Field Notes – The Chicago Look Field Notes’ 66th Quarterly Edition, The Chicago Look, pays tribute to a defining era in American design and typography, capturing the bold visual spirit of mid-century sign painting that once made Chicago the creative heart of commercial art. Released in Spring 2025, this limited edition draws inspiration from the pioneering work of the Beverly Sign Co., whose innovative “panelized” compositions, expressive letterforms, and vivid colour palettes helped shape a distinct artistic identity that came to be known as The Chicago Look. In collaboration with Chicago’s renowned Heart & Bone Signs and master sign painter Bob Behounek, Field Notes has reimagined this iconic style for the page. The covers feature original-inspired mock-ups that mirror Beverly’s hand-drawn pencil sketches, complete with the distinctive diagonal “strike-thru” marks used by sign painters to indicate colour placement for clients and “Wall Dogs” alike. The result is a design that captures the creative energy of a bygone craft while bringing it forward into a modern context — equal parts history lesson and visual delight. The Chicago Look introduces a new, larger format for Field Notes: a practical A5 notebook that strikes the perfect balance between portability and workspace. Inside are 64 graph-ruled pages printed in “Non-Repro Blue,” a classic shade from the graphic arts industry that vanishes easily when scanned or reproduced, making it ideal for sketching, layout design, note-taking, or creative planning. The interiors are filled with charming historical notes, clever asides, and striking illustrations that celebrate the artistry of America’s sign-painting heritage. Each notebook is printed on Westrock Tango C1S 16pt cover stock with richly applied process-colour soy-based inks, creating a durable and vibrant surface that feels substantial in hand. The pages are crafted from smooth Domtar Lynx 60#T paper, ensuring a clean writing experience whether you’re using pen, pencil, or marker. Bound with precision and rounded for comfort, every detail reflects Field Notes’ ongoing dedication to quality and design authenticity. Proudly printed and manufactured in the U.S.A. in collaboration with The Graphic Arts Studio in Illinois, this limited edition of 25,000 2-Packs stands as a love letter to Chicago’s artistic past and a celebration of craftsmanship that endures. The Chicago Look captures the essence of mid-century creativity and transforms it into a beautiful, functional notebook for today’s writers, artists, and designers — a reminder that great ideas, like great signs, never fade.
