How would you describe your office at the beach house? What is the design aesthetic, and how does that impact your work? I generally work off of my laptop, so my “workspace” is always in flux. However, it is always nice to sit in a traditional “desk” and this particular desk area has been a great place to buckle down and focus. I generally gravitate towards modern and contemporary, but I do have a fondness for vintage and mid-century design. This area sort of blends both and I think that balance is something that gets passed on in my design work as well.

How have you organized the space? The desk isn’t very big, but currently, I’ve divided the desktop into an area for the computer, a tray to hold odds and ends, and then the edge holds a stack of magazines and books.

What desk accessory can’t you do without? A good lamp.

You’re well known for your love of color. What impact do you think it has on a workspace? I like to keep my workspace pretty neutral. It helps avoid too much visual distraction. At the same time, I can’t be in a space completely devoid of color. I end up feeling stifled if my surroundings are too sterile. I always need a little pop somewhere. The house this place resides in is pretty close to the beach, so hits of blue seemed appropriate.

This is a temporary office for you. If it was yours permanently, is there anything you’d replace? I love my current chair for its form, but the upholstery is a little dingy and frankly, I’d love to get a chair that can spin around and has wheels (an Eames Executive Chair would do quite nicely!).

Photos: Jonathan Lo. “Futurism” print by Simon Page.

You established your firm in 1997. What led to that point? After graduating from The University of East London in 1996, I worked briefly in the design department of Routledge, a leading academic book publisher. In 1997, I opened my own design studio in London and worked for various clients including Penguin Books, The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, The Industrial Design Centre, Time-Out Online, and The Guardian newspaper. Around this time I also began teaching graphic design at The University of Luton and Central St. Martins.

I moved to the States in 2000 to teach at Northern Illinois University. In 2006, I moved to Long Beach, where I am a Professor at California State University. I divide my time between teaching, designing for various clients, and playing with my sons Auden, Louis, and Julian.

I have recently been commissioned to design typefaces and type treatments for The New York Times Magazine, UCLA Extension, and Sagmeister Inc.

Above: A quote from the Eames’ on Byrom’s dining room wall.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I split my time between home and my faculty office. When I moved to Long Beach from Chicago six years ago, I wanted to find a house where I could walk to work. I have been lucky enough to find a place that is a 30-minute walk from my house to my office on campus, which is perfect.

How would you define your aesthetic? I create physical/structural graphic design. The move to a three-dimensional approach in typeface designs was born from a desire to move out of my ‘comfort zone’ and force myself to create/build letters from a new standpoint. I began using the conventions of typographic design in three dimensions, using unfamiliar applications, materials, and processes as a way of forcing myself to find new forms. Not only must these three-dimensional designs adhere to typographic principles (uniformed x-height, structure, etc.), but they must also address architectural considerations including physical strength and structural integrity. I am interested in finding new constraints for which to effect my designs – and force my hand.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? I want to be able to have my kids come and go in my workspace, so I have to keep it pretty basic and with nothing too important lying around. Therefore I do all my drawings (and store all my designs and blue prints etc.) in my small office on the CSULB campus. I do more preliminary or conceptual work, and a lot of writing, at home.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? I’d like to swap my desk for a George Nelson Rolltop Action Desk so I can just lock it all up and go… see previous answer for reason why!

What desk accessory can’t you do without? A pencil, a sketch book, and a decent pencil sharpener … and a Mac.

What and who inspires you? Charles and Ray Eames have been my biggest inspiration. Their work, and how they chose to document it, always seemed to be very playful and joyful. They were open to exploring new materials and processes and worked hard to master the associated constraints. They were also endlessly prototyping and experimenting.

I’m also impressed by designers like Alvin Lustig, Massimo Vignelli, and younger designers working today like Jonathan Keller who are able to work across disciplines, but still keep their own design principles intact.

“My name is Angelica Paez and I live in Houston, Texas with my husband, John Griffith.  I am a full-time vintage photo collector and part-time dealer.  Online, I go by the name of Snapatorium.  I used to have my photos spread throughout the house, but then decided that it would be better to turn our guest bedroom into a photo room.  We rarely have anyone stay with us, so it is much more functional to have a home office than an underused bedroom.

One of my favorite things in the room is the Herman Miller desk designed by Charles and Ray Eames.  Not only is it a cool piece of design, it’s functional too.  The large top gives me plenty of work space which I need when I am sorting and archiving photos. Overall, I’m happy with the layout of the work space and have no immediate plans to change anything.  It is a small space and I think I have maximized it to the fullest.”

• Check out the full post over at DEFINING THE DESIGNER WORKSPACE.

1. How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I live currently in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. From 2001 to 2008 I lived and worked in a loft apartment. At the end of 2008, my business had taken over the entire loft. I was living in my 100 square foot bedroom in the back. It was time to separate work and home, so I moved into an apartment in Greenpoint. I still work out of the same loft.

2. Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? I would say my aesthetic is contemporary, with a American slant.

3. How do you keep your work space organized? It is a constant battle. I have come to realize that I am a bit anal.

4. When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? Yes, there was one huge obstacle! There is no place for a home office in my apartment. I live with my girlfriend and our daughter in an apartment that we thought we’d be in for just a few months. Over a year later we are still here. All of our stuff is in storage. My work space at home is on a sectional couch from West Elm (no comment) that was here when we moved in. I work with my feet up, computer on my lap and surrounded by my daughter stuffed animals.

5. Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? A desk!

6. What desk accessory can’t you do without? I like to keep my work area pretty minimal. On my desk at work is usually assorted papers and my computer. The one accessory I need to have is a calculator. I know there is one on my computer and even one on my phone, but I like having a cheap solar powered calculator next to me.

7. What would you change about your work space? I would love to have more privacy. That is the major drawback about working on the couch. My daughter loves to play with the keys on my computer. It makes it hard to work when she’s holding down the the “delete” key.

8. What inspires you? Other people doing great things.

Check out Elle Decor for a slideshow of Roll & Hill’s designs.

1. Yello I am here with a whole bunch of talented and creative people where brand strategy and well-crafted graphic design get done. It’s a big warehouse space converted into commercial studios. Good natural light come in. We have musical wars on the shared iTunes and it’s under a flight path so on occasion a low flying 747 roars by in the afternoon and drowns out the music.

2. Home Studio Where the sketching and illustration business gets done. I like to have lots of source material arround me books, web, magazines. The table is an old drafting table that can tilt to 90 degrees. The room is small but there’s enough space to move around and make a mess.

3. Painting Studio I share this space with another artist. We are seldom there at the same time and work around each other when the other is busy preparing for an exhibition. It is a great place to paint. It has good light with big floor to ceiling windows. Many days and nights are spent here working on large scale pieces.

What do you listen to while you work? Having to answer this, I’m realizing my listening style is quite manic…my process is a bit scattered (read: teeny tiny attention span) so my music shifts with my mood and focus. If I’m sketching or working in Photoshop or Illustrator then it could be anything from Black Keys and Beastie Boys to Arcade Fire and Heartless Bastards. If I’m working on copy edits or estimates, then I prefer to take it down a notch and listen to Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Ray LaMontagne, etc. And I’ve recently started listening to Debbie Millman’s podcast Design Matters…not only is her voice like a caramel blanket, but the creative folks she interviews are so amazing and inspiring that my skin starts tingling and my brain starts oozing. It’s a great feeling.

How do you listen? I work by myself in my home (so no need for earphones) and usually listen from my computer. I used to listen to my iPod when commuting to meetings, but found that I kept missing my metro stops. I’d get so wrapped into my music that I’d forget that I actually had a destination. Have I mentioned my short attention span?

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? I love love love KEXP out of Seattle…it is my go-to radio streaming channel. AND I want to carry John Richards’ children.

Does music influence your work? I remember being a 7th grader drawing peace signs and bubble letters on my book covers and my parents telling me I was born way too late. They were right, and the psychedelic illustration style never left me.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste? This will have to be a 3-part answer. Part 1) Thanks to my older brother Will Horne, I grew up listening to Beastie Boys instead of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany. Under his guidance, the first album I bought was Nirvana’s “Nevermind.” And then he left for boarding school and I bought Paula Abdul’s “Spellbound.” Clearly I wasn’t capable of making good musical decisions without him. Part 2) About 10 years ago I moved to the D.C.-area and met my future BFF Katie O’Brien. I knew her for a week before she asked me to join her at an Ani DiFranco concert. Her mix CDs got me through several birthdays, road trips, and job changes. Damn San Francisco for taking her away from me. Part 3) Brandon DeHart. His total recall of albums and artists makes my head hurt and his “Best Of…” collections are my music bible. I am a lost puppy without him.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be? I would say Dolly Parton for her deceptive Southern charm. At first glance, someone might say she’s all makeup, hair, and boobs. But when you listen to her music—and realize she writes her own songs—you sense the independent, stubborn sassiness hidden underneath the frills. And because of their irreverent lyrics and colorful album art, I’d also like to add Cake. Only they could make the font Copperplate seem cool. Plus I really love the packaging of their latest album.

CAROLYN’S PLAYLIST

Joy, Bettye Lavette

I Will Survive, Cake

Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), Arcade Fire

Dancing On Our Graves, The Cave Singers

Old Old Fashioned, The Frightened Rabbit

Hustle and Cuss, The Dead Weather

Sugarfoot, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh, Say Hi

I Felt Like a Gringo, Minutemen

Reckoner, Radiohead

Everlasting Light, The Black Keys

9 to 5, Dolly Parton

Images: Carolyn Sewell

Birchard interviewed over 100 people for the book – from CEO to factory heads. He also found himself trawling through our extensive archives. The result is an in-depth look at a company committed to sustaining the planet for generations to come. Here we take a tour of Birchard’s home office in Amherst, New Hampshire, where he wrote the book, and learn about his work habits.

“I use a pivot screen, which I usually keep in the vertical position. It’s much easier for writing, since you can see (and move, cut/paste, etc.) a lot  more copy.”

“I keep many sizes and kinds of notepaper, tablets, and post-it notes in the shelves in front of me, and I use whichever seems to “feel” right when I’m brainstorming. Sometimes I use a post-it to capture a small thought. Sometimes I use a tablet to sketch out a long chapter lead. Sometimes I use cheap paper or the back of an envelope for “throwaway” thoughts I’m “testing” but doubt I’ll keep, etc. Although I also keep many notes on the computer, I find the tactile and sketching qualities of paper helpful in shaping thoughts and arranging priorities. I’m definitely not in favor of a “clean desk,” since inspiration for metaphor, etc., come from anywhere, even pictures of family camping trips, etc. The exception is when I’m writing. I write almost exclusively from electronic documents on my computer, since the volume of documents needed to write a book is much too great to arrange on a desk.”

“By the way, one of my favorite quotes about writing (which will appear in my upcoming book on writing), is the following, which explains why a good chair, an Aeron, is so important to me:”The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.” It’s from Mary Heaton Vorse, suffragette, journalist, novelist, single mom, 1874-1966. I spend a lot of time glued to my chair.”

Update: Herman Miller has just been recognized as a leader in corporate sustainability by The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World). This is the eighth year we’ve garnered the attention of DJSI World. It was launched in 1999, and was the first global index tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. Herman Miller joins 300 other companies in the top 10% of leading sustainable companies in the world.

Your design studio – Standard – is based in Los Angeles and in your work your European roots seemed to have merged with a particularly modern Californian aesthetic giving both a warmth and a rigor that is really striking. Can you give us a bit of background – you both studied architecture in Germany. How do you think that has influenced your work in California? We met in Germany, and while we went to different schools there, it was like an intersection in our studies.  We both went to architecture school in the US as well, but on opposite coasts.  In American schools the emphasis is on process and forms but in Germany the modernist project continues to be an influence; our work reflects some of that idealism.  When we started to work together in Los Angeles, the dominant trend was to create new form.  We were more interested in creating space, and in LA’s modern history.  Early in our practice, we had the opportunity to work on a couple of projects that were interiors combined with landscapes, so we designed from the inside out.  We worked with materials, openings in walls, views, and light; and less with the outward appearance of the building.

Your own home, aptly dubbed “The Tree House” is perched on a steep hill on the east side of Los Angeles. How did that site influence your design? We had lived on the site for about seven years before we started the project, so we understood the site well and we knew how we wanted to live there.

Under the tree there is a microclimate that’s usually about 10 degrees cooler than down at the street.

We wanted the house to be under the tree’s canopy, and to create the living space there.  The south orientation and expansive views led us to open the house up on that side, and to keep the back more solid.

The material palette is very restrained – concrete, redwood and white cabinetry with marble in the bathrooms. How do you go about making those choices? We wanted to balance the materials and create contrast.   In the main living space we defined the perimeter with white walls and cabinets, so the wood in the center of the room looks more like built-in furniture.  It is a small house and the approach to materials and the glass help make it feel more expansive.

The home includes a desk/work area in the master bedroom. Do you find your work life spills over into your home life? Our work spills into our home life probably a little too much, and thankfully, this desk is rarely used for work.

Currently our office is very close to the house, so we try not to bring work home.

What inspires you in your work? Silvia:  New York, aged finishes, vast (higher altitude) landscapes, Rick Owen’s fashion, Edith Heath’s ceramics (below).

Le Courbusier’s concrete (and glass) architecture, Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima’s material-less seeming architecture (below Sejima’s New Museum in New York City. Image via StarMedia).

Jeff: Furniture design: Charlotte Perriand, Joe Colombo, Jean Royere.  Automotive design:  Alfa Sprint Speciale, classic Bertone designs.  The architecture of Jose Antonio Coderch (below Coderch’s Casa Ulgade, Barcelona 1953) , Mies van der Rohe’s early work.

Photos: Shots of Silvia and Jeff’s home by Benny Chan/fotoworks.

Name: 

Location: South Slope, Brooklyn

Size/Room: 125 Sq Ft of office space + built-in closet

Years lived in: 3 months (rent)

Brooklyn-based master typographer Nick Keppol shows us how form truly follows function in his beautiful home office that’s bursting with modern details. Terrariums that add an organic detail, library stacks of creative reads, and enough Herman Miller gear that’ll bring a tear to your eye – everything screams style (or perhaps even slightly obsessive on the curation front, depending on who you ask). Now, jump on in and indulge with us as we take a look at one fine, style-packed home office.

My style: Organized, Functional and Modern

The inspiration for my home office: Form follows function. I knew what I needed from my space functionally and tailored its design to my needs. In my previous apartment, my “office” was the corner of my bedroom where an IKEA Jerker desk functioned as my art table, dining table, and computer desk for years. Having to clean up my desk every time I switched its function from art table to computer workstation, became a speed bump in the creative process. After a while, I noticed I was avoiding the setup and breakdown almost entirely and was barely sketching anymore. Not good when pencil sketching and hand lettering is essential to my workflow.

When designing my first home office I knew I wanted to be able to have room to spread out. It was important for me to have a dedicated art table where I could leave things I am working on and a separate area for my digital workstation. This allows me to stay focused on the task at hand and return to the other station exactly where I left off. I had originally planned on building a L shaped desk until I came across a great deal on a, basically new, Herman Miller Airia Desk on Craig’s List. This had been my dream desk since its release but far over my budget for a desk. But at over 60% off retail I jumped on it. This was the first real furniture purchase for the office and it influenced the overall (walnut and white) aesthetic a great deal.

Favorite element in your space: The magnetic strips above the desk I use to hold sketches, inspiration and even supplies has been very helpful. However I’d have to say the double desks because they drastically improved productivity. It’s hard to imagine working any other way now.

Biggest challenge in designing my space: Creating a sophisticated design aesthetic with a few statement pieces on a modest budget in a small space while remaining flexible enough to still work for me when I eventually move out.

What friends say about my space: I haven’t had many friends over yet to see the space yet but the most common comment online has been “Where did you get the desk?” Although I’m sure most of your readers are familiar with the Airia Desk.

Area where there is room for improvement/future projects: I’ll probably add walnut tops to the IKEA EFFEKTIV units and maybe matte red/black vinyl or plastic, al la Eames Storage Unit, on the inside top shelf to hide all the screw/shelf holes (Photoshoped out in the pictures).

Proudest DIY (do it yourself) project: The terrariums. They are so easy to make and add a nice organic feeling to the space. The earthiness of the plants and walnut contrast well with the boxy white pieces.

Biggest indulgence with respect to my space: Having a real home office is a big indulgence for me. For furniture the Embody chair was my biggest indulgence . Before this, I had been using a $29 Office Depot Chair I used until the wheels literally fell off. I am lucky enough to have an Aeron at my day job so over time the benefits of a high quality ergonomic task chair became obvious, especially after I came home to my OD chair. The Aeron seemed like the way to go until I saw the Embody. For me, the softer fabric seat of the Embody and easier adjustable levers and knobs made it more suitable for the home office. I try and buy high end furniture used but these chairs are really hard to come by second hand, especially if you want specific options. If I wanted one I needed to buy new. I waited for the Herman Miller sale and bought from a site with free shipping and no tax. It’s pretty easily justified when you account for its 15 year warranty backed by a reputable company offering some of the best ergonomics technology available to date. It works out to be less than a quarter a day for the next 15 years. I think it’s worth it.

Best advice about organizing or incorporating tech into the home: Have a place and purpose for everything and hide as much as you can. Plan for a “catch all” drawer or cabinet, it’s inevitable — embrace it. If you’re designing a tight space it can be helpful to make a scale blueprint of the room and your furniture to get a basic idea. Especially if you are buying furniture. You can do this pretty easy in Photoshop or Illustrator. It’s easier than moving furniture around, but of course, some things you just need to be in the room to see.

Dream source for stuff: If money wasn’t an option? For office furniture, anything from the Herman Miller catalog. For tech gear a shopping spree at B&H. For pens and drafting pencils I love JetPens.

Enter Nick Keppol’s Office Tour

By Anthony Nguyen

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I’ve worked from home for almost five years and have called home both Los Angeles and, now, the Midwest. I currently live in Fort Wayne, IN in a house I’m renovating with my husband.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? For my home office, I really just wanted a casual environment in which I was surrounded by things I love. One important part of our office is our bench seating for guests and/or our dogs. Our pups are a huge part of our lives and I love watching them nap throughout the day.

In terms of obstacles, I have dozens and dozens of paintings and mixed media pieces I love to display. Rather than create an expensive framed gallery wall, my husband and I crafted an art shelf to hold our favorite pieces. It’s a much more affordable solution and I love that the shelf means each piece can be displayed temporarily and switched out every few months.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? My style changes super often, but I’d say it’s currently best described as casual and eclectic with a fairly Swedish slant. I’m a huge fan of creating spaces that inspire, yet calm the mind.

How do you keep your work space organized? Hidden storage! I keep a giant credenza (pictured below) for mailing supplies, stationery and miscellaneous paperwork. For open storage, I like to keep wire baskets, ball jars and vintage bowls to hold magazines and miscellaneous office supplies.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? I’ve been craving a Uten.silo (white!) for nearly a year now. Organized chaos is my favorite form of storage. I’m also on the hunt for a tall industrial storage cart to display my collection of design books. Right now they’re gathering dust in our credenza!

What desk accessory can’t you do without? My desktop calendar! I use Google Calendar most of the time, but I like having a desktop calendar for travel arrangements. I have eight speaking engagements in the next five weeks, so it’s important I stay on top of my dates both in print and online.

What would you change about your work space? Nothing at all; it’s completely perfect for me. I’ve even installed a paper towel holder underneath my desktop for frequent desktop lunch spills!

What inspires you? Art, weather, wise women, history and success stories. Coffee’s pretty high up there, as well.

Meg’s set up is perfect for Lifework so I will share a few images with you here but for the full story you’ll have to head over to the site. (Yes, that is a pale blue Eames Molded Plastic Armchair with a wood dowel base). Besides running Studio Sweet Studio Meg is also a web/graphic designer and blogger at Apartment Therapy.  She shares the workspace with her domestic partner designer Brad Evans (pictured below).

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I have worked from home since I started on my path as a designer in 2003. I moved to Berlin with my husband in 2005 and we started working from home together.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? I like my rooms to be like a white canvas. One can quickly spot items and easily change the look of the room. So I guess my style is minimal, but with cables and stuff cluttered over it.

How do you keep your work space organized? It’s a big challenge for me to keep my work station tidy, but it helps to have more storage than items. I think about how I can improve the space all the time. We rethink and rearrange our things when there’s a bunch of new items in the office that can’t be categorized. We put everything back at its place every morning before we start working.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? We work a lot, and spend most of our time in the office, so we picked the largest and brightest room in the apartment to work. We wanted to be able to do more than just work on the computers. I’m drawing and sewing at times. My husband plays around with electronics and makes music. We got a big apartment so we would have separate rooms for work and hobbies, but we ended up moving everything into the office. We also needed space for more people to sit and work here, since some of our friends who come to visit are like us, and have to work even when they’re on vacation. We’re currently three working people, a baby and two cats sharing this space. We had to make it comfortable for everyone. There are plenty of sleeping spots for the cats, and the baby has the whole floor as a playground. We can fit up to 10 people around the table.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? I’d like to have a Kast shelf, a small couch and a new cat tree.

What desk accessory can’t you do without? My Acrylic Partition Desk Tidy from Muji.

What would you change about your work space? We’re planning to move to another apartment about this time next year. We’ll get an open space plan and integrate the office with the living area. We can’t do that here without tearing down walls. I’d like to have a couch, more storage, a bigger plotter, swap the IKEA furniture for bigger and sturdier stuff.

What inspires you? Architecture, photography, adds, tv-shows, movies, blogs and magazines. I love reading about people and their love affairs with their homes.

Tell us about the kind of work you do. How long have you worked from home? And where is home? Currently, I am a collector of stories, ideas, books and typography materials and I write about each for my online design blog, Letterology. I also teach part-time for one of the most rigorous and impressive graphic design programs in the Northwest, at Seattle Central Community College. A great deal of my time is spent working at my home in Seattle, Washington—where I can carve out various spaces for my different disciplines—preparing lesson plans, writing, researching and photographing materials for class and Letterology. With the exception of 4 years working in the design industry in Los Angeles in the 80s, I have spent much of my career as a graphic designer and illustrator in Seattle. Before LA, I shared office space in downtown Seattle with fellow designers, and then returned to Seattle and have continually worked from home since 1988 which must make me about 110 years old now.

Describe your style and how it relates to the space you work in and also the work you produce. I work in so many mediums, it is hard to describe a style. My fine art, might involve printmaking, photography, colored pencil work, paper sculpture, book arts, digital or a combination of any of these. My design work may begin with research, thumbnails drawings and hours at the computer, so I tend to run all over the house. I would say the single-most important element in all of my design work is the typography. This ingredient has to fit with the era I am trying to evoke so I research extensively and fiddle with the typography until I’m satisfied, just like most designers. I have a fairly good resource library of design materials and books I’ve been collecting for years and it is nice to have them in one place where they are accessible for the most part. I wish they were all in one room, but that isn’t going to happen. At least they are under the same roof and I’m not running between office and home.

I find the most difficult thing about working from home is balancing the work part from the living part. I love what I do, but it consumes much of my life right now. I try to take breaks to either go for a daily walk or a run or meet up with friends when I can. Some of my work is self-imposed, but the teaching consumes a tremendous amount of time. When I’m not teaching there is new software to learn, and maintenance to be performed. It’s a constant task having to be your own IT person too—or MT—a misinformation technologist in my case.

With exception of an occasional logo assignment and personal work, I have essentially chosen to take a reprieve from my artwork this past year. I’m not happy about it, but I will return to it eventually. As an experiment last October I decided to try and add at least one post a day to Letterology, and with a few exceptions, I have kept to this schedule. I can’t say how long it will continue at this pace, but I have been enjoying the process and have learned a tremendous amount about the work of so many other great designers and artists. It has been a real education on many levels.

How do you keep your work space organized? I keep a small studio office in one room for performing actual artwork; my dining room has been transformed into my production room with two printers, a scanner, copier, an iMac server, bookcases and a make-shift photo studio. These days I do all of my writing on my laptop at the kitchen table as it has the best sound system and lighting in the house. Essentially, most of my house has been transformed into an office. Organization is a continual struggle because of lack of space. I keep nicely labeled binders of ephemera and an endless file system so I can retrieve information easily and I was very fortunate to acquire a ridiculous abundance of nice wooden flat files many years ago which has been a tremendous asset for storing art papers and materials. Some people have good shoe karma. I seem to have good flat file karma.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? Since 1988, my husband and I have been living in a nice old 1913 two-and-a-half-story house overlooking a wooded ravine. It is a very rustic setting, but consequently it is dark and the electrics are not entirely upgraded yet. I can never get enough good lighting. With the exception of the living room, all the rooms are rather small, so this is why I’ve had to migrate into other parts of the house. My husband Paul, has been very gracious about my large footprint, but I am seriously considering moving my entire office into the living room now so we can reclaim the other rooms as living space again. It think it could be a fun alternative.

What desk accessory can’t you do without? I’d have to say my pink celluloid Apsco “Midget” pencil sharpener. It’s useful and the pink plastic just makes me smile.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? Two beautiful custom fir bookcases with glass doors—long and low, to fit on either side of my desk where I can put my old typewriters on top of each. A better work stool would be nice too. I have a nice old wooden one from the early 1900s which a neighbor of mine restored, but it is not that durable. Built for looks, but not for function.

What would you change about your work space? Certainly the lighting, but I am in great need of more storage as well. Because I work in so many disciplines, I have acquired a lot of tools, equipment and materials. I need most of these items accessible, but I’d like more shelving and cabinets to store them. It is my biggest organizational quandary right now.

What inspires you? Skilled craftsmanship for one. No matter what it may be—if it is well-made, well-drawn, well-printed, well-written, or well-designed from the heart—it shows. I’m inspired by so many things, but foremost, by nicely designed and printed books—old and new; well-crafted typography; mid-century pattern design; the artwork of British artists Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden; the photography of Karl Blossfeldt; snow and ice formations; decorative hand-lettering; the packaging of dimestore toys made in Japan from the 50s and 60s; so many book designers and illustrators; my students; visual information display; animation; old office supplies; the colors of moss after a fresh rain (a Northwest thing); an alpine hike; and music. I cannot imagine working without good music.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I finally took the leap and began working from home in January after ten years of working as a graphic designer in several ad agencies and design firms, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made! Home is Orlando, Florida, where I live with my wife and dogs, making prints and writing my blog, The Best Part.

2. Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? My aesthetic is utilitarian/minimal. After working in cubicles and other ineffective work environments, I’m primarily concerned with utilizing the space I have (13′x13′) to make every aspect of my workspace as functional as possible. Since my time is split between writing my blog, creating prints and fulfilling orders my space has to serve several purposes at once as an office/studio/warehouse.

How do you keep your work space organized? Tons of shelving and closet space helps keep the potential mess from creeping out, and a touch of minimalist compulsion keeps me on top of things. God forbid my pens aren’t perfectly aligned.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? Like I mentioned, my space has to serve several functions in a fairly small area. Everything was set up to make it easy to switch from working on the computer to working by hand, and even to packaging and shipping orders. The top of the metal cabinet where I store my finished prints doubles as a workspace for drawing, cutting and creating things by hand as well as a flat surface for packaging orders. My computer desk also has plenty of free space when needed to work by hand, and shipping materials are always within reach on open-air shelving above my desk.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? Actually I think I’m pretty well set up at the moment, if anything I would add a small chair for visiting guests, perhaps an Eames molded plastic or plywood side chair?

What desk accessory can’t you do without? Music is a necessity for me, and it’s pretty amazing to have a record player on my desk, especially when listening to anything created before 1980. It just doesn’t seem right to listen to Otis Redding on a computer. My Aeron chair was also one of the first things I purchased for my home office, you don’t realize how amazing it is to have one until you’ve spent a day sitting in a cheap office chair.

What would you change about your work space? I love our wood floors, but in a perfect world I would have concrete flooring with a drain and a shop sink. Although something tells me that may affect the resale value of our home.

What inspires you? Wow. So many things. Road trips. Empty airports. Foggy mornings. Late-night walks. Quaint country towns. New places. Radiohead/old soul music. Basically anywhere I can be alone in an amazing setting with some good music is my perfect setting for creation.

What kind of work do you do and how much of it happens at home? And where is home? There was a time when I could easily describe myself as an interaction designer, and I still do that a lot. But I recently got into creating physical products so I think maker of things probably suits what I do a lot more. For me interaction in its widest sense is the commonality running through all the work – whether that’s an interface that encourages curious exploration such as doodlebuzz.com, the data visualisation of Cinema Redux or the packaging design on MoviePeg, the objects, if we can call them objects, have to illicit some form of emotional response from you. I’d like to think that I design objects that have the capacity to be loved.
Home is where a lot of the initial prototypes and thinking takes place. My office is more of a hackerspace come laboratory; a place where I can concentrate free from distraction or the noise of the everyday. All my personal projects were made in this space and even things like MoviePeg was first realised at home. I’d had this idea for a super simple iPhone stand after getting home late one night from London. I still have the cardboard version I made that night.

Home itself is a place called Southport, a Victorian seaside town on the north-west coast of England. I live in a Victorian town, in a Victorian house, go to work on infrastructure put in place by the Victorians and work in a building built by the Victorians, in Manchester the birthplace of the industrial revolution! They were pretty clever those Victorians and it’s amazing how much we still relay and use the things they invented. Yet with work as with everything else, things are changing – no longer does the “go to a place of work to do some work” model really work. I can’t say though I’m a big fan of total home working. I think it works for some people, but for me I have to have that social interaction that with a team of people. As someone who practices interaction design surely the best thing I can do is actually interact with other human beings?

Describe your style and how it influences the work you do and the space you work in. Random, eclectic, non-linear. I get bored quite easily so I’m always looking for new things to play with, to tear apart and to put together in new ways. So the space that I work in is a kind of extension to that. I’d love to say it was this modernist utopia of simple clean lines that is a completely considered space but it wouldn’t be the truth. Instead it’s a jumble of an old generic office desk, a Danish chair from Ebay, shelves from Ikea, and a horrible cheap shelving filled with industrial plastic bins brimming with curious electronic parts and objects that may or may not appear in a future project. One day I will start all over and build my dream space. Until then the space kind of works.

How do you keep your work space organized? I try and keep surfaces clean and clutter free as possible, and I try and keep things in compartments on the actual shelves. There’s no system as such but I can tell you where anything is at any time because the objects themselves have almost become part of the furniture. I also used to have something like eight hard drives, all stacked up on my desk, all with separate power and it was a nightmare to find files. I simplified all of them down to one hard drive – a Drobo; now it’s much simpler and, of course, uses less power. Plus it has very sexy blue lights on the front!

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? Nothing springs to mind.

What is your favorite piece of workspace furniture? I think the chair I use at home. My wife Lisa found it on Ebay a few years ago and whilst I haven’t a clue who made it I do know it’s Danish – which fits well with the 60’s Bang & Olufsen hifi I bought from Ebay. I love the size of it – it’s huge – and the leather and wood, but most of all the reason I love it so much is because of what Lisa went through to find a chair she knew I would like, spending days on Ebay to get the right kind of thing. It’s an object that is impregnated with a story and means so much more to me because of that.

What desk accessory can’t you do without? The Kum Long Point pencil sharpener is a thing of wonder. I own three of them; one at home, one in my bag and one at work. Having tried various pencil sharpeners over the years, and being a bit of a pencil geek, this thing was a revelation; a beautiful piece of design that does it’s job really well, like all good design should.

What would you change about your work space? Storage. Infinite storage shelves that could constantly expand, like some kind of shelf based hard drive for my things. Think I might need to work with a particle physicist to make that one happen though. But I can dream.

What inspires you? Right now the proliferation of personal 3D printers such as the Thing-O-Matic from Makerbot. I have this machine on my desk, I design something on the computer, press a button and kapow! There is the object that a few minutes ago was just pixels on a screen now being held in my hand. The possibilities of such things completely blow my mind; imagine a future were you can jump on the web, buy and download an object it and have it print out in front of you – no postage, no fulfillment, no packaging just delivered to you instantly. I’ve even designed and printed my own modular desk tidy system for my pencils that I use everyday. Why buy one when I can design one that was perfect for my needs and print it out? Of course it makes duplication and piracy really easy, in fact I know that our MoviePeg product already exists in a copied form on a 3D printing site. But those are things we’ll just need to work out as we move forward with this incredible technology. But here’s the thing – only a short while ago personal 3D printers were a pipe-dream, yet here we are today and I have one sat on my desk, at home. Who knows what will come about, next year, next week, tomorrow.

Julia Pott is a freelance illustrator and animator with a penchant for creatures – all sorts of wonderful creatures. Her whimsical work graces not just posters, CD covers and magazines, it also appears on a line of totes and t-shirts. We caught up with Julia in her Hackney flat and studio.

How long have you worked from home? I have been working from home since I graduated from Kingston in 2007. Home changes a lot though. At the moment I work from my house in Hackney but I have had a few homely work places in London and New York.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? I like to work mainly with mildly ridiculous anthropomorphic animals and their awkward relationships. I use them as a way of working out my own experiences with loved ones and enemies.

How do you keep your work space organized? Every few weeks or so I go a bit crazy with how many pencil sharpenings and pieces of random paper are accumulating all over the place and I have a huge reorganization. I have a few items on my desk that work both functionally and aesthetically, like pretty mugs for pens and tiny painted suitcases for receipts and staples. That way everything is hidden away but still accesible.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? I need to have a light box handy as I work as both an animator and illustrator so I managed to get a great desk from Ikea which has a built in light box which is a great space saver. As I also run an online shop out of my home studio I have a lot of storage for t-shirts, tote bags and prints, and try and make them as unobtrusive as possible.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? As I’m becoming a bit of a slouchy old lady I really want one of those desk chairs that you sort of kneel on to help keep your back straight. They’re oddly expensive though!

What desk accessory can’t you do without? My giant mug of pens. I also just bought a huge wall planner from Crispin Finn which I love. It makes me feel very smugly organized.

What would you change about your work space? I think I would love to add an extra desk to keep my sewing machine and cutting board on. I would also love to have a desktop computer to work from instead of my laptop. As I am moving to New York next October I’ve been trying not to ‘nest’ too much in London and have forbidden myself from buying too much artwork or desk accessories. I know I want my New York studio to have wood floor and a lot of natural light through big windows. I want to have lots of art on the walls and antiques and trinkets around the studio for inspiration.

What inspires you? It changes from month to month. At the moment I love Pendleton patterns, Native American prints, landscape photography, Priit Parn’s animations and Looney Tunes. I find myself drawing a lot of elephants, wild boars and yeti’s at the moment too.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I live and work in the lovely city of Chicago. I grew up here and am not quite sure I’ll ever leave. Some might say that’s unadventurous, but truly this city has so much to offer. I’ve worked from home to some degree ever since college. I’ve dabbled in the world of freelancing before where my home office served as my full time location for work, but now it’s a place I spend my evenings working on my personal side projects.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? My style is chaos. What you see is probably the cleanest my desk has been in months (thanks a lot for making me have to clean…). I like lots of screens, and lots of items on my desk to both distract and inspire me. In a perfect world, I’d have a few more monitors, and a much more comfortable chair. I’ve been holding out for a SAYL actually, and I think I’ll be pulling the trigger soon.

How do you keep your work space organized? I try to maintain organization by recycling, or in rare cases disposing of, items I don’t need. Some people tend to hold onto things in fear that they’ll realize later they needed them. I on the other hand like to live dangerously and play Russian roulette with my document saving decisions.

When you set up your home office what did you have to keep in mind? Were there any particular obstacles to overcome? The space I had to work with was rather small. My office is part of my living room space and I didn’t want it to overwhelm the space overall. I ended up buying a simple IKEA desk which was large enough to house my computers and also give me enough space for writing and drawing off to the side. I do have a small drawer that’s part of my work space, but I rarely use. I find that having more storage, also means unnecessary accumulation.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet right now? My first job didn’t pay well, but it did mean I got to sit in a Herman Miller Aeron chair. Ever since then, I’ve missed it.

What desk accessory can’t you do without? Part desk accessory, part peripheral, I couldn’t live without my Wacom Bamboo tablet. Sometimes I just can’t express myself words and I feel the need to doodle. The electronic pen/tablet has been an excellent, low-cost creative tool (one of Len’s sketches for GOOD‘s create a doodle project).

What would you change about your work space? I do enjoy being able to watch television (Purdue Basketball and Bears Football) while I’m cranking out some work. In a perfect world, my apartment would be laid out in a way that would allow me to be in the direct line of site of my television OR I suppose an elaborate system of mirrors could accomplish the same thing. In the meantime, I do on occasion move my “workspace” over to my couch.

What inspires you? I’ve always been driven to create things that I can go out into the world and see. Whether it’s writing, advertising, art, or other projects, the process of making something and seeing other’s reaction to it (good or bad) has inspired me to continue that behavior.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? We have worked from our home in West London for the last 15 years and I think it has worked really well because we have always had separate offices – probably we would have driven each other mad otherwise. Working from home has its pros and cons, but definitely one of the greatest advantages is being on hand if you have children…it was great when our daughters were small as we could fit work around them rather than the other way round.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? Our look is definitely eclectic – a mix of contemporary office furnishings with “furniture classics” from the 50s, 60s and 70s….Charles Eames, Pierre Paulin, Vico Magistretti, Charles Pollock. We think it is really important to work in a pleasant space so we try to make our workspaces as un-officey as possible by having art on the walls and lots of interesting objects from our personal design study collection.

How do you keep your home office organized? Peter manages to keep a pretty tidy office, but unfortunately my desk is a mess of stacked paper as is my computer desktop….when it gets too bad I have to have a ruthless spring clean….which is very therapeutic.

When you put together your home office what did you keep in mind? It was important for us to create workspaces that had lots of book shelves and filing capacity, but also we made the conscious decision not to use desks or office chairs that looked too corporate.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet? An antique plan chest would actually be a really useful piece of furniture for us, but unfortunately we don’t have the room to accommodate one!

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? Our Folle stapler it is just a beautiful yet functional object, Fiskars scissors are pretty great too…

What would you change about your own workspace? More space for more book shelves!

What do you most love about your space? Looking out through the window into the jungle-like garden which is planted with enormous palm trees.

What inspires you? We love the research that lies behind our books, especially when we make historical discoveries and, of course, working with other creative people such as the authors, editors and graphic designers is also highly inspiring.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I started working from a home office in the Summer 2007 when I began full-time work on Selectism.com (a men’s lifestyle and fashion blog) and consult work. My workspace was inside a loft which was directly across the street from Boston’s Fenway Park. 88 to 90 days out of the year, ball park traffic – both human and vehicle – ruled. In 2009, I moved outside of Harvard Square on the Cambridge side of the Charles River for a bit of relief. I haven’t left yet.

Describe your style? My style is pretty simple. I prefer a very clean workspace which holds only the essentials. My desk and desktop are as bare as I can keep them, which can be a struggle at times.

How do you keep your office organized? I’m thinking here of the physical space but also your computer. Are there any particular programs you find really useful? At the end of each day, I do my best to reorganize it back into order. There is something about bringing my workspace back to order which actually keeps me focused when I sit down first thing in the morning. It is a bit habitual. Many friends tell me that workspace clutter is how they manage their day. I’m just not one of those people. I have to be organized (on both desktops) to stay focused. I also rely heavily on email filters and labels for both task management and assignment. I use Simplenote for lists but plan on moving to something more robust like Things sooner rather than later.

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? Well to be honest, the space I am in on this side of the Charles was initially supposed to be temporary. For this reason, most of office is still in storage. Everything from books, music, ephemera, and artwork are packed away. As I need a reference piece, I’ll dig through the boxes and take only what I need, which keeps the room pretty bare – in a positive way. There are lessons learned from this office which I’ll take with me to my next space. Natural light was the most important requirement. In the loft, I only had light during the early morning. Today light flows from two sides of the room, but both indirect rather than coming from windows directly in front of my desk. Also, a desk under-mounted USB hub makes plugging in devices fast and easy. I highly recommend diy’ing your own.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you particularly enjoy? I’ve had a Herman Miller Aeron chair for over 10 years now. It has been the one constant in my workspace since 1999 when I purchased it. While other parts of my workspace turn over often (think swapping iMacs every 16 months), the Aeron has always remained. Every three months or so, I work out of our Berlin office for a few weeks and their chairs are difficult. I miss the comfort of the Aeron immediately.

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? The (massive) custom amplifier on my desk. I plug a pair of Sennheiser 595 headphones into it. That’s the amplifier’s only function – a headphone amp. It serves its single purpose role better than most devices on my desk.

What would you change about your own workspace? Maybe a bigger desk and some shelving so I can pull the books and magazines out of storage.

What do you most love about your space? Being able to look outside my windows and see green grass and sunlight.

What inspires you? Music inspires me every day as does the “hand made” movement which you can find at craft fairs like Renegade. It is inspiring to see what work people develop in this area – from printing, to accessories. It is incredibly impressive.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I am in insect artist making traditional and non-traditional insect and natural history displays.  I have worked in my current San Francisco studio for the last 2 years, and the “Bug Room” resides in an old 2-bedroom apartment built a year after the 1906 earthquake.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? A Cabinet of Curiosities meets modern museum.  I love mixing and linking detailed cultural objects (money, maps and stamps) with natural history.   An aesthetic I am fond of is apothecary and industrial looks – I am fascinated with scientific and industrial instruments.

As someone with multiple clients how do you keep your office organized? I’m thinking here of the physical space but also your computer. Are there any particular programs you find really useful? My studio is divided into two areas, with lots of crossover.  One side is a standing workbench where I design and assemble shadowbox displays and also ship items. The other side of the studio has a large glass desk where I prepare insects for display, send emails and perform clerical duties on my computer.  Everything else – supplies, inventory and inspiration – fill the walls from floor to ceiling on various shelving systems. One program I have found very useful, which helps my distaste of loose papers, is Neat Receipts, a scanner and software that files my receipts and documents on my computer.  Another system that has saved some of my sanity, and helped me organize my day and workspace, is the book called “Getting Things Done”.

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? With such a limited space it has to be well organized and open in the middle because I do a lot of moving around.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you wish you had? More insect drawers to store prepared insects.  More storage in general would help.

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? Drawers! Little ones, medium ones, and big ones. Preferably labeled.

What would you change about your own workspace? More space and a new spot for my electronic drum kit that is the last dusty reminder of when I had extra time.

What do you most love about your space? It gets lots of morning sun and is quiet.

What inspires you? The amazing diversity of shapes, patterns and colors of the natural world.  Everyday you can see something new if you look hard enough.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I’m a designer, full-time mommy and maker. I love taking photographs, love playing and making music. I live in New Jersey, in a small town very close to Manhattan, with my wonderful husband and two beautiful kids. I used work as graphic designer until I concieved my first child back in 2007. I decided to stay home and it all started from there. STORYBYMIA was launched. I’ve been working with papers at home and I still enjoy it so much.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? I love everything simple and clean and cute and natural. Nothing complicated.

How do you keep your office organized? I work with my kids around since they aren’t in school yet, so it’s not easy to keep my office organized as you can imagine. I recently moved my office to living room and new shelving (below) from IKEA really helped. I also make sure kids have enough space so they can play and learn and make crafts with me.

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? Safety for kids. I design on my computer but my work involves with paper cutter, corner rounder, scissors…not child-friendly thingss. So I tried to have a specific spot to put everything dangerous. And I try to keep everything as neat and organized as possible since our house is tiny and kids are all over the place and I had to make sure nothing gets lost or messed.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet? More storage units. or….just bigger house!

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? Post-its and sketchbooks. I love scribbling and doodling and it helps me remember important things and also inspires me for new designs.

What would you change about your own workspace? I wish to have my ‘own’ office, of course. No kids or husband to mess around…haha but I do love their company. I just want a little bigger space or storage areas. Plus I would love to have more sunlight, it’s pretty dark in our living room even in the afternoon.

What do you most love about your space? What I most love about my home office? It has everything I love. My family and my work and  food in the refrigerator.

What inspires you? My husband and my kids. Everything they love. Animals and trees and sky and clouds and flowers.

“When we were reconfiguring my studio/office, my husband and I were talking about working on the floor as kids. I was sharing how I used to love drawing while lying on the floor and he was sharing with me how he used to draw or make little things while using the top landing step on the second floor of his house as his “table” and the 2-3 steps below him as his “chair/stool”

I also love that I can see so much of the sky, the trees, an occasional bird. It’s calming. I love the light from this west-facing window.

As for the space itself, it feels larger working closer to the ground. I notice more of my environment. Being at such a low vantage point also has inspired me to clear the clutter, to strip the book shelves to reference books, magazines,  journals, photo files, etc, that I actually pull out and draw inspiration from. It also minimizes the big rectangle computer monitor that now dominates the space. By putting the computer so low, it disappears a little from view. But I am still trying out the low work space…I don’t have the seating fully worked out. The straw cushion is comfortable, but it lacks the necessary back & lumbar support. I can’t work for long stretches on the computer…which maybe is a good thing as it gets me to get up and stretching. Often.

Location: Greenwich Village, New York

Size: 550 m2

Designed for dual use as both an art gallery and a loft living space, the undulating walls and curvilinear features of the UNstudio loft caught our attention as a dream space for anyone who collects art, books and loves the minimalist aesthetic. Our tech side appreciates the use of 18,000 LED lights illuminating the ceiling and shelving, while our favorite room is the stunning office space with flowing worktop and a city view to die for.

As noted, the look isn’t for everyone, but for those of us aspiring for a more minimalist aesthetic, there’s a lot to admire about the space. Most notably the interior architecture itself “framing” all the decorative, art and printed elements into the forefront. Also, we’re envious of the LED lighting system, which can be programmed to change to various degrees of warmth or cool, depending upon the time of day and weather. We like the idea of integrated interior architecture light therapy! And of course, we always love any space where we can’t find a cord or cable in sight.

Photos by UNStudio

Story by Gregory Han.

How long have you worked from home? I’ve been working from home on and off since college. As an artist, home life, art work and work are often combined. And where is home? Years ago, home was a great studio apartment in a neighborhood in Berkeley where great things were happening, revolutions in food, coffee, thinking and creativity. Three moves and thirty plus years later, home is in Berkeley again, this time on three acres in the hills above what is now known as the “Gourmet Ghetto” – and next to the University of California, Berkeley.

In the 1970’s I was doing research and managing large projects for some of the most creative designers, artists and filmmakers – one great project was “Creativity – the Human Resource” where I got to meet and work with the top contemporary Americans who’d made major contributions in the arts and science to tell their stories; in 2010 I’m working with my husband and partner Michael Patrick Cronan to combine those same research skills with years of experience in creating businesses and working with clients to develop brands and identities for amazing companies and products and effectively tell their stories. We also have a private label product development and manufacturing company — we created the award-winning clothing line called Walking Man.

Describe your style? My personal style is wabi-sabi – I like elegance and simplicity but warmed by nature and use.

How would you define your aesthetic? Our friend Leonard Koren — coiner of the expression and author of the book Wabi-Sabi– just wrote a new book — Which ‘Aesthetics’ Do You Mean? Ten Definitions. I would say mine is warm, human, influenced by nature and experience.

As someone with multiple clients how do you keep your office organized? My best organizer is my Herman Miller Burdick Desk. My client for the “Creativity” project was the Burdick Group in San Francisco; while we were creating the “Creativity” exhibit, one of the teams there was working on this design for Herman Miller. Bruce Burdick described them as “workbenches for executives.”

When George Nelson came to visit – he called it “the wave of the future”. It’s a big, open rectangular work surface with smaller rectangles attached to two aluminum beams, and a beautiful round glass tabletop. I can totally switch from computer work to organizing to contemplating and writing by changing from the big work surface to the glass table (which has spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay) and back again. I don’t own the desk, I have it on permanent loan (very wabi-sabi) from my pal Paul Saffo, so it makes it even more inspiring to work at.

As far as organizing my computer I’m still using a PowerBook G4 as my main computer – I can run some old Classic programs on it. My family teases because I have so many programs open all at one time, but I can easily switch from one task to another. Best is my big screen Apple monitor(s) that’s attached to the PowerBook, I can have multiple programs in view and use all the time.

Are there any particular programs you find really useful? I love an old program called “InControl” – one of our production managers years old got me started on it – I use it both for calendaring and for collecting notes on my research, inspirations and ideas. I haven’t found anything like it. I use several search engines, it’s hard for some people to imagine, but much of the day-to-day information from years BEFORE the search engines is not available – books and libraries and people are still important resources for finding information.

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? My main desk actually faces true north, according to my iPhone compass – pretty cool. I have places for people to sit with me, places to work on my own, and space to store most of the research I accumulate working on projects. We have a huge library, it’s spread all over the house.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you wish you had? I wish I had…. Hmmm??? I’d like a TiVo remote for my life… When Michael named it years ago, who knew you could pause live television? I’d like to be able to pause and/or replay moments, plus have TiVo gather all my favorites for my viewing pleasure. It’s still possible!

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? A little keyboard stand that our son Shawn HibmaCronan, a sculptor, created for himself and loaned (I guess it’s on permanent loan, too) to me. It lifts my computer keyboard up to just the right height for work. I also have two Ron Rezek Orbis lamps, they give just the right pools of light for each big work surface and don’t take up visual space.

What would you change about your own workspace? I need more storage space – I like to put things away when I’m not working on them, but have them near me for quick results. I’m probably going to work to go more paperless – that would be a big step and save on the clutter.

What do you most love about your space? I love the view, I love being with my family and garden and that clients come to visit and feel like they’re in a special creative space.

What inspires you? My wonderful husband and partner Michael, our sons and their friends, my dad, our clients, our friends and amazing community. New projects, travel, learning about new businesses, art, music, books, great foods and wine and time with all of the above!

I’m following Alissa’s story with a look at their hillside workspace. Often when we run these stories on couples it makes sense to cover it all off in the same post. This one I will run over two days and as you read on you’ll see why. I hope you enjoy these posts as much I enjoyed putting them together.

First up is Michael Cronan. I’ll follow this with Karin Hibma’s interview on Monday.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? We have been working at home for about 6 years. We moved because the property just seemed perfect for us. We are in the Berkeley hills, a three acre place with good size house that functions well as office, working and living space.

We focus on working with new companies or new ideas in more established companies. We provide brand strategy as well as the name and visual identity for a company, product or service. The work spans from high tech to consumer foods, goods and services. We concentrate on who our clients and/or their products truly are and who/what they wish to become as our template for operation.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? Our style is relaxed, open and informal which is based on our backgrounds in fine art and our experience with highly successful entrepreneurs, presidents and CEO’s. Our aesthetic borrows from every other aesthetic. We look at culture, history and spend a lot of time trying to see “around the corner” to create strategies and tools that advance our clients’ goals. We are recovering modernists who love the modern form but recognize that design is essentially about enabling people to create better outcomes and we work to those ends, adopting the style that best conveys the message.

As someone with multiple clients how do you keep your office organized? I’m thinking here of the physical space but also your computer. Except for one of our first offices, which was a tiny 530 square feet, we have always had studios that averaged 5000 sq. ft. With this move it was time for a change and, as we have all experienced, technology has enabled us to essentially conduct the wide scope of our business from two large office/studios, one on each floor of the house. (Michael is also a painter, “Matchsticks” below is part of his 2001 Still Life series. For more work click here).

Karin works on a Burdick Desk combination set and I work on two tables, which we designed, they were part of our former conference rooms. The other two conference tables make a terrific meeting and dinner table, especially when we have large groups or get the Thanksgiving cohort of family and friends. I have two Aeron chairs at the desk and I have a Leaf Lamp on my desk that I use constantly, our oldest son Nick Cronan works with Yves Behar at fuseproject and this is a signed original (their younger son, Shawn is pictured above with Michael. Shawn is a sculptor and furniture designer. You can see his work here.)

We have always used Apple products since we worked with them long ago. I have three screens (which are not Apple) and also use my space as a painting studio as well, so an innocent visitor might think I am an artist that became a stock trader. Karin’s relies on a powerful laptop that holds everything and she plugs it into large screens in her office when she works there. I use a large Apple server and rely on my laptop to work on design and presentations when we are traveling. So we use similar tools but use them very differently.

The primary reason we can work like we do is the internet and the elegant and useful services that it holds. When a project requires, we work with an extended family of people (many of whom worked full-time for us at some point) almost completely online. They are web specialists, music folks, production experts and folks to help facilitate the work. These are folks who understand our standards and best practices and who generate fun in working together.

Are there any particular programs you find really useful? My programs are Illustrator, Photoshop, Keynote, PowerPoint, Word.

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? We wanted the office and studios to be relaxed and efficient at the same time, and as it turns out that has been a factor contributing to the growth of our business… it’s a great place to dive deep into the big picture. One of the benefits to my office/studio is the big fireplace, on cool winter (and summers in Berkeley can be cool, too) I have a big roaring fire of eucalyptus logs – great ambience, and warm! To be safe, we have redundant internet systems that help us make sure that our connectivity won’t go down and are sufficiently backed up on our computer systems, both of those lend a certain serenity. To be relaxed, and this was important to us, we wanted to have views and space around us, and to be able to be comfortable indoors and get outdoors easily. Both of our offices have big windows and doors. Being creative requires a conducive space — whatever that means to the individual creator — ours requires that “flow”.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you wish you had? I want more and bigger screens and ways to manage them. And I really need triage cord management!

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? A green teapot that forever reminds me to be mindful or else I spill tea all over my desk.

What would you change about your own workspace? I would have twenty foot ceilings!

What do you most love about your space? Our home functions as a great place to have a business, our dining room is a great conference room, the living room is a cool place to interview and entertain people. The porches and kitchen and patios give us indoor/outdoor space. It is large enough to give us an expansive mood and it even accommodates Karin’s dad, who is 93 this year, as well as his health care folks. The place feels like a summer camp in the middle of Berkeley with outstanding views in a pretty high density city. So I would say that the positive impression that our former offices communicated is achieved here as well. Our clients often choose to come and visit us whenever possible. Imagine a summer camp three minutes away from Chez Panisse.

What inspires you? It will undoubtedly sound “schmaltzy” but it is the truth. I personally have to say the single most inspirational element in my life is my partner Karin. Her insights have always help take me to new levels of thinking. Next, our kids, who are both grown and in successful design and art careers, generate much inspiration around here. Their ability to do and think amazing things is rewarding to see and it definitely keeps me on my toes. After that include almost everything including the stuff I hate. Feeling that passionate about something means that I have to investigate further and learn the source of the irritation, it can lead to some interesting insights and inspirations.

Above is ‘Chalkbox”, another painting from Michael’s 2001 Still Life series.

How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I’ve been working from home since 1995. I live in Los Angeles and I’m the founder of Boing Boing (a blog with 12 million page views a month) and the editor-in-chief of MAKE, a technology project magazine. I’m also an illustrator and a book author.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? I prefer a spare, clean style, but I am constantly fighting against clutter. I have an old steel desk, painted gray, which I really like.

How do you keep your office organized? I’m thinking here of the physical space but also your computer. Are there any particular programs you find really useful? My lifesaver is the combination of having a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500M sheet-fed scanner and the Evernote application. I scan every piece of paper that comes my way — bills, press releases, receipts, user manuals, tax papers, contracts, business cards — basically anything that’s flat and fits into the hopper. The digitized files are stored in Evernote’s cloud so I can access them anywhere — on my iPad, my iPhone, any computer. Evernote OCRs the documents so I can search for anything by keyword. These two things have gone a long way in uncluttering my life!

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? I like a bright workplace, so I chose to work next to a window.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet? I’ve always wanted an Aeron chair, and I’m getting close to treating myself to one. But even more, I’d like an Eames lounger with matching ottoman to take naps.

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? My 19-inch Mac display. It’s connected to my MacBook pro.

What would you change about your own workspace? I’d love to figure out a way to hide all the ugly cables all over the place.

What do you most love about your space? I don’t have to commute to work. It would kill me to have to drive on the LA freeways every day.

What inspires you? When I go to Maker Faire, a DIY festival that attracts 80,000 people, and I see all the incredible creations people have made in the basements and garages. I also like visiting artists’ websites every day.

As editor of Boing Boing so many interesting things come across your desk. What’s the strangest work environment you’ve come across? This capsule office by Selgas Cano (photographer by Iwan Baan) is strange and attractive!

How long have you worked from home? I’ve been working from home full time as freelance graphic designer for 3 years, I’m working mostly in the fields of institutional and culture communication in France. I am also an illustrator, which I enjoy most and I try to post a sketch as often as possible on my tumblr blog. I would love create children books now! I’ve always had a place to draw where I lived as long as I can remember.

And where is home? Our home is in Lille, in the north of France, between Paris, Brussels, London and Amsterdam. I really enjoy living in one of Europe’s cross roads. We bought our house 2 years ago from one of my partner’s former architecture teachers. I like the idea that the place where I spend most of my days has been a home office for a long time.

Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? The house was built in 1930, we are furnishing it slowly with furniture found in jumble sales or vintage stores from the 30′s to the 50′s. The home office is the place where I feel free to stick any pictures I love anywhere on the walls just because I want to be able to see them all the time (and take it away when I’ve had enough of it). It is full of tins, old books and toys I find everywhere.

How do you keep your office organized? I’m thinking here of the physical space but also your computer. I organize myself with a pen and a paper – everything starts in my big blue notepad (they are always the same, I only change the colors of cover when I buy a new one). All my lifework is in there. I once threw one away by mistake, and had to have a look in the street paper recycling bin to find it… my neighbors thought I’d gone mad that day. When my notepad’s closed my workday is finished. Also shelves! Plenty of them –  so that books, magazines etc. can stand vertically, instead of horizontally in piles. Filling the shelves with the books I love when moving in, it is always a great pleasure.

Are there any particular programs you find really useful? I use Skype everyday, it changed my way of working in team with other freelance graphic designers, they became kind of colleagues in a way!

When you were setting up your home office what did you keep in mind? When we moved into this house the ground floor walls, where I work now, were already covered with bookshelves which was ideal, and the former landlord had given us a beautiful old “double desk”. We just had to refresh the white paint, sit down, and work. We added a big old workshop table where I like to draw because it is far from the computer and a big “cat-approved” sofa to make the place warm and comfortable, friends are always welcome to sit down and have a drink and a biscuit.

Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet? Honestly not really…  I might need to find a place on the walls for a proper inspiration board to avoid flyers, articles and post cards everywhere, that’s all I am thinking of for the moment.

What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? My “gigantic” screen, I miss it when working away from home on my portable computer.

What would you change about your own workspace? My workspace is a bit dark in winter, I need better lighting.

What do you most love about your space?  When the sliding glass windows are wide opened in spring and summer I feel like working outside and I love it.

What inspires you? I receive the Grain Edit newsletter every day. I love art and graphic design from the 50′s, I love the clear, simple and efficient style. I admire the way artistes use subtle and bright colors. Charley Harper is one of my favorite illustrator. I also admire japanese illustrators such as Yoshitomo Nara, for the same reasons I guess. Apart from this, I think that if you pay attention around you,  everyday life is always very inspiring.