You are your Desk

Observations of correlations between desk and character

Domain

Desk Arrangement

Character

The Super-Organised

  • Workspace has only essential office supplies and a few personal touches like photographs
  • Nothing is seen that isn’t needed
  • Someone highly-efficient, may feel unappreciated
  • May intimidate others
  • The Organised-Chaos

    • Looks messy, yet there is method to the madness
    • Owner is able to find anything fast when needed
  • Owner feels more secure having everything in sight and panics if not
  • Feels stressed, but is a flexible person
  • The Creative-Chaos

    • Messy, but cluttered with visual distractions (many interests)
  • Tendency for thoughts to drift
  • May misplace work, but can rely on for creative and visual ideas
  • The Personality-Extension

    • Views workspace as extension of self
    • Brims with personal items
  • Friendly, chatty but sometimes indiscreet
  • Gossipy
  • The Demo

    • Large and barren workspace
    • Looks as if vacant
  • Revels in power through impersonal use
  • Hides behind corporate cloak
  • The Trophy

    • Desk is sloppy and overflowing with objects reflecting successes
    • Placed for optimum impact
  • Seems showy, but also enthusiastic and a natural leader
  • Craves recognition
  • Extracted from TODAY, Nov 7 2001, pp. 24

    Organisation

    Domain

    Explanation

    Why

    • Faster, component-based, easier, intuitive

    How to start

    • Classify all items into like groups: projects, admin, personal
    • Reduce, rearrange and refer
    • Engage new items once and once only
    • Start from secondary workspace to primary one
    • Arrange according to i) priority, ii) frequency of use
    • Most urgent and frequently used: closest

    How to maintain

    • Daily organization
    • Engage one, no shuffling
    • No scattering or cluttering of unrelated items
    • File, label, reference and update accordingly

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