Whether you’re working from home, or in a corporate office, the one thing that’s pretty much consistent in both these scenarios is a desk! A desk is probably one of the most important pieces of furniture in our modern lives, only because we spend the majority of our day on it. You may be typing away to glory, munching away on a snack, or simply fidgeting with a random object – you do end up spending hours on your desk. And hence, it’s really important that your desk be neat, tidy, and uncluttered. Not only will this improve your work routine and productivity, but it will also help you maintain a clearer and more streamlined mindset. And, I’ve discovered that adding limited, quality, and innovative products to my desk setup can help me in achieving these goals! The desk accessories you place on your desk are an integral part of your home/corporate office. From a unique handcrafted stoneware lamp for your desk to a mechanical keyboard made from recyclable materials – these ingenious desk accessories are all you need to achieve your desk setup goals!
1. Altar I Mechanical Keyboard
London-based electronics startup Electronic Materials Office launched its first product made from sustainable materials. The keyboard is crafted from post-consumer waste-derived plastic and features a unibody aluminum framed peripheral with both U.S. and U.K. layouts with 78 key and 77 key layouts.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Altar I’s keycaps are also forged out of recycled polymers, thereby making it a sensible accessory that doesn’t harm Planet Earth. The accessory is designed for touch typing and can be utilized on two devices simultaneously, which is suitable for those who switch between their laptop and tablet frequently.
What we like
- Crisp and minimalist font
- Built using recyclable and earth-friendly materials
What we dislike
- No info on the pricing and availability for now
- Seems to be available only in black, no other color options
2. Everlasting All-Metal Pencil
Designed like a Wacom stylus, this everlasting metal pencil features a tip that never has to be replaced, nor does it need to be sharpened much. It allows you to focus less on the lead, and more on your precious creative process!
Why is it noteworthy?
The pencil features an octagonal shaft made of aluminum which houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.
What we like
- It utilizes metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, so it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you
What we dislike
- It doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques
3. The Echo Desk Lamp
The Echo Desk Lamp is designed by Simon Busse for the German brand Caussa. It is inspired by the shape of a tuning fork and is equipped with a rounded LED light source that can be rotated at 360-degree angles for a whole variety of lighting options.
Why is it noteworthy?
The head of the lamp can be adjusted along a two-pronged stand, allowing you to change the height of the lamp. The two-pronged stand of the lamp is quite interestingly shaped like a tuning fork.
What we like
- Features a hidden gesture control that enables users to turn the lamp on and off and dim the light via a simple hand movement
What we dislike
- Will occupy a substantial amount of space on your desk
4. The Blocco Calculator
Called the Blocco calculator, this aesthetic and functional calculator is no ordinary calculator. It perfectly merges grace and precision in a sincere and minimalistic design, that will be a visually appealing addition to your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Blocco calculator features a universal and ergonomic design that is suitable for both left-handed and right-handed users. It features an angular chamfered surface that supports quick and effortless typing and enhances visual appeal.
What we like
- Directly projects calculations onto paper further enhancing its user-friendliness
- Aesthetically and visually pleasing looks
What we dislike
- Feature a portable design, but its usage is limited as it needs a flat surface to project the equations clearly
5. Nebula Desk Lamp
COG Design Studio partnered up with lighting brand Bonakia to create the Nebula Desk Lamp, which is designed by building a basic form of lighting through repetition, transformation, and a unique combination of diverse geometric shapes.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Nebula Desk Lamp was designed by giving a subtle and formative beauty to flat shapes using three-dimensional changes in the form of direction and bending. This creates a refreshed and interesting form for a lighting design, by simply playing around with various geometric figures, and imparting them with an emotional aesthetic.
What we like
- The brightness and light of the first element contrast beautifully against the second darker element giving the impression of a nebula in space, in turn resulting in the name of the design
What we dislike
- There is no option to change/customize the design as needed
6. The Forest Tidy
The Forest Tidy is a neat and adorable set of containers that have been carved from rosewood. They bring a whole new level of organization and tidiness to your workspace while creating a connection to the wooden nature of furniture in your home.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Forest Tidy kit splits and divides your workdesk into different categories. It provides space for stationery, tech, EDC, and cables, and also has a dedicated stand for your monitor, with nifty stowaway space for your keyboard and mouse.
What we like
- The containers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, tailor-made to your tabletop belongings
- Features a dedicated phone stand that allows you to dock your phone either in portrait or landscape
What we dislike
- The phone stand doesn’t come with a channel for a cable pass-through, which means it won’t function as a charging stand
7. The Spot On Desk Lamps
The Spot On Desk Lamps are unique, colorful, and playful lamps designed to add a whimsical element to your mundane workdesk. They create an amusing and whimsical environment in the workspace they’re added to, adding a fun component to brighten up your day.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Spot On Desk Lamp features three distinctive parts that are all derived from the circle. These intriguing circular shapes give the impression that the lamp is ready to fall and roll away any second, which is, of course, simply a fun illusion, since the lamp is extremely stable and steady.
What we like
- Individually handcrafted from stoneware
- Eight interesting color options to choose from
What we dislike
- The lamp has a very rigid design, not allowing for any change in its lamp head size, its lamp stem size, etc.
8. The Reck_Cone
This concept design is called the Reck_Cone, and it merges different products into one single artful piece. It is a handy headphone holder, although it doesn’t look like one at first glance, because of its unique shape.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Reck_Cone isn’t like traditional typical holders, it hangs the headphones down and allows them to wrap around its almost conical form. It looks as if the headphones are hanging from a person’s neck, allowing it to have a more natural appearance.
What we like
- The Reck_Cone’s form is eye-catching, and even without the headphones, it displays an unusual shape that looks like a vase with a “wing” on its back
What we dislike
- The form is bulky and not effective on a small desk setup
9. Lifestyle Tool File Organizers
Called the Lifestyle Tool File Organizers, this collection of ingenious and unique organizers is a great addition to your workdesk. When they’re closed, they look like regular nondescript file binders from the outside, perfectly merging with your workspace.
Why is it noteworthy?
Once you open up the organizers, you’ll find that they have an ample amount of space to store all kinds of tools and supplies. You need to pull one out using the typical ring hole, open it up, and you can easily access and find whatever tool you need at that moment.
What we like
- The organizers are made from hard paperboard and are a sustainable solution to the evergrowing number of plastic products on your desk
What we dislike
- Keeps products hidden away from sight and stored away neatly, providing a clean and tidy setup for those who don’t like to display their items and products
10. Flash back
The Flash back is a conceptual product designed to be a digital photo frame that showcases one or more photos, from your smartphone’s gallery. The device is locked to a very specific presentation mode, unlike typical digital frames.
Why is it noteworthy?
Flash back slowly scrolls through the photos sideways, creating an interesting film reel rather than a slideshow. The curved shape of the device is a tribute to the physical medium, providing it with an old-school feel while maintaining modern functionality.
What we like
- Multifunctional design that also serves as a pen holder, with a basin for clips and small items that would otherwise litter your desk
What we dislike
- It’s a concept, not a real tangible product, so we don’t know how smoothly or efficiently it’ll work in actuality