Studygram – creative study notes

Studygram: The Instagram trend that makes your study notes more fun and creative. On social media, you might have come across the hashtag Studygram is a trend that has grown especially popular among students. Studygram is the umbrella term for when people post pictures or content related to studying. Melina Dahlgren shares everything about the trend that has turned something as unexpected as study notes into stylish Instagram posts full of inspiration.

What does the term Studygram mean?

The word is made up of two parts: "study" and "Instagram," which is the platform used. So, Studygram is the term used when posting images or content related to studying. It can be anything from study notes to student life. Studygram originally comes from Tumblr, where it was known as studyblr, but in recent years it has also grown on Instagram.

What inspires you?

There’s a lot of inspiration that I later use in my notes. It can be anything from different color combinations that I feel fit the theme I'm writing about. For example, I always use shades of green when the subject is biology. If I study the same topic for a longer period, my notes can start to feel dull if everything looks the same, so I usually change either the structure of the information or the color of the headings. If I'm writing about something specific within, say, biology, I might choose a color that better represents that topic. There are so many hashtags you can use to find inspiration for your own notes. #studygram is a very common one that many people use.

What materials do you use?

I always use a black gel pen for writing, and my absolute favorite is the Pentel Energel Needle Tip Gel Pen. It’s great if you write quickly and worry about smudging—this one dries within 5–10 seconds. I’ve used it nonstop for nearly three years now and have no plans to switch. You can also buy refills, so you don’t have to purchase a whole new pen when the ink runs out. That’s both wallet-friendly and better for the environment.

My headings are usually written with a brush pen. I use both the Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen in black and the Tombow Fudenosuke in black with a hard brush tip. They’re quite similar, but I probably prefer the first one of the two. However, the Tombow Fudenosuke comes with both hard and soft brush tips, so it might be a better option if you like a softer, more flexible brush pen.

I always color-code my notes, so a highlighter is a must. I usually use Zebra Mildliners since they come in 25 different colors and most are soft enough that they don’t distract from the text underneath. A while ago, Zebra also released 15 brush pens in the same colors as the first 15 Mildliner shades. So, if you want a brush pen that can also work as a regular highlighter, I highly recommend those.

How would you describe your work process?

I always start by gathering all the tools and materials I might need. That way, I don’t have to get up all the time to fetch things, which would distract me from studying effectively. I always make sure to study for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. The break might be a short walk in the forest or making a cup of coffee. It’s important that what you do during your break is calming and doesn’t drain any energy.

I start by writing the title of the text, if I already know what it will be, otherwise, I write it last, once I know what the content is about. I make general information more detailed so that it’s easier for me to understand when I review it later before an exam, for example. I also highlight important information to make it easier to see what’s most crucial to remember. If a diagram is needed, I usually place it on the right side of the related text and draw it by hand, sometimes coloring it in if that helps make the information clearer.

Melina Dahlgren (@studieswithmel)