After years of dreaming, designing, and fine-tuning, our founder Sidonie has brought the Papersmiths 2025 Diary to life. Each step in the process was a labour of love - a careful balance of form and function, crafted to inspire your everyday.
A Diary Designed with Intention
Sidonie wanted to create a diary that combined beauty, function, and simplicity. Something compact and structured, yet a joy to look at and use. Her goal? A planner that feels good in your hands, looks beautiful on your desk, and keeps you organised without unnecessary clutter.
Originally set to launch for the 24/25 academic season, Sidonie made the decision to pause, refine, and perfect every detail - ensuring the finished product truly reflected the Papersmiths ethos.
The design process began with deciding on the right format. After testing various options, A5 emerged as the ideal choice - portable enough to slip into your bag, yet spacious enough for comfortable writing and planning.
Choosing the Perfect Materials
This stage was Sidonie’s favourite. Starting with the cover, she revisited the linen book cloth used for our Clifton Notebooks, loved for its durability, soft texture, and water-resistant qualities. From an initial palette of seven hues, she narrowed it down to four final colours, chosen with input from our team and the Papersmiths community:
- Mulberry and Myrtle - familiar favourites from our Clifton range
- Burnt Orange and Cobalt Blue - bold new shades inspired by our Morello and Azurite Paperbacks
Each diary features a grosgrain ribbon bookmark made from recycled yarns, chosen in a bone colour to complement all covers - paired with a brass wire binding for that perfect finishing touch.
Selecting the Paper
No diary is complete without the right paper. We chose a 100gsm Inaset stock - smooth, eco-friendly, and perfect for daily use. It’s a premium paper that resists bleed-through while maintaining a lightweight feel, keeping the diary sleek and easy to carry.
Refining the Layout
Drawing on years of experience testing diaries in our shops, Sidonie developed a layout offering structure without overcomplication.
Inside, you’ll find:
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Weekly spreads with checklists and habit trackers
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Monthly overviews for planning ahead
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Dot grid pages for free notes and creativity
Every element was carefully considered and polished with the help of a talented UK art worker to ensure the pages are intuitive, balanced, and a pleasure to use.
The Binding
A wire-o binding was the clear winner for flexibility and functionality - allowing the diary to lay flat for both right and left-handed users. Finding the perfect brass-coloured wire took several prototypes, but it was worth every trial.
To finish, the cover features a subtle “2025” gold foil stamp on the front and a blind-embossed Papersmiths logo on the back - understated and timeless. Because, as Sidonie says, “We wanted it to feel like it’s completely yours to use how you want to use it - no distractions, no fuss.”
The final detail - the ribbon - required a little innovation to integrate seamlessly with the wire binding. Working with a dedicated UK factory, we found a way to make it work beautifully.
Made with Love in the UK
After over a year of designing, prototyping, and perfecting, the Papersmiths 2025 Diary is finally here. Crafted entirely in the UK, made with sustainable materials, and finished with care - it’s ready to bring calm, structure, and inspiration to your 2025.
We hope you enjoyed reading the design story. After over a year of designing, prototyping, and perfecting, we can finally share the Papersmiths 2025 Diary with you.
Available online and in all our shops. Shop the collection here →
