Andru Marino, an audio and video producer at The Verge, shares his experience with two unique notebooks that have recently caught his attention: the Triangle Notebook and the Sidekick Notebook. As someone who loves doodling and note-taking, Andru finds these creatively designed notebooks inspiring and fun to use.
He first came across the Triangle Notebook through an Instagram ad and kept a link to its website for months, intrigued by its unusual shape. He finally purchased it in April because he was drawn to how quirky it was—the notebook opens into a square but is shaped like a triangle. “I love that it’s a triangle because it sparks my creativity,” Andru explains. He uses the notebook mainly for doodling, and its unique shape encourages him to think differently about his sketches.
The Sidekick Notebook is equally fascinating to Andru. When opened, it resembles an L-shape, designed to sit angled alongside a computer keyboard. “It’s such a weird, innovative design,” he says. He bought it because it’s compact and space-efficient—perfect for jotting down quick notes or doodles during meetings.
What does Andru love most about these notebooks? For him, they feel more like art experiments than traditional stationery. They challenge how we think about note-taking tools and inspire more handwritten work. The Triangle Notebook is sturdy, lays flat, and is versatile enough to use on your lap or unconventional surfaces. Meanwhile, the Sidekick’s angled design makes it easy to keep nearby without cluttering the desk, encouraging more frequent writing and doodling.
However, Andru also notes some drawbacks. The Sidekick’s L-shape might not be practical for everyone, and he questions its usefulness for note-taking. The Triangle Notebook, while innovative, could benefit from having more pages, as it’s a bit pricey at around $33, and he finds it somewhat bulky to store. Additionally, the pages don’t tear out easily, which can be inconvenient.
Who would Andru recommend these notebooks to? The Sidekick is perfect for artists or doodlers who want to quickly sketch or jot down ideas during meetings or while working on a tablet. As for the Triangle Notebook, he suggests it’s best suited for those who enjoy collecting and using unusual objects or who want to challenge their creative process with different shapes.
Has using these notebooks changed Andru’s doodling habits? Not quite—his notes still look like a mess—but he appreciates that they encourage him to write and doodle more often. Overall, these quirky notebooks serve as playful tools to inspire creativity and fresh perspectives on everyday note-taking.
