Creative Attic Space in Argentina

Name: Pantufla Cuántica

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Occupation: Product Designer

Social media: Instagram, X

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi, I’m Pantufla, a Product Designer from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I’m currently working with a great team of talented people at Metalab.

My work consists of ideating, exploring, testing, and designing digital experiences across a great variety of industries, such as mental health, developer tools, music, and AI, just to name a few.

I started exploring the design path when I was a kid, during the ’90s.

In Argentina, having an internet connection wasn’t common yet, so every time I “entered” the internet, it was a great discovery.

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During those internet sessions, I collected a lot of images and information on topics I was interested in, saving them on diskettes.

Then, when I was back home, I started creating my own websites using those things I had saved.

I remember the first time I uploaded one of my sites — it was a delightful moment!

At the time, Microsoft FrontPage was installed on my computer, so I started to gain my first bits of knowledge in layout, typography, and HTML.

To me, it was a game — it still is, in a way.

Take us through your setup

My workspace is in the attic of my house, surrounded by buildings.

Still, it gets plenty of sunlight during the day, which is amazing for my plants and me.

This attic was originally a storage space for all the stuff we didn’t use.

But at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to turn this room into my workplace so I could have a spot to focus while the rest of my family went about their day.

Focusing is tough for me, so this place is perfect for avoiding the usual distractions of working from home — like the dishes or the washing machine calling for attention.

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The first two things I had were an old table (it wasn’t even a desk!), a light, and a chair. And honestly, that setup worked fine for me at the time.

But my first real problem here was the internet connection.

So I bought the Google Mesh system to keep the internet running without interruptions, and after that, I couldn’t stop adding things to my setup.

The real upgrade came when I bought this beautiful handmade desk from a local shop — I love it.

Getting this 1.80×0.80 m desk up to the third floor of the house was a real challenge, but we pulled it off!

Since then, I’ve started enjoying my workspace not just for its functionality but also for how it looks.

From there, I began adding things that improve both — functionality and aesthetics — to create a cosy, inspiring space.

That’s something deeply personal, and when you get it right, it’s amazing.

So I encourage everyone to take that mindset when setting up their workspace :)

What’s your favourite item on your desk?

I think my favourite items in my workspace are my plants.

Having plants nearby while working has a calming effect, especially when I’m under a tight deadline.

I also love my Braun wall clock designed by Dieter Rams.

It feels like I have a piece of art, design, and history in my workspace.

Braun Wall Clock

“Good design is as little design as possible.” (Dieter Rams)

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Lastly, I recently bought a desk lamp — a replica of the Flower Bud, designed by Verner Panton.

It’s clear that I’m really into Bauhaus and mid-century design!

What apps or tools do you use to get things done?

When I first started out, I relied heavily on Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks.

Now, Figma has significantly boosted my productivity, and I absolutely love it.

The Auto Layout and Prototyping features in Figma are just amazing.

I also use Slack, Miro, and After Effects for more complex animations.

For scheduling, it’s Amie, and for asynchronous communication at the end of the day, I use Loom.

And of course, I have Spotify playing all day, every day.

What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?

I like to stay up to date with design through platforms like Behance, X, and Are.na.

Are.na reminds me of the old FFFFOUND!, which used to be my main source of inspiration.

But I also enjoy reading books and listening to podcasts outside of design.

This helps me relax and explore other interests.

I recently read and loved Uncanny Convenience Store by Kim Ho-yeon — a beautiful story about a shop in Seoul that profoundly impacts the lives of its customers.

Currently, I’m listening to Filosofía Aplicada a la Vida — a podcast that applies philosophy to everyday life.

It’s amazing because it has given me new perspectives on how to interpret and apply philosophy in my life.

I also have a passion for architecture, which I see as the most analogue way to understand UX/UI.

I often watch architectural videos on YouTube channels like The Local Project and Open Space.

Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?

I believe everyone here gives the same advice, but in my opinion, the most important feature in a home office setup is lighting.

It took me a while to understand this, but it’s what truly defines the space.

For me, it’s important to have both cosy and focused lighting in my setup.

This makes me feel comfortable and eager to sit down and create something.

It’s also good to have different lighting setups for different times of the day.

For example, I have one for focus and another for when I need brighter illumination.

I only use focal lighting (on the desk) and ambient lighting (on the floor).

I rarely use ceiling lights, as they feel overwhelming and make me a bit anxious.

This is just my preference, but for me, lighting is the key feature.

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What does your typical day look like?

My days are quite different from each other.

Some days, I start early, around 7:30 am. These are my favourite days, despite the fact that I don’t enjoy waking up early.

I love them because I have time in the morning for a slow breakfast, where I enjoy my first coffee while watching YouTube videos from channels I like, such as The Local Project and Open Houses.

I think it’s a great way to start the day — seeing how amazing architects create beautiful and functional spaces.

It’s also somewhat related to what I do — product design — but in an analogue way.

Then, I usually take a walk in my neighbourhood and have another coffee, or I bike to my studio, which is 30 minutes away from home.

I need to move my body a bit before getting into work.

This is crucial for me.

I highly recommend it if you can, especially if you have trouble focusing, like I do. :) It helps reduce stress and anxiety so much.

Later, at 9:30–10 am, I sit down at my desk with my mates and start catching up on everything design-related before diving into work.

This is also a great way to get my mind into work mode.

In the morning, my goal is usually to tackle the most complex tasks.

Mornings are great for UX thinking as well as UI explorations :)

Around midday, I usually have a daily stand-up with the team I’m working with.

After that, I have lunch with my partner if I’m at home, or with my studio mates if I’m there.

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For the rest of the afternoon, I like to finish off all the small or easy tasks left on my to-do list.

Then, I close my laptop and go for a walk with my dog, Hugo, play padel with friends, have a coffee with someone, or just enjoy some free time for myself.

Your tips for working from home?

Like I’ve already said, going for a walk before and after work is incredibly useful!

It’s a great way to both start and end the workday — especially if you work from home every day.

It helps a lot with staying focused while also protecting your mental health :)

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Taking breaks during the day is really important.

My real problem with working from home is that when I go to the bathroom, I end up starting a load of laundry or doing the dishes.

I know that’s a mistake!

So this is a reminder for both of us — staying off household chores while you’re working is crucial to avoiding burnout.

I’ve learnt that if I try to do both at the same time, I won’t finish either.

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