January 12, 2026). "Muhammad Ali stamps come out this week. How to get them". USA Today. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ Pavlus, John (February 3, 2012). "This Is How You Sell Products Now: Low-Budget, Heartbreaking Stories". Fast Company. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2024.