The Best Graphic Design Notebooks of 2024, Tried and Tested

When creating graphic designs, you might be surprised to learn that many artists and illustrators don’t immediately use a digital drawing board.

While it’s important to think about the parameters of what you’ll be able to digitally recreate from a drawing or painting, sometimes the mere act of putting pen to paper, or even putting paint to canvas, sparks creativity like nothing else.

Whether you’re a traditional painter or a digital artist, the first and most important tool in your arsenal is probably a good old notebook and your favorite sketching pen.

While not all graphic designers will win a gold medal for drawing, even the simplest sketch that helps you plan your work—whether it’s a storyboard of a stick figure or a colorful kaleidoscopic portrait—is a helpful, creative springboard on which to build your final work.

Graphics tablet or physical notebook?

Physical notebooks are an inexpensive, utilitarian piece of equipment that every artist should have. That said, whether or not it’s worth investing in an additional digital drawing tablet is entirely up to the artist. Here are the first things to consider:

Display: Inexpensive graphics tablets don’t have a display, but instead connect directly to your computer. This means you’ll draw on a blank canvas and your work will be mirrored on your computer monitor. They’re a good starting point for digital art newbies who don’t want to spend a fortune on a graphics tablet.

Compatibility: make sure your tablet is compatible with your digital set. This is especially important if you plan on seamlessly transferring rough sketches to your chosen graphics program.

Pen pressure and sensitivity: Before you invest in a graphics tablet, make sure it responds to pen pressure and sensitivity. Otherwise, you’ll be left with surprisingly dull pen strokes that don’t respond to classic artistic movements.

We’ve put together a list of the best physical and digital notebooks that graphic designers should try in 2024.