Paper Doll is Clearly Organized — Translucent Tools for Getting it Together
THE LOOKS OF THINGS
Quite often, when people talk about tools for getting organized and productive, they talk about the way products look. However, if you’ve been a longtime reader of Paper Doll, you know that I’m a firm believer in focusing on function rather than aesthetics. No matter how pretty or spiffy or intriguing a product looks, if it doesn’t work well, and help you work well, then it’s a bit pointless.
That doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the psychological value of how things appear. For example, I’ve talked about how color can play a motivational role:
Cool and Colorful Desktop Solutions to Organize Your Workspace
Paper Doll Adds a Pop of Color with Bright & Sunny Office Supplies
Ask Paper Doll: Should I Organize My Space and Time with Color?
Organize Your Days With a Little Color
For me, I can’t resist things in the pink and purple range. I’ve written before about how I am a steadfast adherent to my Roaring Spring purple legal pads, and I have a purple iPhone and iMac.
Almost anything I can purchase (for the same price as the bland and boring version), I’m likely to acquire in pink or purple. As much as I try to avoid duplication, even though I have a lovely pink Swingline stapler that is perfectly serviceable,
when a generous colleague gifted me a pink Mustard-brand Bunny stapler, I couldn’t resist keeping it in my office space, too. (And yes, I do make “boing-boing-boing” sounds effects when I use the bunny stapler. Need you ask?)
In Gretchen Rubin‘s latest book, Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World, which I’m currently reading, she calls attention to all of the ways
we can enrich our lives by exploring sensory experiences. In each chapter, Rubin walks through quirky personal quests as well as scientific experiments to illustrate how making ourselves more deeply aware of each of the senses can have an impact on the richness of our lives.
I still stand by the idea that function must come first, but I grant that by enmeshing the visual aesthetic with how something functions, it can make us much more likely to not only use, but embrace, items designed to make us more productive.
Intriguingly, as I’ve been reading Rubin’s book (and particularly during the section on sight), I’ve noticed what seems like a trend (but may just be an example of the frequency illusion or the Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon): an upswing in translucent and transparent office supplies.
Admittedly, this may not be a trend or a set of coincidental examples, but a freaky confluence of all of the social media algorithms talking to one another. Perhaps TikTok recognizes I’ve repeatedly paused to look at the ad for the Temu translucent calendars and has shared that with Twitter (I refuse to call it “X”), Facebook, and those ad insertion companies during their daily coffee klatches.
Whatever the reason for the translucent and transparent items, it hasn’t been a sign of a return to stark, boring, black and white (or grey) products; rather, it feels like the deep dive into color-free supplies is creating a more dazzling aesthetic. Of course, in each case, users get to add color in their own preferred ways. Perhaps that’s the advantage of going color-free, to be able to transcend a pre-created intellectual/emotional connection and impose your own?
In any case, the following are some of the products that have been capturing my attention lately.
TRANSLUCENT CALENDARS
The product that most fits my inclination toward goal-conquering office supplies was the translucent Russell + Hazel Acrylic Clear & Gold Weekly Calendar.
The wall-mounted weekly calendar has seven columns for each day of the week (marked in thin white lines). It measures 24″ wide by 10″ high, weighs three pounds, has gold-tone accents, and is available from The Container Store for $49.99. (It’s sold out at Russell + Hazel which is just as well, as they were charging $114!)
The calendar is shown above with other translucent Russell + Hazel products, including an acrylic clear rail for $29.99, which is designed to hold associated wall organizers, including a wall mail box, pencil/pen holder and more. However, I’m more fond of the translucent office supplies that organize your thoughts and information than those that organize tangible stuff.
The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Magnetic Monthly Calendar takes the approach from weekly to monthly with a 14-inch square, clear, acrylic calendar.
Four low-profile magnets hold the calendar securely in place on any steel surface. (Remember: magnets generally don’t work on stainless steel appliances!)
There’s a narrow horizontal strip at the top — circle whatever month it currently is. Next, mark the dates in the appropriate squares of the month. Use it as a family command center, a bill-payment reminder screen, or a project calendar. The Luxe Acrylic Magnetic Monthly Calendar is equally appropriate for kitchens, offices, dorm rooms, or workshops.
It’s designed by, and sold at, The Container Store, for $19.99.
The calendar comes with a white dry marker, but you could similarly use a wet-erase marker or a colored or metallic liquid chalk marker.
These are just a few examples of the magnetic approach. I’m inclined to only purchase from companies and brands with which I’m fairly familiar, so even though I originally became aware of these products via too-tempting “TikTok Made Me Buy It” spots from online shops like Temu and “Amazon Home Finds” videos (all similar except for their “thought influencer” spokespersons), I’ve not yet made the jump.
If you’re not as persnickety as I am, Amazon has a variety of copycat brands of these types of calendars from lines like Zochovhi, 
All of these seem to be fairly similar, ranging from slightly under 16″ x 12″ to just about 17″ x 12″, and vary in price from $16 to $22. Most seem to come with anywhere from three to eight colored dry-erase markers, and some include similarly-sized clear acrylic boards (suitable for lists/notes/messages).
Perhaps you’d like a clear calendar but prefer something on a grander scale? Girl Friday has what you’re seeking.
These acrylic calendars give you the ultimate big-picture view, whether you’re scheduling your busy life, your family’s activities, or your work team’s projects. These big calendars use professionally-cut acrylic and are printed on the back of the acrylic. This means you never have to worry about the printing coming off due to excessive wear. Even better, you have a choice of black or white print, allowing for the best contrast depending on the color of your walls behind the boards.
In addition to a horizontal strip of months above the calendar block (so you can mark which month you’re in), there’s a right-side panel for tracking specific activities or important information for the current week. (If you prefer a calendar without the right-side weekly panel, the three middle sizes below can be purchased as calendar-only for the same prices, per size, listed.)
There are five different Girl Friday calendar sizes. Note that the larger landscape means a higher price than the small products previously mentioned, but the quality here is superior. Pricing is as follows:
- 18″ wide X 15″ high (The writing area for each day is 2″ X 2 1/4″.) — $95 black text/$89 white text
- 23″ wide X 18.5″ high (The writing area for each day is 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”.) — $135 black text/$125 white text
- 31″ wide X 23″ high (The writing area for each day is 3 1/8” x 3 1/2”.) — $200 black or white text
- 35″ wide X 23″ high with thicker acrylic (The writing area for each day is 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”.) — $325 black text/$295 white text
- 42″ wide X 27″ tall with thicker acrylic (The writing area for each day is 4 3/8” x 4 1/4″.) — $385 black or white text
The acrylic measures 3/16″ thick for the three smaller sizes and 3/8″ thick for the two larger sizes.
You can pick from high-quality silver, gold, or black hardware, and Girl Friday promises clear instructions on how to hang the calendars on your wall. (Note well: these are non-magnetic!)
One wet-erase marker is included. While you can use either wet- or dry-erase markers, Girl Friday recommends wet-erase to provide darker and more precise writing.
Girl Friday also has a wide variety of fridge-sized, magnetic, clear acrylic calendars, menu boards, shopping lists, and weekly note boards. They also sell standard and customizable boards for business use.
MEMO BOARDS
Just as with clear, acrylic, magnetic calendars, you can find a variety of memo boards similar in style.
The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Magnetic Memo Board feels like a real find at $9.99. It measures 6″ wide by 9″ high (though, obviously, you could flip it 90°).
While they tend to show it off on a fridge, it seems like the perfect low-price, low-key way to track reminders and notes in lieu of an old-fashioned memo board. You can imagine it stuck to the side of a file cabinet in the office or on any of the steel/metal surfaces (including doors) in a dorm. Made of durable clear acrylic, it nonetheless has a flexibility that allows it to fit on somewhat curved surfaces, like those newfangled fridges.
I’d like it for tracking daily to-dos in the office, but it’s suitable for serving as a household message center, a make-sure-you-have-it-before-you-leave checklist for kids or grownups, or a reminder space. Use the included white dry marker, a wet erase marker, or (if you like to get fancy), a liquid chalk marker. The magnetic backing will stay secure to any steel surface.
If you’d prefer a desktop-top memo board, the Russell + Hazel Acrylic Memo Tablet has a more sophisticated, classy appeal, and can be used in a greater variety of spaces and ways.
- Leave it on the kitchen counter so everyone can add items to the grocery list (as above).
- Keep it on your desk to focus on your top three tasks of the day.
- Use it in lieu of sticky notes to capture thoughts throughout your workday.
- Leave important numbers for the babysitter in big, highly visible writing.
- Place it on the front hall table with greetings and instructions for when the kids get home from school.
- Move it around the house to use in visible spots — the center of the breakfast table, the front hall table, the counter as you all head to the garage — with motivating quotes for the day.
- Place it in the center of the hors d’oeuvres at your next party, labeling dishes and drawing areas to clearly note which is which.
The acrylic memo tablet measures 12″ high by 11.5″ wide and stands at an angle in the 6″-deep acrylic base (which includes a nested area to place the white wet-erase marker that comes with it).
The Acrylic Memo Tablet is available for $40 directly from the Russell + Hazel website, Amazon, and Target, and for $38 from Barnes & Noble.
CAVEATS ABOUT CLEAR PRODUCTS USED VERTICALLY
The problem with looking at cute products online is that we don’t always think deeply about how they’ll fit into our spaces. The biggest difficulty with a translucent calendar or memo board on the wall is that anything with white writing (and most of these are formatted with white text) will be unsuitable if the background wall, cabinet, or fridge is also white. Using colored dry- or wet-erase markers or liquid chalk markers will allow the text you create to be visible, but not the pre-created text or lines.
If you’re set on these clear calendars or memo boards but have white vertical surfaces, you do have options, depending on how DIY you are. (Paper Doll is not DIY at all. As some of you have heard me say, my hands only excel at typing and applying eyeliner; otherwise, I’m hopeless.) For the magnetic versions, you can cut a piece of construction paper or solid-colored wrapping paper and affix it to the fridge, cabinet, or metal door. The magnets of the calendars/ memo boards should hold the background paper neatly in place. (I’d discourage using anything with a pattern, as it’s likely to make it harder to read whatever’s written on the acrylic board.)
For non-metal backgrounds where you’ll be affixing the item directly to the wall, like the Russell + Hazel Acrylic Clear & Gold Weekly Calendar or the Girl Friday boards, you won’t be dealing with magnets, so your most labor-intensive option will be to paint the wall behind the calendar or affix it to a colorful wooden board or similar surface. (It’s not a choice I’d make, but you do you!)
Consider these issues before making purchases.
Again, I know there are all sorts of lucite and acrylic boxes, drawers, and containers for tangible stuff, but today’s post centered on using these kinds of products to corral thoughts and information. If you’ve got other favorites in this category, please share in the comments!
If we can see our way clear to finding products that inspire us, perhaps we’ll clearly see how to accomplish our goals!
Paper Doll Post:
I agree; pretty products are fine only if they motivate and help one be more productive.
While these are adorable, I prefer the paper version of the monthly calendars in the kitchen, hanging inside a cabinet door – hidden away. I don’t need to see all the activities I need to do this month.
My husband is a fan of the glass markerboards and has several in his office. I think he likes the minimalist design of these glass markerboards.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Julie!
You make a great point, and if someone were using these in the kitchen (instead of an office or a dorm room), I can see why it might not be preferable, not only for the reason you mention, but also for privacy. But other people need big visuals to ensure everyone knows what must get done. That’s why I love variety! 😉
I don’t know how I missed making the point about the minimalist aspect of translucent products! I know I referred to sophistication, but minimalism is surely what these products represent. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I sort of like the sleek look of translucent things. These are quite nice. I’m laughing a bit because as soon as my husband were to write anything on them, the “beauty factor” would be gone. His handwriting is…bad.
My walls are a light cream color, so I think I’d have to go with a darker marker, which isn’t quite as pretty as the white. I’m glad you covered that point.
I think the desktop version would work almost anywhere, and is perfect for anyone with high sensitivity to the way things look! Thanks for sharing these. 🙂
LOL, Seana, I get it because MY handwriting is “…bad.” Literally the only things I handwrite anymore (with any regularity) are sticky notes and my clients’ “homework” assignments, which I write on my purple pads at the end of each session with painstaking slowness so they can be somewhat legible. A lifetime of typing has taken a toll on my penmanship.
Yes, my favorite part about the desktop version is that it’s so versatile. Anything from important points to make on a phone call to work productivity to a funny cartoon to greet your family!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I like the look of those translucent calendars, but my walls are white, and someone once gave me a plaque with motivational words on it that looked similar to these, and I couldn’t really see it. I ended up giving it away, though now it occurs to me that I could have painted the wall(s). Hmmm…
Yup, background color is definitely a concern. Of course, the Girl Friday solution with black text instead of white, and using colored markers (I love the liquid chalk option!) is another way to go, and I’m sure there must be other options, similar to the Girl Friday black text.
This is one of those things where the longer you look, the greater the variety of options you can find. Whew!
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Translucent calendars are not something I had ever considered before – I’m heading into a bit of an office overhaul this month, and you’ve got me thinking! I do like the look of them, and love being able to just glance at a wall and see the expanse of a week and a month. Almost like looking at a clock for me (and hey, what about a translucent clock!?). Another fabulous post, my friend!
After you wrote that, I Googled, and there are a LOT of translucent clocks (as well as clocks that are just the numbers (or dots standing in for the numbers) and hands).
I’m eager to see what you end up doing to remodel your office!
I like the look of the translucent calendars – intellectually. But, I would never use one. I like the pretty pictures that come with a calendar of gardens or other vistas. Plus, I have “agreeable gray” walls so the calendar would disappear. I love your review, Julie.
I also would not use one, but only because all of my walls are white (and because I generally keep my walls bare). However, I love the idea of the Russell + Hazel Acrylic Memo Tablet for use around the home, and the translucent magnetic memo boards for offices or kitchens. My brain tends to stop seeing/paying attention to pictures/colors, so after a while, I’d cease to see gardens or vistas anyway. But it’s nifty to see all of the options.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for reading!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for featuring our small business, Girl Friday! We are proud to be the Original Acrylic Calendar, as well as the Original Acrylic Fridge calendar. Our clear acrylic fridge calendars are unique because we offer beautiful gold, silver or black magnets, and we can customize them!
Love your content, thanks!
I’m really glad that I could shine a light on Girl Friday’s products and introduce Paper Doll readers to your line. Thanks for dropping by!