Floating Desk Setup in Ontario, Canada
“Bringing outside life adds a freshness and pop of green colour that brings warmth and comfort to my workspace”
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Name: Graham Pinkerton
Location: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Graphic Design
Room size: 8×10 ft or 7,4 m² (80 ft²)
Cost of setup: ~5K CAD (~$3,6K)
Social media: Instagram
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself
Hey! I’m Graham, a work-from-home graphic designer who also has a love for home and office aesthetics.
Other than that, I’m a member of a hardcore band, and that eats up my free time in the best way.
I first became interested in home and office aesthetics once I got my own place where I could experiment with everything.
I saw some photos on Pinterest and videos on TikTok, etc., that made me want to create something for myself.
My journey into graphic design started in high school. I would create logos and projects for people in a video game community when I was 14-16.
This then led to me starting to make some t-shirts and hoodies loosely based on a brand I wanted to create.
I did that for a while, building a brand, and then transitioned into making graphics for other clothing brands and companies, as I felt that was where my true passion lies — the creation of something.
Staying motivated can be difficult when I’m always at home.
That’s why having a clean and fun space that makes me happy is so important.
Now, I love getting to sit down, feel comforted, have my space make me feel welcome, throw on some music with my morning coffee, and get some work done.
Take us through your setup
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Monitor | Sceptre 30″ Ultrawide | Monitor mount | Single Gas Spring Arm (unsure of brand) |
| Monitor light bar | EJITILAI Motion Sensor |
| Speakers | Mackie CX3 Speakers |
| Headphones | Logitech G435 |
| Keyboard | AKKO MOD 007 PC |
| Mouse | Logitech G305 |
| Desk mat | MyKeybrd Japanese Cloud White |
| Web camera | Logitech Brio |
| Microphone | Maono PD200X |
| Microphone arm | Fifine Boom Arm |
| Chair | Kerdom Ergonomic Office Chair |
The main attraction of my desk setup is the butcher block from Home Depot, along with the “floating look” of my monitor and speakers, as I decided to wall-mount everything.
The current office setup I’m in is the result of about two years of changing things around every other week.
The main struggle, honestly, was just getting a layout in my very tiny space.
Slanted ceilings do not help in confined spaces.
Editorial Team
It is hard to make it feel semi-open and not too cluttered while also keeping all of the personality I need around me for inspiration.
I’ve got some prints from an artist friend of mine behind me, next to a couple of my guitars, which I love to look at and I think fit in quite well.
My floors are not even. Like, at all. So I have had to jam things under my ALEX units to level out the desk.
I’m okay with the amount of light I have, although I always dream of having a floor-to-ceiling window setup.
Or maybe a room facing the sunrise rather than the sunset, as I typically am in the room during the morning working on projects.
There’s always room for improvement.
The next item I would like is a desk shelf.
I think they look extremely nice and add a perfect solution to desktop organisation.
What’s your favourite item on your desk?
The best item on my desk is my Pilea peperomioides plant.
It’s been with me since the first setup I created.
Editorial Team
Once I discovered that setups can actually look good, I realised that plants bring so much life to a space, and I feel they are necessary for me when working indoors.
Bringing outside life adds a freshness and pop of green colour that brings warmth and comfort to my workspace.
What apps or tools do you use to get things done?
My most used software is Photoshop.
I feel like I know my way around it best in terms of what I need as a graphic designer.
I have been using it since high school, and still, every time I use it, I discover new little tricks or different techniques to apply unique effects.
What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?
For inspiration recently, as far as blogs or things go, YouTuber “elliotisacoolguy” is someone I appreciate for their content and inspiration.
He provides such a fun twist on graphic design content, and his space is so colourful and pleasing to the eye.
Editorial Team
It seems to me that this style of content makes graphic design feel less like a job and more like a fun pastime.
Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?
Make it your own. Add personality.
I see a lot of groups and Discords telling you the “dos and don’ts” of how to build a setup space, but that doesn’t really make much sense to me.
Your space should be as unique to you as possible.
Whatever makes you smile.
Editorial Team
What does your typical day look like?
Typically, I’m up around 8 am and go to bed around 11 pm.
First things first, I need some coffee and breakfast.
Editorial Team
I try my best not to open my phone right away in the morning, but if I feel like a morning scroll, it’s typically Instagram I go to.
My work hours really depend on the project at hand.
If I have something that needs to get done, I start after breakfast and then stop whenever I feel like it’s complete or I’ve run out of creative energy.
I’d say I spend six to ten hours at my desk throughout the day.
When I’m not working, I play video games like COD, MX Bikes, and Skater XL.
I have been working from home since the end of 2021, but if I had the opportunity to work in an office, I think I’d probably do it just to get a change of atmosphere and have that “I can’t wait to get home to my room” feeling again.
Your tips for working from home?
Honestly, I’m quite bad at time management and stopping myself from being overworked.
If I know I have to finish something for a deadline, I will just keep going until it’s done.
I think giving yourself a schedule is probably the best thing you can do to prevent burnout and avoid feeling overworked.
Editorial Team
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