Great design lives at the crossroads of form and function. At Digital Telepathy (DT) we spends our days solving complex business challenges with our clients; we solve those challenges through design. We also dedicate a portion of our time to innovation and incubation. That innovation time has lead to success products that we've built and sold, concept apps for the Apple Watch and even our own craft beer. Recently, we realized that our desks were a prime opportunity for innovation. This deck showcases our research and strategy to design the perfect desk for creative professionals. Without giving away too much... It will be a modular design with different panels available (think iPhone cases) to meet a variety of use cases, have integrated cord management and purposefully designed storage and collaboration space. Stay tuned!

1. Desk for Creative Professionals
RESEARCH & STR ATEGY

2. 2RESEARCH & STRATEGY
ECOSYS TEM MA P
CO MPE TITIVE ASSESSME NT
SURVEY
INTERVIE WS
EXPERIEN CE MAP
I. Ecosystem Map
I.
I I.
II I.
IV.
V.

3. ASSEMBLY
PURCHASING
DESK
MOBILITY
PERSONALIZATION
CHAIR
LIGHTING
DESK HEIGHT
SHAPE
SKETCHINGTECHNICAL
INTEGRATION
CLOCK
/TIME
MATERIAL
CLEANLINESS
& UPKEEP
STORAGE
ERGONOMICS
PRIVACY
ACCESSORIES
ORGANIZATION
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY
WELL BEING
DESIGN & AESTHETIC
PURCHASING
SOCIAL
MONITORS /
KEYBOARDS /
MOUSE
DRINKS
PLANTS
FOOD
HEAD-
PHONES
CHORDS
MANAGEMENT
COLLABO-
RATION
3RESEARCH & STRATEGY
There are many aspects to consider when
evaluating the ideal workstation. The following
items surfaced as important elements when
considering the entire landscape.
Storage, height, materials and cord
management were referenced the most during
the ecosystem exercise.
We categorized the landscape into 7 categories:
• Well being
• Social
• Accessories
• Organization
• Purshasing
• Design & Aesthetics
• Tools & Technology
STO
RAG
E
H
EIG
H
T
M
ATERIALS
ERG
O
N
O
M
ICS
M
O
N
ITO
RS
/KEYBO
ARD
/M
O
U
SE
CH
O
RD
M
AN
AG
EM
EN
T
PRIVACYPERSO
N
ALIZATIO
N
SKETCH
IN
G
PU
RCH
ASIN
G
TECH
N
O
LO
G
Y
IN
TEG
RATO
N
CO
LLABO
RATIO
N
CLEAN
ILESS
&
U
PKEEP
CH
AIR
D
RIN
KS
LIG
H
TIN
G
SH
APE
M
O
BILITY
ASSEM
BLY
PLAN
TS
H
EAD
PH
O
N
ES
CLO
CK
/TIM
E
ECOSYSTEM MAP
I. Ecosystem Map

4. 4RESEARCH & STRATEGYII. Competitive Assessment
ECOSYS TEM MA P
CO MPE TITIVE ASSESSME NT
SURVEY
INTERVIE WS
EXPERIEN CE MAP
I.
I I.
II I.
IV.
V.

5. 5RESEARCH & STRATEGYII. Competitive Assessment

6. TAKE AWAYS “Innovative” desks usually come with a hefty price tag
• Milk desk - $3k+
• Stir kinetic desk - $3k+
• Symbol audio desk - $4k+
There is a shortage of desks in the $400-$800 price range
• Quality materials and craftsmanship pushes desks over the $800 range
No one has mastered a simple and elegant standing desk
• Cheap solutions (manual adjustment) usually require desk to be cleared off or even inverted
• IKEAs Bekant electric desk is somewhat affordable but very minimalistic - $489
6RESEARCH & STRATEGYII. Competitive Assessment

7. 7RESEARCH & STRATEGYIII. Survey
ECOSYS TEM MA P
CO MPE TITIVE ASSESSME NT
SURVEY
INTERVIE WS
EXPERIEN CE MAP
I.
I I.
II I.
IV.
V.

8. 8RESEARCH & STRATEGY
QUE STION 1
What type of computer do you use on your desk?
L APTO P
PHON E
DE SKTO P
TABLET
OT HER
86%
51%
37%
22%
6%
III. Survey

9. 9RESEARCH & STRATEGY
QUE STION 2
How many hours would you say you spend at
your desk every day?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100
0%
2%
6%
12% 12%
22 %
12%
20%
6%
10%
0%
III. Survey

10. 10RESEARCH & STRATEGY
QUE STION 3
Do you like to stand when you work?
YES NO
15% 15 % 70%SOMETIM ES
III. Survey

11. 11RESEARCH & STRATEGY
QUE STION 4
How often do you collaborate with others at your desk?
SOMETIMES ALWAY SRAR ELY
14%
6%
43%
31%
6%
III. Survey

12. 12RESEARCH & STRATEGY
QUE STION 5
How many cords do you have at your desk?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+
2%
5% 5%
27%
18%
14%
9%
7%
2%
11%
III. Survey

13. TAKE AWAYS There is no typical hardware setup
• Laptops are the most common computer but their use varies greatly
Collaboration is frequent
• 80% of respondents collaborate “sometimes” or more
People like to have the option of standing while working
• 86% of people like to stand “sometimes” or more while working
People have cords, lots of them
• 88% of people have 4 cords or more at their desk
13RESEARCH & STRATEGYIII. Survey

14. 14RESEARCH & STRATEGY
ECOSYS TEM MA P
CO MPE TITIVE ASSESSME NT
SURVEY
INTERVIE WS
EXPERIEN CE MAP
I.
I I.
II I.
IV.
V.
IV. Interviews

15. RAAF SUNDQUIST
Strategist
DAVE SHEPARD
Engineer
MK COOK
Designer
JOHN BOTICA
Engineer
ROCKY ROARK
Designer
• Prefers wireless devices (keyboards,
mouse).
• Spends 6-10 hrs per day at his desk.
• Has a multiple screen setup but perfectly
comfortable with working just on laptop.
• Takes laptop home every night. Gets
frustrated with plugging in cords every
morning.
• Would prefer a docking station where he
could just plug in one cord.
• Likes screens at eye level.
• Doesn’t want too much storage just one
hidden drawer.
"Too much storage turns into
too much storage.˝
• Doesn’t like clutter or papers piling up.
• Loves wood as a desk surface.
• Has pictures of his family and a couple
toys on his desk.
• When he gets in the zone he can sit at his
desk for 4-5 hours straight.
15RESEARCH & STRATEGYIV. Interviews
• Uses 13" laptop and one external monitor
(although he hasn't been using his
external monitor).
• Has a picture of his family on his desk,
otherwise likes to keep it relatively clear.
• Likes everything to be at an optimal
position while he works, he does this by
feel.
• When he leaves for the day he cleans up
his desk but leaves action notes for the
next day.
• Tall, 6'3" - has trouble being comfortable
at his desk. Would prefer a taller desk.
• Concrete floors would be an issue with a
standing desk.
• Feels a larger desk would be beneficial
mentally.
• Very glad his current desk is not white.
• Likes the idea of a standup desk.
"I pulled out from my desk the
other day and shifted all the
electronics on my coworkers
desk.˝
• Uses a foot rest because of her height.
• Uses a laptop on a stand with 2 external
monitors.
• Goes for walks to work our her lower back
pain.
"I usually switch to the
standing desk when my back
really hurts.˝
• Wood surface gives her a rash on her wrist
• Has a photo on her desk, some books and a
small plant that she waters weekly.
• Stuff accumulates on her desk until she
ultimately purges it. Likes a tidy desk buy
not OCD about it.
• Puts things under her monitor stand to
reduce clutter.
• Doesn't bring laptop home at night unless
she is WFH the next day.
• Doesn't like the heigh of her desk, she is
5'2", she would prefer a desk 3" lower.
• When she uses a standing desk (rarely)
she rolls out a yoga mat to stand on.
• She's developing carpal tunnel in both
arms.
• Uses laptop with 2 external monitors.
Wireless keyboard and mouse.
• Has pictures of his family and a coffee cup
for pencils and pens.
• Takes his laptop/charger/mouse/mouse
pad home overnight. Every morning he
has to plug everything back in by crawling
under his desk.
"Plugging in my laptop every
morning I have to crawl under
my desk˝
• Wishes he had a giant power strip.
• Often eats lunch at his desk and watches
Netflix.
• Has IKEA storage that admittedly turns
into a junk drawer. Thinks he would use a
small drawer for daily items.
• Likes having monitors on a stand and the
space it creates underneath the stand
(puts his laptop here).
• Likes wooden surface, feel, look, smell.
• Headphone cable is always in the way.
• Chair arms constantly bump into the
table.
• Uses a laptop with two external monitors.
Wireless keyboard and mouse.
• Uses Wacom tablet 1-2/week.
• Uses a big drawing pad.
• Lots of vinyl toys. Likes organized clutter.
Has a fuzzy rug underneath.
"I consider my toys visual
ephemora.˝
• Doesn't have a drawer but feels like that
would help with clutter.
• Really would like a large flat file storage
for big notepads and sketches.
• Random things accumulate on desk like
cards and plants.
• Loves his raised monitor stand, likes the
space underneath. Prefers his monitors at
eye level.
• Would like the option of a standing desk
and thinks he would use it once a week.
• Wants better cord management.
• Thinks an outlet built into the desk would
be awesome.

16. TAKE AWAYS People personalize their desks with photos, toys and objects
• Family pictures, vinyl toys, books, cards and plants are enjoyed yet rarely touched.
Having screens at eye level is preferred
• Employees enjoy monitor stands and the space created underneath.
Unplugging and plugging in cables is a nuisance
• Daily take home of equipment is common.
• Charging laptops & phones requires constant plugging and unplugging.
People would like some storage
• Daily storage for things like keys, wallets, purses and keycards is desired.
• Large amounts of storage turns into junk drawers for most people.
Wood is good
• People like the appearance and durability of wood.
• Wood can however cause rashes.
16RESEARCH & STRATEGYIV. Interviews

17. 17RESEARCH & STRATEGY

18. TAKE AWAYS People have different setup preferences
• 1 screen, 2 screens, 3 screens
• Laptop, mac mini
• Mouse pad, no mouse pad
• Full keyboard, small keyboard, no keyboard (just laptop)
• Most people like monitors at eye level
Some like it clean, some like/have it cluttered
• Range of super minimal to lots of toys to lots of clutter
EVERYONE has headphones
• Earbuds, over the ear, studio, mostly wired - a few wireless
People are thirsty
• Coffee mugs, glass(es), water bottles
18RESEARCH & STRATEGY

19. 19RESEARCH & STRATEGYV. Experience Map
ECOSYS TEM MA P
CO MPE TITIVE ASSESSME NT
SURVEY
INTERVIE WS
EXPERIEN CE MAP
I.
I I.
II I.
IV.
V.

21. WOW YOU MADE I T!
For questions or inquiries contact us at innovation@digital-telpathy.com
www.digital-telepathy.com