Working Environment Versatility

I unexpectedly had to move earlier this year. What items made the cut and what have been introduced in this iteration of my work space?

Oct 29, 2024

In March I unexpectedly had to move out of my “co-working space”. I add the quotes because I was paying for a shared space, but I never actually shared my room. Post pandemic restrictions have plenty of commercial spaces vacant in Los Angeles. My work space was no different. It was a situation I knew could not last for long because the entire branch was empty all the time. The location was closing. I was given less than 30 days notice to vacate my office. So, I needed to find a new space and quick. Luckily, my wife pointed me in the right direction and helped me sign a lease on a new office. Today, many of the items I started in my home office1 and co-working space2 have made it to this new private space. Here are updates from that space:

Items that are in my office organized in a public Figma document, 2024

Private, personal, and individual

I have been working remotely since 2015 and this is the first time I have an actual private space for working. It is small with no windows (more on that later) and no amenities. Unless you consider a shared bathroom an amenity. The simplest way to put it is that it is white box. It was great to collaborate with my wife and offload some of our home decorations to spruce up this box. We placed our carpet, mini fridge, and day bed into the space. It was empty, so I needed a desk, a place to hide things, and a surface to show things off. Thank you IKEA. The highlight item is their pegboard system. It is cheap and easy to install. It really adds a studio / workshop vibe and is easy to customize.

As you can see from the above image, the monitor, laptop stand, and Aeron chair all made the transition into this space. Less visible are the whiteboards and clock from the home office and a Molekule air purifier. With a totally private space, there is the luxury to make holes in the wall and make it your own. It retains the general ethos of my previous spaces which I have come to label as Just Enough. Spend money on the things you depend on (e.g: monitor, chair) and budget the rest to make it enjoyable to come in.

Opportunity for art

The great part about having private wall space is the opportunity to fill the space with art. I took works I had acquired over the years from Epilogue Press,3 Studio CoolCool,4 and The Aesthetic Union5 and brought them to the space. I purchased new pieces as well; works by Maya Man6 and Petra Cortright,7 and Sharece Studios.8 This is something I want to continue to budget into my business model in the future: support artists and get a bit of inspiration when looking away from my computer screen.

Still a work in progress

The private space is great for long video calls, deep work, and the occasional nap. I cannot go without saying it is still developing. No windows means no natural light. I never gave much concern to something like this, but it is problematic. I can go many hours without realizing how much time passes. By the end of the day, my eyes are wary because I have not taken many breaks. That being said, it is just nice enough for me to focus on the work. Thankfully, it is not so nice that I spend all my time there. Not being luxe or too fancy with the space really encourages me to get back home and enjoy that side of life too. I think this has contributed to my improved work-life balance.

View the moodboard in Figma or online

For many years the austerity of studio space drew me in. The Tadao Ando designed Fabrica campus comes to mind.9 These spaces are impressive and alluring. They imbue a sense of purpose and motivation. These days, however, I enjoy a more humble approach. Just Enough to get you in, do what you need to do, and get out. That is how this work space works for me.

–Jono