About this project
Life is full of distractions. Unnecessary nuisances getting in the way of our thoughts, cluttering our minds. Holding us back from discovering our best selves. Everyone is unique — but how can anyone establish their individuality when everything around them screams conformity?
At Unruled, we strive to empower thinkers to break free from conventional structures and unearth their minds' creative potentials — to be Unruled.
The Problem
Students are constantly bombarded with new information. Every day, we are presented with complex concepts that we are expected to fit between thin blue lines. We accept these lines as part of the note-taking process, but it doesn't have to be that way. It doesn't have to be that way.
We think you should be able to organize your thoughts in a way that is most effective for you. We want to create a better note-taking tool for those who crave an open canvas for their ideas to live and flourish. Students shouldn't be forced to buy expensive sketchbooks, resort to small journals, or bind printer paper. So we set out to design a solution: a notebook — by students and for students.
A Notebook Is Born
We created a product that puts the user first, allowing students to bring their thoughts to life. Tailored to creatives and intellectuals alike, we took the best features from traditional notebooks and improved the rest.
Our A4 sized (8"x10.5") notebook holds 80 sheets of pure white paper, just waiting to be filled with your classroom notes, random thoughts, inspired sketches, and unshackled ideas.
We found the perfect balance between minimal and practical. Spiral binding and perforated pages make Unruled the perfect note-taking solution for you.
And you shouldn't have to feel bad about buying paper products! At Unruled, we strive to do everything we can to eliminate environmental consequences. Made here in the USA, our notebook features a 100% post-consumer waste recycled cover and a 30% post-consumer waste recycled interior. Through our partnership with One Tree Planted, we pledge to plant a tree in the Amazon for every purchase made. Let's build a forest together!
Be Unruled
We want to push thinkers to simplify their lives and unleash their creative potentials, but we need your help! We've been working with mentors, manufacturers, fulfillment centers, and One Tree Planted to make this a reality — all that's left is a way to fund the dream! With your help, we can eliminate life's distractions, one notebook (and one tree) at a time!
Thank you!
-The Unruled Team
Meet the team!
We are five Northwestern students who refuse to be told how to think. Despite coming from different backgrounds and different majors, we share one passion: freeing ourselves and those around us from life's distractions. Unruled is more than just a company — it's a way of life. We can't wait for you to join us! Be Unruled.
Help us share the word!
Like us on Facebook! Stay up to date with all of our progress and news. If you're feeling really bold, go ahead and share us! We promise to throw you a like!
Like us on Instagram! See how you can live an Unruled lifestyle.
Shoot us an email! We would be happy to answer any questions or burning inquiries that you may have. We love talking about notebooks, trees, organic chemistry, and everything else that's on your mind — so feel free to reach out! jacob@beunruled.com
Risks and challenges
One of our biggest challenges is overcoming the steep expenses that come with domestic production. While this decision may come at a price, it is worth every penny. By producing our product here in the United States, we'll be able to avoid international shipping, which drastically reduces carbon emissions. We will also be able to keep a closer eye on the production process — from sourcing materials, to manufacturing, to delivering our notebooks at your doorstep.
At Unruled, we make environmental sustainability a priority in everything that we do. We are currently in the process of speaking with manufacturers across the US to produce a top-notch product that minimizes environmental harm without sacrificing quality. It is our mission to create a product that satisfies the needs of our customers, but why not save the earth along the way? Our planet gives us so much — it’s time to give back.
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