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 note-taking desk accessory that puts a small twist to your productivity to wooden WFH accessories that declutter your desk – these ingenious desk accessories are all you need to achieve your desk setup goals!
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1. Note
Paper can be simple, and apps can be quick, but not everyone needs all the commitment that these two different note-taking methods sometimes require. There are those that just need to jot down quick notes or even draw a diagram that can be discarded before the day is over. Note, which is the most generic name ever, is pretty much a small desk whiteboard that lets you do that with efficiency, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that a bit of spice and fun to your work.
Why is it noteworthy?
The “whiteboard” twists or rather flips over, giving you twice the space to write your notes down. One side can have a dotted grid surface to help with diagrams, while the other can be plain, or they can have the same design on both sides. As with any vertical slate, you can also place sticky notes on it, in case scribbling notes down on paper is quicker for you.
What we like
- What makes Note unique is the addition of a multi-purpose vertical screen to its left side, this allows you to also have a view of the time, the calendar, and your appointments which are synced from your phone
What we dislike
- The screen doesn’t show videos, a function that some people may need for their work
2. The Tetra Puzzle
Called the Tetra Puzzle, this captivating and intriguing puzzle is a fidget toy for your hands and your brain! This 4-part puzzle joins together to create a rather mesmerizing tetrahedral mass. The aim is to separate the 4 metal pieces as swiftly and as efficiently as you can!
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tetra is a uniquely appealing desk toy that activates your manual dexterity skills, problem-solving abilities, and spatial reasoning. The 4 identical stainless steel pieces are designed to lock in only when oriented in a pre-determined pattern.
What we like
- Serves as a pretty mysterious and eye-catching objet d’art when not being used
- Enhances your ability to focus and explore your mind
What we dislike
- We would enjoy having some personalization or more color options
3. The Forest Tidy
Carved presumably from rosewood, the Forest Tidy is a set of neat containers and stands that bring a level of organization to your workspace while tying into the wooden nature of the furniture around your house.
Why is it noteworthy?
By splitting your workspace belongings into different categories, the Forest Tidy organizational kit gives you space for stationery, tech, EDC, cables, and even a dedicated stand for your monitor along with a stowaway space for your keyboard and mouse.
What we like
- The containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, tailor-made to your tabletop belongings
- There’s a dedicated phone stand that lets you dock your phone either in portrait or landscape
What we dislike
- Unfortunately, the phone stand doesn’t come with a channel for a cable pass-through, which means it won’t function as a charging stand
4. Reck_Cone
Reck_Cone is a concept design that tries to combine different products into a single artful piece. It is, of course, a headphone holder, but you might not immediately identify it as one because of its shape.
Why is it noteworthy?
Unlike typical holders, it does hang the headphones down but instead lets them wrap around the almost conical structure. In this manner, it looks like how headphones would hang around a person’s neck, giving it a more natural appearance even in that unused state.
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
5. The Mayku Accessories
The Mayku Accessories collection comprises a keyboard, a mouse, and a more traditional webcam that attaches to the top of a monitor. While their designs don’t show anything functionally new, it’s their appearance that really catches the eye.
Why is it noteworthy?
Instead of using the usual flat surfaces and sharp corners, these products use “softer,” more curved forms, like the sides and tops of the keycaps, the entire surface of the mouse, or the body of the webcam.
What we like
- The usually cold and impersonal devices look like hard candy or even soft marshmallows
What we dislike
- While the visuals are arresting, the functionality retained is the same
6. The Slope
The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is made from bent steel sheets and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.
What we like
- If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard
- Smooth and easy to use
What we dislike
- You can’t save what you were writing into the cloud nor can you digitize it if you need to save what you wrote
7. Fusion
To-do apps are a dime a dozen these days, and they exist on phones, computers, and everything in between. This allows people to make rapid changes that sync between devices, increasing their efficiency and productivity. Tapping or clicking on checkboxes, however, doesn’t exactly have the same satisfying feedback as checking it off from a list, and you might find yourself driving on autopilot, mindlessly tapping things even unintentionally. Fusion is a combination of hardware and software that tries to bring that active participation to your electronic to-do list without going back into the pen-and-paper territory.
Why is it noteworthy?
The concept is divided into two parts, with the first being the simpler and more straightforward half. This is an E-Ink display the size of a large, wide phone that displays your task list. This can be magnetically attached to a wall mount so that you can have an eye-level view of what’s on your plate. The e-Paper technology means that the screen won’t consume much power even while it’s on, making it more power-efficient and environment-friendly.
What we like
- Easy-to-use and effortless experience
What we dislike
- E-ink display means we have no option to use colors to differentiate or highlight the tasks
8. Create
Designed by Naya, Create is the kind of keyboard that will ensure you don’t need any other additional peripherals! It is highly customizable to perfectly cater to every person’s individual self-expression. It eliminates the issue of a cluttered desk, which can often occur when you constantly need to switch between different peripherals.
Why is it noteworthy?
The split keyboard with the customizable form factor and various configurable modules onboard can seamlessly fit into any workflow. Thus, it intends to become a go-to option for casual keyboard enthusiasts and serious creative professionals.
What we like
- The keyboard is split and customizable
- The creator in you can leverage the convenience of 9 degrees of freedom with the 3D navigator
What we dislike
- Some users may find Create more complex to operate than a conventional keyboard
9. The Wooden Pen Holder
There’s something almost poetic about the act of picking up a brush or a fountain pen from an inkwell, drawing your strokes, and dipping it back in to be ready for when the next inspiration strikes, a feeling that’s almost lost even with the most elaborate and extravagant pens today. Not unless you have a pen holder that brings back that atmosphere, like a block of wood that could be the most Zen pen holder to ever adorn your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
This wooden block is both unassuming and, at the same time, beautiful in its simplicity, as many minimalist products are wont to be. Made from genuine maple wood, each piece has grains and patterns that make it unique and special. Without saying explicitly, it’s an assurance that each black will be one of a kind, giving you the feeling that this pen holder was crafted just for you. Together with an equally stylish pen, this block transforms any desk into a thinker’s workbench, where the tools of the trade are just at an arm’s reach.
What we like
- The Wooden Pen Holder has a gently curving depression that can accommodate any pen with a standard size
- When you pick the pen up, you almost believe that the ink will also follow it up from an invisible well of ideas
What we dislike
- It occupies precious real estate on a bench that cannot be adjusted/reduced
10. Summy
Summy is a dedicated device designed to keep students connected while still setting up limits to how many interruptions they can do. At its most basic, the device is a voice messenger, a timer, a daily planner, and a sort of social network among friends, most likely students in the same class or level. The idea is that you only get to send short voice messages to those in your circle, at least only when they’re available.
Why is it noteworthy?
The device uses a UI made of concentric circles and icons represented by old-school monochrome 8-bit characters. Tapping on a friend’s icon allows you to send a voice message, which is more limited and less disruptive than a voice call. You can view other friends’ daily schedules, and if they’re free, you can send a “Study with Me” request so that both of you can set a synchronized timer to study for the same time period.
What we like
- Summy creates a rather playful atmosphere around the concept of studying together
- Summy can also be a fun gadget to keep tabs on their own time and maybe have a retro display on their desk to keep them entertained
What we dislike
- It can also be quite a distracting device if misused
Check out the winners of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2023 and now YOU have the opportunity to cast your vote for your favorite design and help them win!
Click here to cast your vote! (Voting is open till April 23rd 23:59 (CET)
