Design stories | Q&A with Catherine Nippe

To those of you who use the Mark+Fold Diary every day, it simply feels 'right.' But there are many micro-decisions in the design process that help make it so.

Since our recent award from the International Society of Typographic Designers, we thought it would be a nice moment to invite our friend and collaborator Catherine Nippe to take us on a deep-dive into the design. 

Catherine is the typographic genius behind the Mark+Fold Diary, which she created in collaboration with Mark+Fold founder Amy, back in 2016. Here she shares some of the technical details, as well as the story of her creative partnership with Amy.

What’s the typeface and why does it work well for a Diary?

The typeface for the diary is called 'Brown', a geometric sans-serif typeface. I spend considerable time researching typefaces for each project I work on. For the Mark+Fold Diary, I was particularly focused on the visual quality of the numerals. The rhythm, alignment, and spacing of individual numbers, as well as pairs, were crucial, given that I’d be setting numbers from 1–31, depending on the month. Brown stood out for the clear, structured look of its numerals, which creates a clean, modern feel.

Brown combines the timeless appeal of classic fonts like Futura, Gill, and Johnston with a fresh, modern twist. While those fonts have a historical edge, Brown feels younger and more versatile. I’m especially drawn to its open, round counters (the negative space inside letters), which add a friendly and approachable quality. The rhythm and symmetry between letters—like the angles of "A" and "Y" in "DAY"—create a balanced feel, while the vertex of the "M," which stops two-thirds of the way down, softens the letter, creating a warmer tone. Another distinctive feature is the trimmed vertex of the '4,' where the sharp point is cut off, which gives the typeface a clear, precise appearance while maintaining a welcoming feel.

"The numerals in Brown, like the stacked circular forms in the 8, are also a striking feature, as they bring a unique beauty and a sense of balance to the page."

In the diary, we use both Brown Light and Brown Bold to create a structured hierarchy without needing extra design elements like italics or underlines. This balance between weights provides a distinct contrast that helps guide the reader’s eye, while keeping the layout clean and readable. The numerals in Brown—like the stacked circular forms in the "8"—are also a striking feature, as they bring a unique beauty and a sense of balance to the page.

How does the grid work?

The diary’s grid is designed as a unifying structure, applied consistently across all pages—from the cover and the yearly overview to the weekly spreads and grid pages. If you were to x-ray each page, every graphic element would align perfectly within this grid. It acts as a framework that subtly organises and supports every element in the diary, ensuring consistency throughout.

We designed the grid starting with the core of the diary, the weekly spreads. A unique feature is the equal space given to both weekdays and weekends—a deliberate choice that reflects the importance of balancing work and personal life. Because a seven-day week left us with an extra column, we turned it into a flexible space for users to fill in however they choose, adding versatility to the diary’s structure.

"For me, when executed well, a good grid is a bit like music."

What’s the benefit of designing with a grid?

A grid is essentially an invisible blueprint that organizes the layout, allowing each part of the week or each thought to fall naturally into place. It gives structure to your planning while also making everything look neat and harmonious. Humans are naturally drawn to rhythm and alignment, so letting words, spaces, and lines align consistently—like dashes expanding into dotted lines—creates a sense of order and calm. For me, when executed well, it’s a bit like music.

The grid enhances both form and function, allowing different elements to work together seamlessly. By maintaining a visual balance, it makes the diary intuitive to use, keeping it both aesthetically pleasing and practical for users’ varied planning needs.

Tell me about the custom-designed lines

We created a system of four different line weights and used them to give subtle hints at possible day structures. For example, the lines can suggest dividing the day into mornings, mid-day, and evenings, while still leaving flexibility for users to organize it as they wish. The bottom of the page transitions into a lighter, dotted area, which is perfect for sketches, notes, or additional appointment times. During development, we tested different grid sizes and line weights by printing samples and gathering feedback, ensuring the final design was comfortable for most people’s handwriting.

Why do the line weights vary for weekends? 

The line weights create a subtle visual distinction between the workweek (Monday through Friday) and the weekend (Saturday and Sunday). This helps users shift their focus naturally, giving the weekends a lighter, more relaxed feel. Throughout the diary’s design process, we kept to a “less ink, more function” mantra, focusing on minimalism without sacrificing clarity.

How did the collaboration with Amy and Mark+Fold come about?

Amy and I met in a hospital class in North London when we were both pregnant. We quickly discovered a shared passion for design, print, and stationery, which laid the foundation for our creative partnership. I remember strolling in the park and talking about this idea she had for a new business, that was back in 2014 about a year before she launched Mark+Fold.

Amy brings so many ideas to the table and has a remarkable talent for achieving results efficiently. Over the years, she’s built an impressive portfolio of collaborations, working with brands like the Barbican, SCP, Another Country and Community Clothing. We have a strong mutual trust: While providing me with interesting briefs, she also grants me creative freedom on projects for Mark+Fold, and I trust that her feedback will always improve the final result.

What’s the biggest challenge when designing something to be used (and written on) as opposed to something people will simply read?

The challenge with the diary was designing it to support the varied ways people might use it. This required a flexible structure and several rounds of user testing to refine. You design with the participation of the user in mind. In addition Amy spends a lot of time researching the paper quality to ensure it performs well with different writing tools, considering both design and environmental factors for the text pages and cover. As we become more conscious about data privacy, I believe paper objects like diaries offer a private and reflective alternative to digital tools. Writing things down also helps with memory retention in a way that digital screens often don’t.

"It’s humbling to be part of something that not only organises time but also encourages people to make the most of it."

How does it feel to know that people all over the world use this diary every day and it forms the canvas for all of their life plans?

It makes me think about time itself—how humans have structured it, how we manage it, and how precious it is. Knowing that the diary I helped design supports people’s lives across the world fills me with pride. It’s humbling to be part of something that not only organises time but also encourages people to make the most of it.