State of My Desk

Real desks and workspaces of real creatives.

[stateofmydesk]

Rachelle, throwback desk circa 2002 and 2005.

What I’m doing: Digging through old floppy diskettes in my parents’ basement. What’s on my desk: This super meta photo is of my second desktop PC, circa 2005, displaying a photo I found on a floppy of my first desktop PC and desk, circa 2002, where I was more than likely chatting with Tajreen and making a Lord of the Rings themed layout.

[stateofmydesk]

Sinds, 3rd year law student

What I’m doing: I’m organizing out my work for the weekend before heading to the gym, then starting on my drafting assignment and adding a few slides to my presentation on boutique law firms. What’s on my desk: My contractual drafting textbook, bullet journal, water and coffee (always), and this adorable Game of Thrones mini-dragon. My three favorite prints are a photograph bought at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, one of the best quotes from Harry Potter, and Pam Beasley’s painting of Dunder Mifflin’s office building. 

[stateofmydesk]

Betsy, novelist/paralegal

What I’m doing: Editing a chapter, ignoring my laundry and listening to Hozier. What’s on my desk: Lots of paper, too many books, a neglected backup drive and a triceratops lamp.

[stateofmydesk]

Bonnie, writer/grad student. 

What I'm doing: Homework, going for a run with Dog Abby, and then writing my weekly column. What's on my desk: Computer, books for a class presentation next week, coffee. My couch-desk also has a blanket and the remote for watching Netflix while doing rote work.

[stateofmydesk]

Ryan, Audio Editor/Nerd

What I’m doing: Taking apart an old phone and not working at the moment. What’s on my desk: An extra long shoe horn. Kermit. Behringer Ms40 speakers. Mbox2. Comics. a torn apart HTC m7. Harddrive full of audio projects. A plethora of useless convention badges.

[stateofmydesk]

Rachelle, designer/developer/photographer/actor (home desk)

What I’m doing: Working from home. What’s on my desk: I usually sit on my bed with my laptop, but sometimes use my mac mini for watching television or if I feel like sitting in a chair. My desk is actually my great-grandmother’s dressing table, which puts it at almost 100 years old. Also on my desk are my Canon Rebel t2i and Wacom Bamboo. Earlier this year, I purged my corkboard of old ephemera and began restocking with recent memories and inspiration.

[stateofmydesk]

Rachelle, UI/UX designer/developer (office desk)

What I’m doing: UI wireframes for an EdTech application. What’s on my desk: Iterations of OmniGraffle printouts. Art history books, design books, and a random Economics book I stole from the office bookshelf because of its awesome 70s design. An empty fishbowl with origami stars. A typography design that says “If you dream big enough, anything can come true. Just kidding, get back to work.”

[stateofmydesk]

Jean, writer/copywriter/word lady.

What I’m doing: Writing radio spots for our new science fiction exhibit and proofing plasmas for the opening party. What’s on my desk: Old granola bars. An almost-gone bottle of hand sanitizer. Three kinds of vitamins. Three calendars, one personal. Old museum event programs. An abundance of red sharpies. Various references to space travel. Bubble wrap I’m weirdly attached to and haven’t thrown away yet. 

[stateofmydesk]

Reen, filmmaker/photographer/designer.

What I’m doing: Watching Poldark, prepping for callbacks, and doing commissioned design work for someone’s short film.  What’s on my desk: Criterion Designs for inspiration. Remnants of auditions this week for my thesis film. Old ink cartridge and failed print of a script that I’m not sure why I haven’t thrown away yet. One of my boyfriend’s Magic The Gathering playmats as a mousepad.