You know this familiar situation: every time you visit an office, you are curious to see how creative folks and artists actually work; how your dream job’s desktop would look like… Creative inspirations cluttered all over or structured order of mind on a neat desktop? Out of curiosity, we randomly sent an e-mail to people we’ve interviewed before, to friends and others asking, “Can I see your desk?” Guess how many we have received! Interestingly, most answers arrived from United Kingdom and Japan. In honour of UK-JAPAN 2008, the British year in Japan, we hereby hold the Japan vs. UK: PingMag’s Desk Project! Let’s peep at various desks of Brits and Japanese working in the creative industry.
Written by Chiemi
Translated by Junko
A graphic designer’s desk: fashionable and beautiful!
When we hear a designer or an art director’s desk, we naturally imagine fashionable, beautifully designed desk. London-based Pete Hellicar has a bright yellow desk, which his friend found in New York and was shipped to London. He says that he’s borrowed it and has been so happy to be able to use such a wonderful desk! Here is a message from Pete, “Thanks Sara x!”
Japanese graphic designer, Tsuyoshi Kusano, has sent us a beautiful photo, saying “unfortunately (?) it’s been too clean lately.” Oh yes, it does look like a photo from image bank:
The desk of art director Pete Hellicar. The skateboard and picture on the wall were made by his friends, Simon True and Pete Fowler.
Tsuyoshi Kusano’s well-organised desk. You can see its “messy” version from the past over at Flickr.
Nearly two years ago, we introduced you already to London-based graphic designer duo Hudson-Powell. Now, they use a desk together! The stuff on the shelf looks pretty interesting but their answer to our question, “What is special about your desk?” was “The light and people we share it with.” Nice comment!
Matt Pyke from Universal Everything based in Sheffield, UK, is a former member of The Designers Republic. This innovative creator uses a beautiful desk - makes you feel like you are in a model apartment…!
Another former member of The Designers Republic, David Bailey of Kiosk, uses a white desk with funky yellow and blue coloured pop chairs. A nice accent to the pure white of the desk!
British Airside does loads of fun stuff. Their studio manager Emma feels that ‘she is important’ whenever she sees the gold Manager sticker on her computer!
David’s desk… He has a lot of interesting works from 2D to 3D. And it’s neat!
Full of toys! The desk of Emma from Airside looks quite fun! You also can see Airside’s PR lady, Anne, and her desk from over at Ping Flickr.
Our next nice, comfortable desk is owned by Anna Fidalgo of Antidote. What a cute desktop picture and some windows with a very British scenery over the computer. She thinks her desk is special because “It is big enough to allow me to hoard and collect rubbish that I value highly.“ We’re in for that too!
Art director Rupert Smyth of Anonsoc is based in London and Berlin. He uses a desk he made by himself according to a plan by designer Enzo Mari. He does a lot of things related to bands such as Primal Scream, so the record sleeves with which he is actually working serve as a nice accent to his very orderlydesk.
Looking at these beautiful, well-organised desks, you might be feeling guilty comparing them to yours by now… Don’t worry! Beeny Royston of Real Curious, working both as actor and designer, has sent this manly desk in a sense:
Game creator’s fun-fun-fun desk
Brighton-based viral marketing agency, Kerb, handles online games and such. We’ve received pictures of five members’ desktops - thank you so much! This time, we show only one of them, the desk of senior illustrator Zeb Macgann.
Filmmaker meets retro
“Filmmaker” sounds like he or she works in an aseptic space such as server room handling mass data… Making his films under the name of James Price & Lenka Clayton, James uses an old desk he took over from his great-aunt who died at the age of 91 in 2003. Interestingly, their work bears the same kind of atmosphere as his antique desk does.
An artist’s desk: or rather a worktable
Working with photos and printed things, Brede Korsmo and Luke Frost managed to put an uncountable number of images around their desk! Are the two ties on the wall for some occasional, important meetings?
Gendaibijutsu Nitouhei create modern art adding their special humour. Since the two work separately in Tokyo and Osaka, they’ve sent us pictures from each studio. Katsuhito Fujiwara mostly works, sitting in front of the telly, so this desk is mainly for painting his work. He’s been trying to make it look better with storage style furniture because the spray booth easily gets ugly. However, he often makes his cat angry because he uses its door for ventilation…
You might find it familiar to see some goods on the desk of another member of Gendaibijutsu Nitouhei, Shane Kagotani. According to him, the best part around his desk is a “Winnie the Pooh” printed curtain which he inherited from an ex-resident!
Artist Rick Myers is based in Massachusetts, U.S., and Manchester, England, and sent us various photos: he often changes all the stuff on his desk depending on the content of his work, and still all the photos look different and pretty interesting…
An interaction designer’s desk: power supply required!
United Visual Artists (UVA) had a chat with PingMag before and just they showed their remarkable piece of work in the opening event of “UK-JAPAN 2008“. So, what does UVA’s Interaction designer Joel have on his desk?
Japanese artist, Yumiko Tanaka, graduated from RCA and now works in London also as an interaction designer, same as Joel. The sound of interaction designer might give you an impression of something technical or tough, so this feminine mood with the pink wall would be far from what you would imagine. She says, “This wall in front of the desk cheers me up a lot.”
Music industry people’s desk: CD, computer, etc.!
The environment of music industry people is quite mysterious to people who are involved in art and design. Simon from Coalition is a manager of CSS from Brazil or London-based band Blocparty. He is often out of town on a tour with his bands, thus his desk is kept very organized!
Neil, working for Southern Records, has been dealing with mail orders from all over the world, and fights with mass information everyday. Thanks to those who try to answer our order as soon as possible to make us happy, we can get our favorite CDs in our hands so sooner.
Illustrator’s desk: a harmony of Hand-writing and Mac
A black line in an innocently white background… Japanese illustrator Kiyoshi Kuroda - whom you’ve met before - invents such beautiful work. If you talk to him in person, you find yourself surprised how much his personality, works, and desk has completely the same atmosphere…
Formally in London and now a Tokyo-based illustrator, Hidetoshi Yamada uses this desk. Sufficient depth which allows putting both a computer and many brushes in bottles on it. It’s not difficult to picture him drawing in a lot of sunshine, and having a nice cup of coffee…
Atsushi Toyama always draws something heart-warming. Last year he moved away from Tokyo and now he is living in an old temple in a country side of Aichi prefecture. It sounds nice and peaceful, but in fact… “I found a hole big enough for a human to crawl in under my desk when I moved in. I am too scared to find out what is inside, and have just put a canvas to cover the hole…” Anyone who is brave enough to inspect inside, let us know!
Editor’s desk: always chaos!
The last one is of Kana from white-screen.jp web magazine. Her comment along with her picture is, “The person in the blue clothes is Karl Hyde!”… OK, but where is that photo, Kana…??
We really appreciate all of your cooperation! Thank you so much! Check out the whole photograph series of PingMag’s Desk Project on Flickr. Also, if you want to show your desk, you are most welcome to write a comment, and include the URL of your desk page.
47 Comments
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As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.
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10 Dec 2008
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None found
It seems that all desks are too small for creative people.
Posted by: otakugirl on March 7th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
This is probably my favourite article!
Well done, these kinda remind me of my desk, only I wish I had a mac!
Posted by: Badger on March 7th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Here is my desk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelsumo/2264060408/
Name: Chris O’Shea
City&Country: London, UK
Occupation: Interaction Designer
Company: None
URL: http://www.chrisoshea.org / http://www.pixelsumo.com
Posted by: Chris on March 7th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
One of my favourite article too
there’s nothing more personal than our workdesks :)
btw, just out of curiousity, what monitor does Anna Fidalgo uses? Looks great
Posted by: arman on March 7th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
arman:
I think that’s one of the newer types of apple imac .
Who would of thought looking at other people’s desks would be so interesting and tell you so much about the owner? :)
Posted by: pketh on March 8th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I would not mind crawling into the hole under Atsushi Toyama’s desk! Think I’ll need a few torchlights though. I might give it a go the next time I am in Japan. :D
Posted by: Lynn on March 8th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Love the article! everyones work space is personal!
Posted by: Ron on March 8th, 2008 at 2:36 am
great idea!
we should use picture of our workdesk for our buisness cards! says a lot about your “style” !
Posted by: francis.t (tind.org) on March 8th, 2008 at 5:04 am
That wooden box needs a question mark.
Posted by: The Grammar Inspector on March 8th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
mess is creativity
Posted by: james | studiosushi on March 8th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
wow thats weird i have the exact same set up as Pete Hellicar (minus the yellow desk lol)
Posted by: chris brown on March 9th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Here’s what happened when I asked Click Opera readers to Show me your workspace — unless you’re a writer!
Posted by: Momus on March 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Top article!
We always wonder what spaces others create in. This was a nice sneak peek.
Thanks
Posted by: TOKYOMADE on March 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
sound good..
Posted by: Diablo 2 CD Key on March 9th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
loving this!!
Posted by: Anonymous on March 9th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Great post!
Nice to see how other people work :D
Posted by: The Ad Mad on March 9th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
[...] JAPAN vs. UK: PingMag’s Desk Project! - Check it out, I love those desks and the surrounding objects. [...]
Posted by: The Link Farm | .craig on March 10th, 2008 at 6:47 am
It is well known that China is the factory of the world, we have low cost. And Dongguan Yinhai Technology Co.Ltd have professional experience in the production of toy stamp. Our products are inexpensive and good qulity,we hope that we can provide good service for you..
Posted by: roy on March 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
[...] on Pingmag.jp was published a really cool post titled PingMag’s Desk Project! Basically they randomly sent an e-mail to people they’ve interviewed before, to [...]
Posted by: .byte-sm’s blog - Leonardo Risuleo » The Developer’s Desk on March 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
[...] el escritorio o al contrario las que hay papeles por todas partes aquí esta la galería completa: pingmag.jp [...]
Posted by: Oficinas de los creativos | roc21 on March 11th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Nice :)
What a coincidence, I made the post on 6th you on 7th :-)
Name: Grzegorz Kozakiewicz
Occupation: Artist
City: Sheffield, UK
URL: http://blog.pencilrebel.com/2008/03/06/pencil-rebel-secret-workshop/
Posted by: Grzegorz on March 12th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Yes…. I agree with the many people above! Super nice article…. Gunner send a link to my desk super soon….
Enjoy x
Posted by: SHANTELL MARTIN on March 12th, 2008 at 8:26 am
another great feature, I love seeing the workspaces of creative people.
one thing concerns me though! All the folks with laptops should look into raising it! Only Simon has done this, it’s bad for your health to be staring down at it like that.
I’m sure a old nag:-)
Posted by: rey-o on March 12th, 2008 at 9:49 am
No way they look te same as mine!!!!!
so coool.
Posted by: Andres felipe Tobar ramirez on March 12th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
[...] fake movie trailer for Minesweeper. -The desks of creative people. Reminds me of my post! -Can you tell the original pic from photoshopped! Amy Dresser is a master [...]
Posted by: Designverb - Weekend Links on March 17th, 2008 at 11:50 am
my desk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geektechnique/2335143175/
(and i wish i could keep it this tidy!)
and here’s another so you know i also live behind my desk(s) ^_^
http://geektechnique.org/images/1818.jpg
Name: mark hoekstra
City&Country: groningen, the netherlands
Occupation: hardware hacker
URL: http://geektechnique.org
Comment: this is my desk, there are many like it, but this one is mine
Posted by: mark hoekstra on March 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sethw/2343450430/
Name: Seth Werkheiser
City&Country: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Freelance writer
URL: http://www.buzzgrinder.com
Comment: Lots of natural light and I can see the J train go by every few minutes.
Posted by: Seth on March 19th, 2008 at 12:09 am
[...] Desk Project 19Mar08 PingMag asked designers to send in pics of their desks. Can’t see any avatar artefacts around them, [...]
Posted by: PingMag’s Desk Project « Introduction to Design Research on March 19th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
[...] peep at various desks of Brits and Japanese working in the creative [...]
Posted by: pierreyann.org » 19-03-2008 on March 19th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
a different colllection.
Posted by: petnos on March 20th, 2008 at 12:28 am
[...] Creative spaces Interesting photos of the desks of creative people: http://pingmag.jp/2008/03/07/desk-project/ [...]
Posted by: Creative spaces « Amnesia Blog on March 20th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
This is awesome and inspiring at the same time. Im always sitting at another creatives desk and its different everytime. great collection!
Posted by: courtney on March 21st, 2008 at 2:52 am
I love these desks! major inspiration for future desk arrangements, here’s my current desk:
http://a999.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/73/l_ab9dc222fb9db1dee4547e9baed4c88e.jpg
Posted by: Freddie on March 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 am
my desk:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castanet/100941466/
Posted by: Lori on March 31st, 2008 at 9:35 am
[...] Japan vs. UK: PingMag’s Desk Project! Lots of great inspiration here. Check it out! [...]
Posted by: Inspiration Boards Blog on March 31st, 2008 at 9:37 am
looks a lot like my desktop… ^^
Posted by: Yuu on April 9th, 2008 at 10:51 am
[...] Suffering from desktop voyeurism? Get your needs fulfilled here. [...]
Posted by: » Suffering from desktop voyeurism? Get yo… copyblokking.com on April 9th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
[...] com um produtor. Feito isso, é hora de arrumar a secretária, antes de começar a desarrumá-la de novo para trabalhar no projecto seguinte. Porque essa é a grande vantagem dos guionistas em [...]
Posted by: joaonunes.com» Destaque » Sabatina: 31-05-2008 on June 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 am
I really want that ‘work hard’ background for my computer.
Grrrrr.
Posted by: Badger on June 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 am
[...] conditions and rooms please refer to these two links as well: Dj’s and their livingrooms and Pingmag’s Desk Project. (zzz… a bit old, i know - but still worth a visit) [...]
Posted by: Japanese Rooms - TheJunction on June 21st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Can relate to Hidetoshi Yamada’s desk….
Posted by: SHANTELL MARTIN on October 18th, 2008 at 12:48 am
If you check my website, you will see my workspace …..more fun than work !!!
Posted by: Beryl Cameron on November 8th, 2008 at 4:29 am
[...] Ausblick auf die Schreibtische diverser Gestalter aus UK und Japan … Ping Mag’s Desk Project [...]
Posted by: ARTSCHOOLVETS > BLOGS > WEMOTO > BLOG ARCHIVE > PINGMAG’S DESK PROJECT on January 6th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
[...] The desk project on Ping Mag a while back. [...]
Posted by: Sharing the Love - Jan 10, 2009 « on January 10th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I recon some more dirt is needed!
Posted by: Brede Korsmo on January 18th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
[...] — Creative places pal Всегда с большим удовольствием и восхищением разглядывал фотографии рабочих мест дизайнеров и иллюстраторов. Поразительно, насколько уютными и эргономичными они могут быть. Ребята из японского online-журнала PingMag разослали друзьям и дизайнерам, о которых они делали какой-то материал в течение года, письма с просьбой показать фотографии своих рабочих мест. Большинство писем было получено из Японии и Англии. Поэтому проект получил кодовое название Japan vs. UK: PingMag’s Desk Project. [...]
Posted by: Creative places on January 27th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Love all the pictures of everyone’s desks, looks great!
Posted by: Wrought Iron Furniture on July 31st, 2009 at 11:06 pm