10 beautiful and inventive examples of bookmark design

Words: Meryem Meg

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If you read a lot, then a good bookmark can be invaluable, saving you precious time thumbing through the pages to find your place. But why settle for something plain? These artists and designers have put their creative minds to reinventing the bookmark and have come up trumps. Check out these original and imaginative approaches to bookmark design, and prepare to be inspired...

01. Calligrafitti bookmarks

Joana D is a graphic design student and illustrator based in Lisbon, Portugal. Her bookmark design uses graffiti-inspired typography to produce an urban-looking yet classy set of bookmarks.

02. Menu bookmark

Greek Design studio Mnm created these cute and innovative bookmarks, which also function as menus and business cards, for a Cretan traditional restaurant in Athens. We love the original use of paper stock and bold design visuals on show here.

03. Book jacket bookmarks

When looking for inspiration for a bookmark design, why not consider the obvious - the books themselves? Igor Udeshlivy designed this unique series of bookmarks in combination with bespoke jacket designs for classic novels. Each bookmark design works hand in hand with the themes and story lines of each book.

04. Nerd Glasses         

This set of bookmarks by Brazilian designer Rafaela Paludo offers a quirky and visually innovative alternative to the normal approach to bookmark design. You can see more of her work on her portfolio site.

05. Wooden bookmarks

Lithuanian designer Juozas Urbonavicius produced these beautiful and strikingly original examples of bookmark design using thin wood pieces and applying animal figures using a pyrogrphic technique.

06. Letterpress bookmark

This fun bookmark design was made by Nolte Design using traditional printing methods and letterpress. The use of simple colours and design overlapping gives it a rich texture and we love the way the creature is interwined with the beautiful typography.

07. Multi-functional bookmark

This multi-purpose stainless steel bookmark is the creation of New York studio Issac Paris. It also functions as a pocket ruler, and a circle and triangle template. A perfect tool for designers and creatives to use on a daily basis.

08. Pull-out bookmarks

This self-promotional project by young Italian design studio Graficheria takes the basics of the bookmark concept and runs with it. The results are attractively simple in colour and approach.

09. Bible bookmarks

Salt Lake City agency Modern8 created these intricate and elegant bookmark designs to be sold with their client's 'Bookjigs' series of Bible books. There's a focus on functionality too, with the ribbon making sure you never lose your place.

10. Made with Hands

Italian craftsman Dali Gioielli hand-crafts these luxurious one-off bookmarks, which adapt famous works of art to create something very special indeed. Made from silver and cut by hand, each takes between one and two days to create, and prices begin at 130 Euros.

Now read:

• Paper art: 10 beautiful examples
• 20 great examples of doodle art
• The art of print ads: 50 stunning examples

Have you seen an eye-catching bookmark design? Tell us about it in the comments below!