Geek WFH Battlestation in New York City, US

Name: Ryoma Brunel

Location: New York City, NY, United States

Occupation: Product Developer

Room size: 16 m² (172 ft²)

Cost of the setup: ~$2,4K

Social media: Instagram, Reddit

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi! My name is Ryoma.

I’m a 90’s kid born and raised in New York City. I grew up loving a wide range of hobbies and activities that were largely inspired by my Japanese mother and my French father.

I’ve enjoyed biking, roller skating, and skateboarding since I was young. I’ve found other interests along the way, such as sneakers and street fashion.

My dad, in particular, was a huge fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, which inherently piqued my interest and love of the franchise, which comes as no surprise.

In the past two years, I also started to explore prop making and cosplaying and learned the ins and outs of 3D printing.

It’s exciting to be able to create props from scratch and bring various elements from my favourite (usually sci-fi) movies, TV shows, and games to life.

My mom may have been the one to inspire me to create, though — she’s great with anything crafty. This trait was definitely passed down to me.

Growing up, I’ve always had a fascination with science, engineering, space, and the unknown (I had wanted to become an astronaut).

I loved drawing, so naturally, I would turn to illustrate some of these dreams and ideas.

I attended a specialised high school for arts and expanded my skill set in design, illustration, and architecture.

A lot of my art at this time was also inspired by my Japanese background.

I often referenced Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, which is still my favourite Japanese animated film of all time.

I currently work as a product developer for a Japanese lifestyle global retailer.

After school, I had intended to move to Sapporo (where my mother’s family is from) and experience living in Japan for a few years.

However, with the help of a recruiter, I found my current job and ended up staying in New York City.

The company’s philosophies and brand mission statement resonated with me — we’re known for the pared-down, streamlined, minimalist style that I echo in my own aesthetic.

The work that I do involves curating partnerships with external businesses to create and add to the brand’s product range.

I feel that it’s a good marriage of some of my passions (design and creation).

It’s been a great experience so far.

Take us through your setup

The way that I designed my desk setup is a balance between my personal, ideal aesthetic and showcasing the ever-expanding hobbies that I’ve picked up over the years.

Inspired largely by the Japandi style (Japanese minimalism + Scandinavian functionality), the setup features a neutral colour palette of whites and warm earth tones, with the occasional pop of colour for accents.

I do gravitate more towards oak wood furniture. I feel like it lends a fresher, younger, and more modern atmosphere.

Walnut is great for a more mature and grounded feel, but the cost was also a huge factor as walnut wood is generally more expensive.