Studio Notes

From our desk to yours

The Latest

The Planner That Never Expires
You would think that making a planner would be a fairly straightforward affair: design it, print it, and sell it. But there’s a nefarious catch (maybe you’ve already caught the gist from the title of this post)—they expire. Like broccoli? Nearly. You see, a dated planner is good for exactly one calendar year. Whether you've used every page or barely opened it, when the year ends, so does the planner. On top of that, it takes about six months to make one: a month to design, three to four months... Read more...
Something Old, Something New
I used to wonder how businesses can “get it so wrong.” How they could be this close to the “right answer,” the expression by which customers would light up with joy and fervor for whatever it is the business is doing. No longer do I have this wonder. As it is in our personal lives, the closer we are to the problem the harder it is to see. I’ve been running Baronfig for nearly fifteen years—there’s no one closer than me. I am, simultaneously, the best and worst person to... Read more...
Freedom of Page
I’m a designer by trade. Every now and then someone comments on something I’ve made by saying, “That looks easy. I could do that.” That’s when I proceed to put a pencil and blank sheet of paper in front of them and respond, “Go for it.” Read more...
The Universal Particular
James Joyce said, “In the particular is contained the universal.” Meaning, when you create with specific intent or for a particular person or purpose, you tend to tap into a greater sentiment. Something that ends up resonating with far more people than expected. When I created that first notebook, I was making it for myself. It was a tool that I needed, a combination of materials and message that I couldn’t find out in the world. Because a tool isn’t just a means to an end. It’s a companion, a... Read more...
Made with Baronfig: Mr. Ace and the Rainbow Bridge
Made with Baronfig is a series where we shine a light on the things our community creates—from everyday thinking to once-in-a-lifetime projects. If you've made something with Baronfig, we'd love to hear about it. --- Ace's Impact by Chris Toffolo Writing a children's book had always been a dream of mine, but neither idea nor inspiration struck. However, in June 2018, my future wife Meg and I had just moved in together and were looking to foster a dog. This experience led us to Ace, a senior pit bull. Meg... Read more...
The Space Between: Liminal Squire Hex
A great collaboration is a perfectly balanced Venn diagram: clear overlap, but not so much that both parties become redundant—and not so little that there’s barely anything to connect.  Ali Abdaal and his mission hit that sweet spot. A Change of Habit The pandemic pushed all of us to find new habits to stay sane. For me, that habit was YouTube. Before 2020, I barely used it—unless I was trying to learn something and Google dropped a perfect video in my lap. Then, seemingly overnight, we were all stuck inside.... Read more...
The Laws of Creativity’s First-Page Slash
The Laws of Creativity’s First-Page Slash
Sometimes, things just go sideways. In the case of the first page of my book, The Laws of Creativity, things are sideways literally and figuratively. Pictured below is the first... Read more...
Oracle Squire Pen | Baronfig Behind the Scenes
Oracle Squire Pen | Baronfig Behind the Scenes
Joey Cofone, the founder of Baronfig, gives a brief overview of the brand new special edition Squire pen: The Oracle. Read more...
Utopia Squire Pen | Gavin Snider in Action
Utopia Squire Pen | Gavin Snider in Action
Gavin Snider, the incredible illustrator behind the limited edition Utopia Squire Pen, gives us an encore with a brand new drawing to celebrate the summer. Read more...
History of the Confidant
History of the Confidant
Design school is where the ego goes to die. Students are given weekly projects, each of which ends up splayed across classroom walls and picked apart by everyone in the... Read more...
Introducing the Clear Habit Journal
Introducing the Clear Habit Journal
You’ve been asking for more guided editions, and the Clear Habit Journal is our most ambitious one to date. It’s a combination daily journal, dot grid notebook, and habit tracker.... Read more...
Interview with James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits
Interview with James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits
James Clear is author of Atomic Habits, creator of the Habits Academy, and one of our latest collaborators. He spent the better part of a year working with Baron Fig... Read more...
Introducing the Vanguard
Introducing the Vanguard
Two years ago we introduced our first notebook, the Confidant hardcover. Since then we’ve grown to selling in over 30 countries around the world, with customers in every nook and... Read more...
Interview with Askew Designer Debbie Millman
Interview with Askew Designer Debbie Millman
Debbie Millman is a writer, educator, artist, brand consultant, and host of the radio show Design Matters. We sit down with her and discuss the inspiration for Askew, how she... Read more...
Named Best Notebook!
Named Best Notebook!
New York Magazine featured the Confidant as the "Best Bet for an All-Purpose Notebook"! You can find the full-page spread in this week's issue, on newsstands now.  Read more...
The Squire Pen is Here
The Squire Pen is Here
Marks on paper are more than the sum of their parts. They grow exponentially through the hands of thinkers around the world—designers, writers, illustrators, entrepreneurs, musicians, and the like—into fantastic... Read more...
Announcing Buy a Book, Plant a Tree
Announcing Buy a Book, Plant a Tree
Even before we launched four months ago we have been concerned with the environmental impact our company would have. Making books is no small task, nor is it an unimportant... Read more...
The Origin of Baronfig
The seed for Baronfig was planted some twenty years ago, when I was a kid exploring my grandparents' basement. Read more...