As designers, we spend a lot of time in our collective workspaces. So why not make our workspaces the best places we can? Below are 10 cool items for your design workspace – some are free, some are cheap, some are expensive, and some are just plain nerdy. I have a couple of the items below, and those I don’t have are definitely on my list. Enjoy & share!

PANTONE MUG

I’m drinking out of one of these glorious Pantone mugs right now, as I type this. Orange 021 C, to be exact. A great way to get your morning fix and let everyone know that you are a super design nerd.

pantone

More after the jump!

ERASER BRUSH
(via swissmiss)

Most designers I know start off each new project by sketching like mad. And if you’re like me, erasing like mad. But how to get rid of those pesky post-erasing eraser bits? Worry no more my friends: the Eraser Brush is here to save you. What an ingeniously simple solution.


Eraser Brush


BACKPACK

Yet another ingeniously simple solution, but this time the solution is for the problem of clutter on your desktop. The Backpack is a nifty little device for iMacs that sits on the back vertical stand and can hold whatever you wish – external drives, pencils and pens, the last granola bar in the house from your overly inquisitive wife/business partner… you know, everyday stuff.


Backpack

VERBARIUS CLOCK

The Art Lebedev store is full of amazing concepts & well-designed items – like this, the Verbarius clock. This clock tells you what time it is, in text & plain terms, and in various languages. No numbers, just phrases like ‘Quarter to Nine’. Plus its sleek & simple design will work in near any environment.

Verbarius clock


DRY ERASE PAINT
(via designmilk)

I have a teeny tiny whiteboard on the wall of my workspace where I keep notes for my ongoing projects – what would have been better is this awesome dry-erase paint. You paint it on, it looks like a white wall, and then BAM! you’re drawing all over the wall with erasable markers. Definitely recommended. Still not recommended: drawing on your walls with crayons.


Dry Erase Paint



PERIODIC TABLE OF TYPOGRAPHY (free!)

This is probably the nerdiest item on the list, but hey – it’s free & you can download it at various sizes to print yourself, or you can buy vinyl versions to decal up your wall. Nerdy-cool, and useful!

Periodic Table of Typography

GENEVA SOUND IPOD DOCK
(via swissmiss)

You can’t have a workspace without music. Well, I can’t at least. Enter the Geneva iPod Sound Dock. Looks amazing, and sounds amazing. There are a bunch of docks out there now, but this one is the best-designed in my opinion. Various colors & sizes.


Geneva iPod DockBLUELOUNGE CHARGING STATION

Winner of several design awards, the Bluelounge Sanctuary charging station is pretty much a must have. It takes all your various chargers & cables, tidies them up, and provides a contained little space to charge them. From cell phones to iPods to Bluetooth headsets and more, what’s not to like?

Bluelounge Sanctuary Charging Station


PACMAN STAPLER
(via designmilk)

This is just plain cool. There are some ugly items around the office/workspace that need to be there, and usually we just live with them (and their ugliness – like plastic staplers). But if you can’t deal with the red Swingline, pick up this Pacman stapler. Note: will not fend off ghosts.


Pacman Stapler


CINEMAVIEW MONITOR

This cheaper alternative to the Apple monitors is beautifully designed. While I can’t vouch for the quality of the LCD (it isn’t out in the marketplace yet), it sure does look purty. Designed specifically for Macs, unlike any non-Apple monitor out there right now. Comes in 24″ as well as a 47″ behemoth.


cinemaview



There you go – 10 items that will make your design workspace even cooler than it already is. Bookmark, share, & subscribe to the RSS feed here.

21 Responses

  1. [...] 10 Cool Items for Your Design Workspace [...]

  2. I feel like I need that Periodic Table of Typography. Super cool.

  3. Jeff says:

    I agree, Allison. My wife vetoed the giant vinyl version I wanted to put up… but I think I’m going to put up a smaller printed version. Thanks for reading!

  4. Justine says:

    Love this entry! Its inspiring in a way that makes me want to paint my wall into white. :) Please post some more of this. :D

  5. Jeff says:

    Thanks Justine! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. More will be coming!

  6. [...] This post was Twitted by Serjeniu [...]

  7. Dave Sparks says:

    Nice – one pacman stapler for me I think.
    I think the landlord would be shocked with the dry erase paint.

  8. Dry erase paint! Awesome. A whole wall or even a whole room as one, big whiteboard. I love this. Great idea.

  9. Excellent site, keep up the good work

  10. [...] This post was Twitted by cyberick [...]

  11. [...] This post was Twitted by cheth [...]

  12. [...] Paper Leaf – 10 Cool Items for Your Design Workspace [...]

  13. more says:

    more…

    I think this same and absolutly agree!…

  14. [...] Click here to see the full list on the Paper Leaf web site. Posted by: Head Groupie Categories: Designer Gifts Tags: Designer Gifts, graphic design gifts, Pantone mugs, typography [...]

  15. [...] See the rest here:  10 Cool Items for Your Design Workspace [...]

  16. Hey good stuff…keep up the good work! I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,)

    A definite great read…:)

    -Bill-Bartmann

  17. Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so, Excellent post!

  18. Kelli Garner says:

    I enjoy this site, it is worth me coming back

  19. Your site was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.

  20. Donnieboy says:

    Just wanted to drop you a line to say, I enjoy reading your site. I thought about starting a blog myself but don’t have the time.
    Oh well maybe one day…. :)

  21. [...] someone who is a design professional would most likely appreciate. If you want more, check out the 10 Cool Items for Your Design Workspace article too! Share, enjoy & subscribe to the RSS [...]

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