The Neat & the Tidy
We recently took a look at the workspaces of creative types (like Ray Eames) who find inspiration in excess, an “organized chaos” of sorts. But what about the opposite: those who flourish in a more orderly office? Get a glimpse at few desks whose occupants stay on task by staying tidy — then leave us a comment to let us know what kind of space keeps you motivated, and why.
Designer Jonathan Lo’s weekend workspace in the San Diego area finds order not only in its cleanliness, but also its color scheme. “I like to keep my workspace pretty neutral,” he explains. “It helps avoid too much visual distraction. At the same time, I can’t be in a space completely devoid of color….The house this place resides in is pretty close to the beach, so hits of blue seemed appropriate.”
The home office of Los Angeles-based mobile app developer Garrett Murray includes an especially tidy Airia desk and Mirra Chair combo.
The work of interior designer Jayne Michaels of 2Michaels (a firm she runs with twin sister Joan) is known for its spare, undecorated style — and it shows in her personal desk space in Manhattan.
Streamlined bookcases and neatly organized office accessories surround this desk and Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair pairing at Treehouse Design Partnership in Los Angeles.
The lack of extra “stuff” in graphic designer David Airey’s workspace in Northern Ireland can be explained by a lifetime of moving houses. “Since first leaving my parents’ home when I was 19, I’ve lived at about 15 different addresses,” he says. “That’ll be why there’s not a lot in my office — you tend to shed the junk each time you move.”
Designer Matt Singer’s laptop shares a few trinkets and a set of speakers with an otherwise clean-topped desk space.
Three white Eames Molded Plastic Armchairs line up all in a row at one long wood desktop at the creative agency Juliet Zulu in Portland, OR.
Photos linked to their sources. Top photo: Nick Keppols
Hey When’s HM going to get the Airia desk back?