Just as a notebook is greater than the sum of its pages, the Feedback Loop project is greater than the sum of its partners — all of whom we thank for participating. (All limited edition notebooks are on sale now at Felt & Wire Shop in a special storefront to benefit School: by Design, an initiative by Design Ignites Change.)

What was the inspiration for your design?

A statement that I’ve come to live by and be inspired by is “Become changed for the better.” As a definition of the word “reform,” this statement speaks to the objectives of an organization like Design Ignites Change and a line of papers such as Mohawk Loop.

What were your considerations in selecting stocks?

I looked to select a color and finish made from 100% postconsumer waste fibers. I chose Mohawk Loop Smooth White for both my cover and text papers. I wanted white text pages so the user would have maximum flexibility in using the notebook, and I decided that a 100# smooth finish would be most receptive to markers and pens while still leaving flexibility for other media. For the cover, I wanted a smooth finish, so that the details and imperfections in the wood type would be maximally visible. At first I was hesitant to make the cover white, but I wanted the user to be able to see the visible passage of time on the cover as the notebook was used — a decision which relates to the statement on the cover in a somewhat ironic way.

What can you tell us about the printing of your notebook?

The cover was letterpress printed using wood (10 line Gothic Condensed) and metal type (36 pt. Univers 55) from the collection at Indiana University. Endpapers were inkjet printed using an Epson R1900.

How did you approach binding your notebook?

As a recent graduate still working to get settled in somewhere of her own, I don’t have a studio, or a letterpress … or many other things that would have made completing these notebooks much easier. But I wanted to complete them 100% on my own, 100% by hand. I was up for a challenge and wanted to test my own limits. Because of that, I decided to buy a few extra supplies and create a casebound notebook with the text block sewn onto tapes.

What motivated you to participate in the Feedback Loop?

When I came across this project, I had just gotten home from spending 10 days at Camp Firebelly, where I did work for a nonprofit client and designed T-shirts to raise money for Humboldt Park families in need. I was already in the mindset of doing good for others and couldn’t pass up another chance to use my skills and interests to support an organization that promotes design as a way of bringing positive change. I was lucky enough to be in a position where I could dedicate a lot of time to this project, and I’m very glad I did.

Brittany Skwierczynski is a graphic designer currently based in the Chicago area. She graduated from Indiana University, where she had her first encounter with letterpress while completing a letterspacing exercise during a typography class. See process photos and completed notebooks on Brittany’s Flickr page.