Paper-Oh Circulo: The Infinite Loop of Creative Potential

Circulo (along with its square, but still hip, counterpart Quadro) is the cornerstone of the Paper-Oh product line. The circle, a simple shape of Euclidean geometry, has become an enigmatic and mesmerizing symbol that provides infinite possibility for the imagination.

For something as seemingly simple as a dot pattern, Circulo notebooks are decidedly complex. The Paper-Oh design team began experimenting with perforated card but, when it came to colour choices and pattern size, realized the existing options just weren’t quite up to snuff. The next step in Circulo’s evolution was crafting exactingly precise, hand-made prototypes, with each circle painstakingly punched out using a screwpunch (see the Paper-Oh Bookbinding Tools poster for more information on this great tool).

Even once a mechanized hole-punching system was in place, our Paper-Oh designers were still not ready to rest. Hours went into developing a system to ensure that each complete dot is precisely contained within the confines of the spine and covers, while still maintaining the illusion of perfectly even spacing. The magnets, too, were carefully selected for the ever-so-satisfying *snap* they exclaim when you shut Circulo’s front cover.

The result is our Circulo collection of polka dot notebooks and cahiers. Available in a variety of double-layered cover colour combinations and a range of size formats, Circulo is our hip yet minimalist take on the everyday notebook.

And the great part about our Circulo notebooks is that we’ve already put in the years of development, meaning you don’t have to. For instance, we experimented with holes that go straight through the cover and coloured endpaper and right to the front page of the book block, displaying the pieces of text or artwork behind the cover. While that version of Circulo didn’t make our first season, we’re happy to pass on the idea to you! Even if your bookbinding workshop doesn’t contain all the tools listed on the poster, a needle or an awl will work just as well as a screwpunch to punch out some holes.

Have fun creating designs on your Circulo notebook – and don’t forget to show us the results!