Margin Notes
Everything you wrote in the margins.
A reading room built from your own annotations. Every book the cohort loved, opened to a marked page, plus a long shared reading where nobody explains themselves.
01
The concept
The essays got marked and returned. What nobody collected was what you wrote in the margins.
Margin Notes turns a hall into a reading room. Every person brings the book that changed their degree, opened to a page they annotated, on a shared table under a card with their name. A wall of enlarged marginalia — actual handwriting, blown up to A2 — runs down one side. In the last hour everyone reads their marked passage aloud, in turn, without explaining why.
It is the quietest realm in the catalogue. Palette is plum and paper, warm and low-contrast, built for lamps rather than overheads.
02
Identity
A book plate and a page reference. Nothing else.
A book-plate system — reader, title, page, year read — used on table cards, the marginalia wall and the programme.
A page-reference set used as each person's number for the day, and a four-page guide that mostly concerns leading and margins, which this audience will judge you on.
03
Design assets
Print-ready at true size, no guessing at the copy shop.
Book plate system
A6 · 8-up with cut lines · PDF
Unlocks with the kitMarginalia wall layouts
420x594mm ×8 · print-shop PDF + A4 parts
Unlocks with the kitReading programme
12pp · A5 · PDF
Unlocks with the kitTable card sheet
A5 · 2-up with cut lines · PDF
Unlocks with the kitPage reference set
A4 sheets · PDF (vector) + transparent PNG
Unlocks with the kitColour + type guide
4pp · A5 · PDF
04
Merch
Eight pieces in one print style, so the tee, the cap and the mug read as one set. Sized for local printers.
Try it with your names
Type your faculty, your group and your year, in English or Arabic, and see them on the tee, the mug and the lanyard.
Loading the preview
Tee, back print
A3 · 300dpi PNG, transparent
Tee, pocket print
90mm · 300dpi PNG, transparent
Hoodie, back print
A3 · same file as the tee back
Canvas tote
30×35cm · 300dpi PNG, transparent
Embroidered cap
60mm · PNG for an embroidery digitiser
Mug wrap
200×90mm · sublimation PNG
Sticker sheet
A5 · 300dpi PNG · cut to the borders
Lanyard pass
105mm · names editable in Studio
Arabic line على الهامش means “in the margin”
Every design here opens in Studio, the editor that comes in the kit. Retype anything in English or Arabic, move it, add your faculty's name or a photo, delete what you don't want, then print it to PDF at size. It runs in any browser, offline.
05
Props
Everything here is printable, buildable, or buyable in Attaba.
Marginalia wall panels
148.5x126cm · print-shop PDF + A3 parts
Unlocks with the kitReading table runners
126x118.8cm · print-shop PDF + A4 parts
Unlocks with the kitLectern card
A3 · print-ready PDF
Unlocks with the kitShelf label set
A4 · 12-up with cut lines · PDF
06
DIY lab
Step-by-step builds with real costs. Start with the green ones.
EasyThe marginalia wall
Photograph annotated pages on a phone, blow them up to A2, print in one colour. Somebody's actual handwriting at that size is the most affecting thing in the room and it costs 25 EGP a sheet.
- Cost
- 25 per sheet EGP
- Prep
- collect over 3 weeks
Unlocks with the kitEasyBook plates and table cards
Print, cut, and set one in front of every book. Twenty minutes of work that turns a pile of paperbacks into an exhibition.
- Cost
- 70 total EGP
- Prep
- 45 min
Unlocks with the kitEasyBookmarks as favours
Printed both sides with a line from the cohort's readings, given out at the door. People keep these in books for years.
- Cost
- 5 each EGP
- Prep
- 30 min
Unlocks with the kitMediumThe reading room
Tables in a long line under borrowed lamps, overheads off. Getting the room lit by lamps alone is the single change that makes this work; do a light test a week early.
- Cost
- 400–700 EGP
- Prep
- 3 hrs
07
Photography
Twelve shots, in order, for lamplight.
Lamp-lit rooms are dim and warm, so every shot on the list has an exposure note and most are close: hands, pages, one face at a time.
Plus a grade preset pair that holds plum and keeps paper from going orange under tungsten.
08
Video
One 45-second edit anybody can cut on a phone.
Pages turning, the wall in slow pans, and three readings cut back to back with no titles between them.
Titles as transparent PNG sequences, plus a CapCut guide on recording quiet speech without the room hum.
10
Signature experiences
The three moments that make it a reading room. In this order.
EasyLaying your book
Everyone places their own book open at their marked page, with their card. Nobody is allowed to tidy anyone else's.
- Cost
- in the print EGP
- Prep
- 20 min setup
Unlocks with the kitEasyReading the wall
Half an hour where people just read each other's handwriting. Quiet on purpose; do not put music over it.
- Cost
- 0 EGP
- Prep
- 10 min
Unlocks with the kitMediumThe long reading
Each person reads their marked passage aloud, in turn, and does not explain why they chose it. Thirty people, ninety seconds each, no commentary. That rule is what makes it work.
- Cost
- 0 EGP
- Prep
- brief everyone a week out
11
Day plan
A run sheet you can hand to two people and walk away.
- 13:00
Load in
Tables in a line, wall hung, lamps placed and overheads off.
- 15:00
Laying the books
Everyone places their own with its card.
4 more steps in the full run sheet. It comes with the kit.
12
Checklist
Work backwards from your date.
- 4 weeks out — book a room where the overhead lights can be turned off01
- 4 weeks out — ask everyone for a photograph of one annotated page02
6 more in the kit's checklist.
Photo pieces
The things people photograph
Eight pieces come in every realm, drawn in that realm's own colours. Each one is a print file at its real size with a how-to page — send it to a print shop or make it at home. Your department code and year change on all of them at once in Studio.
Unlocks with the kitSenior banner
300×100cm · print-shop PDF, stick-on letters or A4 parts
SENIORS, your year and your department code. Send it to a flex printer in one piece, or print one letter per A4 sheet and stick them onto your own banner using the measured layout.
In the kit · 4
- 00-how-to-make-it.pdfTwo ways to make it, with the layout measured out
- option-1-print-shop-300x100cm.pdfThe whole banner in one piece, for a flex or vinyl print shop
- option-2-letters-A4.pdfOne letter per A4 sheet to cut out and stick onto your own banner
- option-3-home-print-A4-parts.pdfThe whole banner in A4 parts with an assembly map
Photo-booth frame
90×60cm · print-shop PDF + A4 parts + cut-outs
The one everybody queues for. Mount it on foam board and cut the marked window out; the letters, year, cap and stars come as separate pieces to stick around it.
In the kit · 4
- 00-how-to-make-it.pdfMaterials, steps and where the window goes
- print-shop-90x60cm.pdfThe frame in one piece for foam board, 3mm bleed
- home-print-A4-parts.pdfThe frame in A4 parts with an assembly map
- cut-out-pieces-A4.pdfThe letters, year, cap and stars to cut out and stick on
Unlocks with the kitProps on sticks
A4 ×4 · cut lines and stick tabs
Speech bubbles, placards, a graduation cap and glasses, each with a tab to tape a stick to.
In the kit · 2
- 00-how-to-make-it.pdfPrint, mount on card, tape a stick to the back
- props-on-sticks-A4-sheets.pdfSpeech bubbles, signs, glasses and a cap, at size
Name fan
A4 · one per person · photo circle
One per person, with their photo in the middle and their name under it. Type each name in Studio and print.
In the kit · 2
- 00-how-to-make-it.pdfOne per person: photo, name, stick
- name-fan-A4.pdfOne fan per A4 sheet, with a circle for the photo; print one per person
Unlocks with the kitCut-letter kit
A4 ×2 · alphabet, digits, spares
The mismatched letters, already drawn. Spare vowels included, because every group runs out halfway through the first name.
In the kit · 1
- cut-letters-A4.pdfMismatched letters, digits and spare vowels to cut out
Unlocks with the kitCupcake toppers
20-up on A4 · cut circles
Seven designs for the table, in the same print style as everything else.
In the kit · 1
- cupcake-toppers-A4-20-up.pdf20 toppers per sheet, cut on the line, glue to a toothpick
Unlocks with the kitMug coasters
9cm round + square · 4-up on A4 · print-shop file
Four designs that go with the mug. Print on card at home, or send the print-shop file for cork or ceramic.
In the kit · 3
- coasters-round-90mm-A4-4-up.pdfFour round coasters per A4 sheet, cut lines marked
- coasters-square-90mm-A4-4-up.pdfFour square coasters per A4 sheet, cut lines marked
- coaster-for-print-shop-90mm.pdfOne coaster with bleed, for cork or ceramic printing
Unlocks with the kitPainted sunglasses
A4 guide · lettering at lens size
Cheap black party sunglasses, lettered by hand with a paint pen. The guide shows the words at the size they sit on the lens, so you can copy them straight off the page.
In the kit · 1
- sunglasses-lettering-guide-A4.pdfThe words at lens size, to copy with a paint pen
13
Spec sheet
- Files
- 62 files
- Formats
- PDF, PNG, HTML, TXT, MD
- Print sizes
- A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, 126×118.8cm, 148.5×126cm, 300×100cm
- Fonts
- Noto Kufi Arabic (SIL Open Font Licence 1.1) · IBM Plex Mono (SIL Open Font Licence 1.1) · Archivo (SIL Open Font Licence 1.1)
- Difficulty range
- Easy to medium
- Est. materials cost
- EGP 1,300–2,200 for a group of 30
- Minimum group size
- 8 people
- Delivery
- Download link by email once we've checked your transfer · 5 full-kit downloads · link lasts 30 days
What's in the zip
Every file you get, folder by folder. Nothing here is a mock-up — each one is the print file at its real size. The previews on this page are watermarked; the files in the zip are clean.
Open first4 files
- START-HERE.pdfWhat's in the kit and the order to open it in
- START-HERE.txtThe same, as plain text
- Studio.htmlThe editor: change the department code and year everywhere, retype anything, print at size
- FONTS.mdEvery font, its licence and where to get it
Identity01-identity/1 file
- colour-and-type-guide-A4.pdfColours, type and the mark, for anyone making something new
Merch print files02-merch/8 files
- tshirt-and-hoodie-back-A3-300dpi.pngBack print, transparent, for DTF or screen
- tshirt-front-pocket-90mm-300dpi.pngPocket print, transparent
- tote-30x35cm-300dpi.pngTote print, transparent
- cap-front-60mm-300dpi.pngCap front, flat colours for an embroidery digitiser
- mug-wrap-200x90mm-300dpi.pngMug wrap for sublimation
- stickers-A5-300dpi.pngSticker sheet, cut to the white borders
- lanyard-pass-105mm-300dpi.pngLanyard pass
- PRINT-NOTES.txtInks, garments and sizes for the printer
Props03-props/24 files
- senior-banner/00-how-to-make-it.pdfTwo ways to make it, with the layout measured out
- senior-banner/option-1-print-shop-300x100cm.pdfThe whole banner in one piece, for a flex or vinyl print shop
- senior-banner/option-2-letters-A4.pdfOne letter per A4 sheet to cut out and stick onto your own banner
- senior-banner/option-3-home-print-A4-parts.pdfThe whole banner in A4 parts with an assembly map
- photo-frame/00-how-to-make-it.pdfMaterials, steps and where the window goes
- photo-frame/print-shop-90x60cm.pdfThe frame in one piece for foam board, 3mm bleed
- photo-frame/home-print-A4-parts.pdfThe frame in A4 parts with an assembly map
- photo-frame/cut-out-pieces-A4.pdfThe letters, year, cap and stars to cut out and stick on
- props-on-sticks/00-how-to-make-it.pdfPrint, mount on card, tape a stick to the back
- props-on-sticks/props-on-sticks-A4-sheets.pdfSpeech bubbles, signs, glasses and a cap, at size
- name-fan/00-how-to-make-it.pdfOne per person: photo, name, stick
- name-fan/name-fan-A4.pdfOne fan per A4 sheet, with a circle for the photo; print one per person
- letter-kit/cut-letters-A4.pdfMismatched letters, digits and spare vowels to cut out
- toppers/cupcake-toppers-A4-20-up.pdf20 toppers per sheet, cut on the line, glue to a toothpick
- coasters/coasters-round-90mm-A4-4-up.pdfFour round coasters per A4 sheet, cut lines marked
- coasters/coasters-square-90mm-A4-4-up.pdfFour square coasters per A4 sheet, cut lines marked
- coasters/coaster-for-print-shop-90mm.pdfOne coaster with bleed, for cork or ceramic printing
- sunglasses/sunglasses-lettering-guide-A4.pdfThe words at lens size, to copy with a paint pen
- marginalia-wall-panels/print-shop-148.5x126cm.pdfFull size for a print shop, 3mm bleed
- marginalia-wall-panels/home-print-A3-parts.pdfThe same in A3 parts with an assembly map
- reading-table-runners/print-shop-126x118.8cm.pdfFull size for a print shop, 3mm bleed
- reading-table-runners/home-print-A4-parts.pdfThe same in A4 parts with an assembly map
- lectern-card/lectern-card-A3.pdfA3, print at 100%
- shelf-label-set/shelf-label-set-A4-12-up.pdf12 per A4 sheet, cut lines marked
Printables04-printables/8 files
- book-plate-system/book-plate-system-A6-8-up.pdf8 per A6 sheet, cut lines marked
- marginalia-wall-layouts/print-shop-420x594mm.pdfFull size ×8 for a print shop, 3mm bleed
- marginalia-wall-layouts/home-print-A4-parts.pdfThe same in A4 parts with an assembly map
- reading-programme/reading-programme-A5-12pp.pdf12 pages, A5
- table-card-sheet/table-card-sheet-A5-2-up.pdf2 per A5 sheet, cut lines marked
- page-reference-set/page-reference-set-A4-5pp.pdf5 pages, A4
- page-reference-set/page-reference-set-transparent.pngThe mark on a transparent background, 300dpi
- colour-type-guide/colour-type-guide-A5-4pp.pdf4 pages, A5
Guides05-guides/4 files
- diy-builds-A4.pdfEvery DIY build, step by step, with cost and time
- signature-experiences-A4.pdfThe moments to run, in order
- run-sheet-and-checklist-A4.pdfThe day hour by hour, and the countdown checklist
- photo-and-video-brief-A4.pdfThe shot list and the reel, for whoever holds the camera
Social06-social/12 files
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-01-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-02-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-03-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-04-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-05-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-06-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- countdown-story-set-7-days/countdown-story-set-7-days-07-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- marginalia-story-template/marginalia-story-template-01-1080x1920.png1080×1920
- grid-announcement-3-part/grid-announcement-3-part-01-1080x1350.png1080×1350
- grid-announcement-3-part/grid-announcement-3-part-02-1080x1350.png1080×1350
- grid-announcement-3-part/grid-announcement-3-part-03-1080x1350.png1080×1350
- caption-bank/caption-bank.txtCopy and paste, English and Arabic
Close, but not quite yours?
We build custom realms too, with a concept back in 24 hours.
Tell us your ideaA concept back within 24 hours
09
Social
Sized for the platforms your group actually posts to.
Countdown story set, 7 days
1080×1920 · PNG ×7
Marginalia story template
1080×1920 · PNG ×1
Grid announcement, 3-part
1080×1350 · PNG ×3
Caption bank
EN + AR · TXT