Dear Designer: What’s on your desk!?
Welcome back to our Dear Designer series! A recurring post that shares insights, tips, and stories from our team to you, our fellow designers. In this installment, we’re going over each of our desk setups and essentials. In an office, everyone has their own desk layout that works for them, but for many remote employees, working from home also means your entire office is condensed to one desk.
My garage studio has just undergone a rebuild, so right now, my desk is fairly minimal, equipped with just the essentials. These key items are crucial to my work, and without them, my job would be much more challenging. It’s all about finding what suits your workflow and discovering ways to streamline it. Here’s a look at my current setup!
I recently upgraded to an affordable Fumax Standing Desk from Amazon, and I can’t believe I didn’t make this change sooner. It’s been a game-changer for early morning work sessions, meetings, and more. My mouse of choice is the Logitech MX Master 3, which I’ve been using for over four years. It’s reliable and comfortable, and I don’t foresee replacing it anytime soon.
Favorite Tech: Mechanical keyboards! I switch between the Keychron K8 and the Varmilo VA87. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so I alternate based on my mood. A special shoutout goes to the roller hockey wheels that have been supporting my Keychron for the past two years after the original plastic feet broke off (if anyone can 3D print replacements, that would be amazing!).
Favorite Gadget: The LED Desk Lamp. It provides perfect lighting for my workspace, and the adjustable brightness and temperature settings make a significant difference. It ensures I’m well-lit for meetings and helps set the right mood for work.
Written By: Chris Nervegna
I aim to keep my workspace clutter-free yet filled with personality. The essentials are, of course, my work and personal computers. Alongside these, I rely on a few essential tools to stay organized and productive — a gridded notebook for jotting down ideas, a timer to keep me on track, and a desk organizer to keep my office supplies in order. To help me with my screen breaks, I keep a selection of quick activity books on hand, ranging from calligraphy to doodling. Additionally, having a few things that I’ve collected during my travels or were gifted to me adds a touch of inspiration and reminds me to keep pushing forward.
Favorite Tech: The vertical ergonomic mouse. It’s been a game-changer for both productivity and comfort. A few years back, I began experiencing some nagging pain in my right arm. A coworker suggested trying a vertical mouse, and I’ve never looked back since. The pain disappeared, and my productivity increased, thanks to its four extra buttons that I now use for handy shortcuts!
Favorite Gadget: Time Timer is a silent visual timer. As someone who thrives on visual cues, this little tool has become essential for structuring my work and break periods. When I’m deep into designing websites, it’s easy to lose track of time. This timer makes it effortless to see how much time is left with just a quick glance, keeping me on track and stress-free.
Written By: Bella Ambrosio
I love a balance of functionality and fun on my desk. Alongside my productivity items and PC peripherals, I have little serotonin bringers to keep me going through my day.
Since my desk doubles as my workspace as well as an entertainment space, I have quite the plethora of items to accompany my work-issued laptop. Starting with the largest things first — my monitors. 3 might seem like overkill but I’m a firm believer that you can never have too much screen space! To the right of the screens is my PC tower which I built in 2021 and periodically update. For organization, I recently installed a pegboard to the left of my monitors and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a little extra order (or another shelf to display trinkets).
Favorite Tech: I have gone through my fair share of mice, but the Glorious Model O 2 Wireless Mouse has been my absolute favorite. The battery lasts so long that I can use it all day for work, and then into the evening for multiple days before needing to plug it in again. It has several profiles for sensitivity settings and lighting, so I use a nice bright white during the day and then transition to pink or purple for less harsh lighting in the evening.
Favorite Gadget: The true star of my setup is the Govee LED Strip Light behind my monitor, it helps ease the strain on my eyes and also creates a cozy atmosphere at night. I love that I can match it to my activity or even align it with the seasons to feel spooky or festive.
Written By: Lindsey Robinson
On my desk, I have the essential tech of course: laptop, monitor, keyboard/mouse. I also have my planner to keep me organized, blue light glasses (that I forget to wear 99% of the time), and laptop stand and monitor stand to help my poor posture and for extra storage. I can’t have too much decor on my desk or else I get distracted, but I do have a painted stone cactus and a ceramic fortune cookie for good luck!
Favorite Tech: My favorite part of my desk is my desk itself! I have an adjustable standing desk that I can stand to work or slide my walking pad under to get some steps in while I work. After using a standing desk, I can’t see myself going back to a traditional desk.
Favorite Gadget: One of my newer desk additions that is a game changer is a HappyLight. It’s a small light tablet that I turn on for a little bit in the morning that helps me get focused and motivated, especially helpful on rainy or winter mornings!
Written By: Chelsea Davis
