18 Notebook Doodles That Deserve a Museum Exhibit
Notebook doodles were more than distractions; they were small pieces of art created in the margins of class notes.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Students have always filled their notebooks with sketches during boring lectures or long study sessions. These doodles often showed creativity, humor, or pure randomness that reflected the artist’s state of mind. Some were so good that they looked less like casual scribbles and more like pieces worthy of display.
1. Geometric Shapes
Fæ on Wikimedia Commons
Perfectly lined cubes, pyramids, and 3D boxes filled countless margins. They showed off patience and precision more than anything else. Some students filled whole pages with them. They looked like blueprints for another world.
2. Swirling Patterns
Fæ on Wikimedia Commons
Spirals and endless loops were common on math notes. They grew larger, darker, and more complex the longer the class dragged on. Entire pages sometimes became hypnotic mazes of ink. They looked accidental but ended up like intricate designs.
3. Cartoon Faces
Gnoeee on Wikimedia Commons
Goofy, exaggerated faces filled many pages of history notes. They ranged from smiling stick figures to detailed caricatures of teachers. Each one captured a moment of boredom and humor. These simple doodles often became group jokes.
4. Logos and Band Names
Kunokuno on Wikimedia Commons
Students often sketched their favorite band names, sports team logos, or brand symbols. These doodles showed identity and personal taste. Some were traced from memory, while others were drawn with surprising detail. They became time capsules of teenage culture.
5. Graffiti-Style Letters
Basile Morin on Wikimedia Commons
Bubble letters, block fonts, and shadowed writing filled notebook covers and inside pages. Students treated their names like tags. These doodles showed creativity in lettering and style. Many looked like they belonged on real street walls.
6. Fantasy Creatures
顾恺之 on Wikimedia Commons
Dragons, monsters, and strange animals appeared during science class. They were often exaggerated with fire-breathing mouths or giant claws. Some were rough sketches while others were detailed artworks. They brought imagination into the dullest lessons.
7. Checkerboard Patterns
Fæ on Wikimedia Commons
Carefully shaded squares covered entire corners of notebooks. These took time and patience to complete, often during long lectures. The result was bold and eye-catching. They turned empty space into design.
8. Flowers and Vines
Chenspec on Wikimedia Commons
Flowery doodles often decorated the edges of notebook pages. Leaves, petals, and vines wound around class notes. They added elegance to otherwise plain handwriting. Some looked like designs for fabric or wallpaper.
9. Stick Figure Adventures
HD@DH.nrw | Michelle Dahlmanns on Wikimedia Commons
Stick figures weren’t just simple drawings; they often told stories. They fought battles, played sports, or acted out mini-dramas across the margins. Each page became a comic strip. These doodles showed humor and imagination in motion.
10. Maze Designs
AmazemNet on Wikimedia Commons
Some students filled pages with elaborate mazes. The lines twisted and turned until they looked impossible to solve. They turned margins into puzzles. These doodles showed patience and focus even in distraction.
11. Eyes
F. Bartolozzi on Wikimedia Commons
Eyes were one of the most common doodles. They ranged from simple ovals to highly detailed sketches with lashes and shading. Students often repeated them across pages. They looked strangely expressive, even when drawn quickly.
12. Animals
Kitao Masayoshi on Wikimedia Commons
Dogs, cats, birds, and fish often appeared during class. Some were cute cartoons while others were drawn with real effort. They reflected what students cared about outside school. The animals often looked more alive than the class notes.
13. Abstract Scribbles
inabstracting on Wikimedia Commons
Some doodles were just lines that turned into shapes without a plan. They filled gaps between notes with random swirls and scratches. Sometimes, the randomness became interesting art. These unplanned designs showed creativity in its rawest form.
14. Weapons and Shields
Thomas Stamford Raffles on Wikimedia Commons
Knights’ swords, shields, and futuristic weapons showed up often in notebooks. These doodles looked like props from movies or video games. They revealed what students were daydreaming about during class. Some designs were surprisingly detailed.
15. Hearts and Arrows
TemboUngwe on Wikimedia Commons
Hearts, initials, and arrows filled many notebook pages, especially during middle school. They hinted at crushes and secret feelings. To anyone else, they looked simple, but to the doodler they meant everything. These drawings became silent records of teenage emotions.
16. Landscapes
Kuwagata Keisai on Wikimedia Commons
Mountains, sunsets, and city skylines were drawn in pen or pencil. They appeared during long classes where the mind wandered far away. Some landscapes were simple, others showed shading and depth. They looked like scenes captured from daydreams.
17. Robots and Machines
Inkrobot on Wikimedia Commons
Gears, robots, and futuristic machines were popular doodles. They showed creativity and fascination with technology. Some were playful, others almost looked like real engineering sketches. They added imagination to the notebook margins.
18. Borders and Frames
Robert William Hume on Wikimedia Commons
Some students decorated entire pages by framing notes with borders. Patterns of waves, zigzags, or repeating shapes surrounded the handwriting. They made ordinary notes look like posters. These frames turned schoolwork into decorated art.