Nestled in the eaves at the top of our house, sits
my happy studio
The walls have been curated by colourful artwork inspired by cities I’ve visited. My corkboard is full of design inspiration I’ve collected over the years and am still collecting. The low shelf along the right side of the desk has a variety of writing and painting instruments, tiny Italian packages whose patterns are delightful, and other lovely designed office supplies (a modern green stapler and timeless gold scissors). Post-it notes and to-do lists abound, nuzzled under my external monitor and pinned to my corkboard.
A wall calendar provides me with a sense of time and visual reminders I need for due dates and birthdays and meetings. Two artificial plants are constantly green because I don’t have to remember to water them. Drawers and shelves hold design books, too many coloured envelopes (which I’ll need “one day”), Pantone swatchbooks, and photographs of family. One single speaker plays whatever music I’m in the mood for, be it Regina Spektor, Counting Crows, Beastie Boys, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Gerry Cinnamon, Vampire Weekend, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Sting or a thousand other musicians I love.
Some of the favourites
on my desk
-
My favourite brand, from the German Leuchtturm1917
-
The colour-selecting tool that I cannot live without, especially when it comes to real, printed products.
-
Hair goes down. Hair goes up. There are always at least one of these on my desk.
-
I start each week writing down what I need to do for the next 5 work days and this is where it gets written.
-
I don’t wear them all the time, but I like to have them handy.
-
They cut as well as they look.
-
Always black ink, never blue.
-
Love a little tin or a tiny box with some great typestyling and illustrative detail.
on the studio speakers
Music is such an integral part to my design process to the point that I soundtrack what I’m designing. Want to take a listen to what has been on my speakers these days? Take a listen here.