Have you ever wondered what the people behind Paperblanks get up to every day? Did you ever look at a Paperblanks design and wonder, “Hmm, how would this look on my desk?” Well, in this new exclusive blog series, we are diving headfirst into uncovering what our staff have on their desks.
This week we are back to Marketing, where we speak to our lovely visual designer, Diane. I must admit that Diane’s desk was a spark of inspiration for this series, as her workspace is gorgeous and filled with so much character. She has arguably one of the coolest jobs at Paperblanks, as she oversees how we visually represent ourselves… everywhere!
Diane’s role involves creating all our brand assets, which span across print, digital, and on-screen media, making sure they align perfectly with who we are as a brand. You know the gorgeous campaign videos (such as our Shadows of Navarre one, which you can watch on all major platforms right now)? She directs and brings our vision to life by creating storyboards. As I was saying, it’s a cool job.
Coming up to two years since she joined the Paperblanks team, Diane’s day-to-day varies. She could be working on internal or external assets, or preparing layouts for our digital communications and sales tools. Basically, if you see anything Paperblanks, Diane has had a hand in creating it!
I asked Diane what her Paperblanks essentials are — the things she needs to navigate a day as a visual designer. She said her Paperblanks planner goes everywhere with her and is not just a staple on her desk, but in her life. In her own words, “It is quite literally, the one product I cannot live without.” She uses it to keep her schedule, outline her daily agenda, tick off tasks, plan her wedding, and keep track of other upcoming events.
Her next essential isn’t a Paperblanks product, but it’s close: our Brand Field Guide. She’s currently memorizing our new colours and fonts so she doesn’t have to flip through it as often.
Next is a dynamic duo that goes perfectly hand in hand: Monet’s Chrysanthemums A6 cahier and a Lawrence Alma-Tadema Spring pencil. Diane is always seen around the office with her pencil and cahier in hand. This perfect pairing of gorgeous design and practicality is ideal for taking meeting notes, jotting down quick task requests, illustrating ideas, and sketching visual frames or storyboards.
Other non-Paperblanks essentials sitting prettily on Diane’s desk include her hand cream and lip balm (a must!!). Her headphones are another key item, since most of her tasks require focus and she can’t afford distractions like office chatter. And of course, her morning matcha and camera!
Diane also pointed out an item on her desk that isn’t an office essential but has become a communal meeting point. She recounted how she always has a big bottle of chewing gum on her desk. She notes how “One time, Carles returned from his holidays with plenty of gum for the Marketing team, and my desk became its designated spot.” When it eventually ran out, she felt the need to keep it stocked. So now, any time the team needs gum, they know they can always find it at her desk.
From captivating campaigns to purposeful planners, we thank Diane for giving us an amazing insight into her Daily Desk essentials. Check back next week as we venture over to Ecommerce, where Maren tells us the products she can’t live without!
