In 2020 our lives changed completely, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed what was considered the ‘norm’, and created new norms that molded the way we lived. One of these new norms is the work-from-home culture, and it has continued well into 2022. We’ve been working from our homes for almost a year now, and although we have adapted to it, it can be quite a bore at times. I, for one, am always looking out for options and ways to spice up my work-from-home routine. And I’ve found that adding new products to my desk setup can amp my productivity immensely! The desk accessories you place on your desk are an integral part of your home office. From a desk microphone that makes it painfully clear whether you’re muted or not to an astral desk clock – here’s a collection of interesting, super functional, and productivity-enhancing desk accessories that promise to be the best work-from-home investments of 2022!
1. COMM
COMM offers a touchscreen display that shows the different functions. The main functions are as follows: sharing information, reporting, expression of emotions, mutual understanding, and idea suggestions. Your home work environment can “feel” more like a real office with this simple device designed by South Korean designed Eunjeong with Fountain Studio.
Why is it noteworthy?
You can update your computer or maybe by a more comfortable and ergonomic workspace. The goal should always be speed and efficiency when it comes to working so in the area of communication, you must find a better way how to send messages across to a different party. The COMM is a concept device that can help people communicate from home. It’s a simpler way to send and receive messages, give feedback, and deliver what needs to be done. The result is increased work efficiency, especially with the angled screen for more comfortable viewing when sitting down.
What we like
- Helps improve creativity and productivity by showing the information you need sans any distraction
- Better than a smartphone or tablet, as it eliminates the temptation to check other apps
What we dislike
- Limited compared to face-to-face communication, but still not too bad!
What do you think?
2. The Voice Bar Microphone
The Voice Bar Microphone, which is a standalone desk mic, makes it clear which state your microphone is in by showing it in a physical form. The towering peripheral has a swiveling bar in front that indicates whether it’s muted or not with its orientation. When it is horizontal and shows the mic icon, it is clear that it is listening to your voice and the sounds around you. Swing it vertically, and all bets are off.
Why is it noteworthy?
The mic requires you to actually turn the bar to mute or unmute the mic. In fact, the peripheral has a very analog bent to it. The volume control is an old-school knob you have to turn, which could have been implemented as a simple touch-sensitive panel you can swipe. It does give a more classical vibe to the device. In its muted vertical position, the voice bar even looks like an old telephone handset with its angled edges.
What we like
- Makes it clear which state your microphone is in by showing it in a physical form
- Sleek + slick form
What we dislike
- The design isn’t exactly geared towards taking advantage of acoustics the way professional mics are
3. Astral Desk Clock
Intricate clock designs never cease to amaze us with their unimaginable accurate movement and millimeter precision in component design. Combine that with a cool idea or philosophy binding generations light-years apart, and you get a niche clock design. Add to the mix a bit of auditory and visual brilliance, and the final product is an avant-garde creation any clockmaking genius would be proud of.
Why is it noteworthy?
This concept timepiece crafted by Naotou Aji encapsulates the galaxy system in its cyclical movement – represented by the spirals that zoom out like the lens of a DSLR camera. Each level of outwards spiral movement displays the current hours, minutes, and seconds respectively, in a counter-like style that can only be visible when viewed from an angle. On the adjacent side, similar spiral hugs the audio driver covered by the brass material which beams sound, and the concentric circles move to the tunes like never seen before.
What we like
The main theme of the clock is the galaxy system
It is all about experiencing the passing by of time in a visual and auditory bliss
What we dislike
The designer mentions that this clock is not about accurate timekeeping
4. The Holder Desk Lamp
How about sporting a cool desk lamp that performs double duty as a book/document holder and a magnetic pin-up board to keep all your important reminders within your peripheral view?
Why is it noteworthy?
As I explored more renders of this design it started to grow on me – thanks to its useful functionality, sans any complicated design blueprints that seem infeasible to craft in real life. The idea of this desk lamp is to extend the usability of the good old desk lamp just beyond beaming soft light onto the desk’s work area. That’s because, you won’t be using the desk light at all times, and to make better use of the accessory, a book holder and a rotating magnetic pin-up board are incorporated into the product.
What we like
- Holds all your books, journals, and important files in an organized manner
- The inside lining of the book holder section has a dotted texture to keep all the important stuff in place
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. Nominal
Named ‘Nominal’, after the term used during launch when everything is running smoothly and according to plan, this space-inspired pen takes the shape of a miniature moon-lander, in celebration of NASA and SpaceX’s renewed efforts to return to the Moon.
Why is it noteworthy?
Nominal is a space pen with a difference. It isn’t like the space pens from the 90s – now known as gel pens, that can write upside down. This pen literally embodies space, with its launcher-inspired design. Modeled after the Moon Lander that will once again hopefully put humans on our nearest cosmic neighbor, the Nominal Moon Lander pen comes with a sleek, simple design that can rest vertically on any surface.
What we like
- It weighs 66 grams, making it heavy enough to feel really great in the hand, without being too heavy to become cumbersome
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. The Quick-Access Organizer
More often than not, the reason why we lose keys, glasses, or even wallets, is because we misplace them by just placing them anywhere when we take them out of our pockets. We develop that bad habit because it sometimes takes too much work to actually drop them in proper storage, like a desk or shelf organizer, partly because the storage box itself doesn’t make it easy to use it. Having to think which item goes where can be a mental burden when it has to be done multiple times a day, and the seconds you lose opening and closing most boxes add up over time.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Quick-Access Organizer tries to smooth out by making the act of organizing your everyday carry tools as effortless as possible. The lid has sections that can fit only some kinds of objects. This makes it easier to know what to put there, so you won’t have to waste precious time making that decision every time. Pretty soon, it will be second nature to put your glasses, AirPods case, or keys in those sections, so they won’t have to end up lost in uncharted territory ever
again.
What we like
- The box’s real special talent is how that lid quickly and effortlessly swivels out of the way, revealing the spacious cavern inside
- This storage box is a minimalist beauty of contrasting and complementing elements
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. The Spotify Jukebox
While Spotify rules the roost in the audio streaming service market, there’s a compelling reason for the Stockholm-based giant to foray into its own tangible product. A jukebox or a compact audio player is a custom fit for the Spotify interface. Match that with the sublime audio quality – preferably with spatial audio software – and there’s going to be a further increase in the subscriber base in the coming years.
Why is it noteworthy?
This cool jukebox concept dubbed the Spotify Jukebox (or as I like to call it – the Juketify) carries the familiar theme of the audio streaming service’s branding. The light green and black color to be precise. To pep-up things, there is optional light green and off-white color theme as well. The gadget has a modern infusion of the curved display element and the classic radio vibe in the form of the knobs and buttons on top.
What we like
- The lyrics appear on the major portion of the screen, so you can sing the song along to satiate your karaoke cravings every now and then
- Fits perfectly on your desk!
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
8. The Hand Desk Mic
Enough pretending that your roller hairbrush is a mic when you can have a real one. But hey, the classic microphone design may be intimidating but not this Hand Desk Mic.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Hand Desk Mic is designed for fun. You can say it’s a novelty item that can make things at home or in the office more fun and exciting. It is shaped like a hairbrush with its thick head. There are horizontal slots The part where you hold the mic is where you can also find the record button and a knob for volume control and power.
What we like
- Fun to hold
- Minimal + clean design
What we dislike
- More fun than functional
9. The HMM Scissors
Our workspaces are often littered with two kinds of things. On the one hand, you have tools designed to accomplish a task. On the other hand, you have decorative items designed to please the senses. Of course, there are now stationary and desk tools that are designed to hit two birds with one stone, especially those that embrace minimalist aesthetics that fit well in almost any situation. These scissors from popular brand HMM are designed to bridge those two worlds together, offering a tool that not only creates a sense of wonder but also inspires confidence in every snip.
Why is it noteworthy?
Just as with the tools mentioned above, scissors often come in two classes. One type is clearly designed for cutting away at your problems, while another type almost looks too pretty to be used. The HMM Scissors is definitely not the latter, with an aesthetic that clearly exudes its power. The wide and flat blades are almost reminiscent of industrial tools, and its black Japanese steel body gives off an aura of strength and durability.
What we like
- Flip the scissors and hold it by the blades, and you instantly have a box cutter
- A custom-made magnet lets the scissors stand upright with its sharp tip safely hidden inside the base
What we dislike
- No complaints!
10. The Keychron Q3
Unlike your typical keyboard, however, the Keychron Q3 can almost be considered a work of art as well. That is thanks to its all-metal body, specifically 6063 aluminum that is CNC machined, anodized, sandblasted, and more. And in case you were worrying about the noise, Keychron took special care that the metal body wouldn’t make you the most unpopular person in the room.
Why is it noteworthy?
Even though there is still plenty of plastics used here, the aluminum body and the customization options make this keyboard a bit more sustainable than most of its peers. The body itself will last a long, long time and can be recycled when its end of life does arrive. But since the other parts can also easily be replaced, it will take an even longer time before it has to be retired from service in the first place.
What we like
- There’s even a physical knob that can be mapped to changing the volume to changing brush size
- The design ditches the extraneous numpad
What we dislike
- No complaints!