“If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”- Albert Einstein

The P r o j e c t : A site dedicated solely to canvas of the Desk.

A Desk is where we work. Symbolic.  Physical.  Present. A second and third home. A Desk is a platform.  A hearth.  Roots are planted.  It’s a place, a sanctuary, where hours upon hours pass.  How do you work? How many hours? Locale? Lighting?  Room with a view? At home?  Coordinates, please. Clean and tidy? Sitting? Standing? Coffee cups? Is that tea? Minimalist? Scattered? What’s your equation? Type A plus A plus A? A-B? Creatively sprawled? In a rush? Feel like you need to tidy up–maybe you shouldn’t. Map it out.

The A s s i g n m e n t : Turn your camera on your workspace. Please, don’t stage it. Don’t clean it (a messy desk does not equal a messy mind). Don’t make something you or your work is not.  This is a collaborative snapshot of what makes us uniquely us. To an extent, our work space, work schedule, surroundings and routine reflect the work we produce.

The G i r l : Kate Donnelly is a writer, cultural enthusiast and photographer. She worked in the New York film world for ten years (@ New Line Cinema and Revolution Studios). Earlier stints include the American Film Institute, Clinton-Gore White House, and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. She contributes to DailyCandy,  Fathom and interviewed Alexander Payne for The Believer [PDF] . In 2000 (Y2K), she sailed down the Amazon River and recently traveled to Barcelona, Argentina and Uruguay. She doesn’t know how to properly dive into a swimming pool but still tries.

She enjoys travel to South America, The Kansas City Chiefs, The New York Yankees, Cooking, Land Rover D 110s, Pearl Jam, Grass Fed Beef, Surf Photography, The Brooklyn Bridge, William Gibson, The Strand Bookstore, The Smell of Garlic, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Oysters, The Sunday New York Times and her dog, Eddie.

One day, she will surf.

Where’s Kate?

☛ instagram: @k8bd
☛ tumblr: It’s Unofficial
☛ observations: I Loved NewYork

Special T H A N K S:

 Peter Mendelsund whose “From The Desk Of…” pencil graphic serves as this site’s header.

James Haizel, the savvy, super-heroic Web Developer who worked tirelessly to pull this site together (contact him now: haizelj@gmail.com).

39 Comments For “About”

  1. Bridget Brewster Heos says:

    I love this project, Kate! I especially love to see the artists’ desks (which even when messy look just so…artistic, to put it obviously.) Keep up the good work!

  2. Just discovered this project. Very cool!

  3. Emily says:

    Sadly- this is the first time I have sat down and looked through the website. Love it…

  4. Odette Geldenhuys says:

    I love your site. Please send me site updates. thanks, Odette

  5. hieronymus says:

    i like the concept and look forward to who you may have in the future.

  6. Susie L says:

    i love it. sometimes watching people’s desks sounds better than viewing their works. casual yet intimate, thanks for sharing your idea 😉

  7. Kay Chae says:

    Amazing project.

    I’m curious, though, if you accept submissions from the artists?
    Or do you handpick artists to shoot their desks?

    ’cause I’d like to show my desk if I could!

    • kate donnelly says: (Author)

      Thanks, Kay. Feel free to submit me something although I’m pretty backed up from the success of the project. Thanks again for looking/reading.
      Kate.

  8. I love the concept, but I wonder. Who checks in on this. You or the artists involved. I have commented just because there weren’t many comments but also because, your project, like me, is a free spirit. I would love to learn more of your other efforts. I read on
    -Smarmy

  9. MCA says:

    Just had to write & say – Great Site!
    Hope all is well,
    MCA

  10. Kirsten says:

    What a great project! I share your love for inspiring desks full of all kinds of creative little objects. I decided to take some pictures of my own workspace too and posted something about it on my blog. –> http://wickedkir.blogspot.com/2011/03/from-my-desk.html
    🙂

  11. I’m a long-time professional organizer with 2 published books. I am crazy about this site because it combines my love of individual personality and spaces. I especially like the back stories on why/how people do what they do! I used to live in Jersey and so I especially appreciate reminders of NYC. Now I’m out in Sedona, Arizona and loving the wide open spaces.
    Thanks so much for what you do!

  12. Ana himes says:

    Hi!!
    Maybe you´d like to see my desk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anaperez/5273800538/
    😉

    Congrats for this nice blog.
    Best,
    -Ana Himes-

  13. I really appreciate the amount of work and effort you put into this site, and love the results. Thanks for doing it. – Michael

  14. I really like the site.
    I’m spending way too much time working alone, and it’s comforting to see and be inspired by the working process/inspring objects and/or junk neatly/or randomly collected and/or strewn/cataloged/framed/sat on by cats/etc., of others in the design process…

    thank you, and please continue,

    eileen

  15. Eric says:

    I’m interested in contributing photos to your site. I presume that the contributed content will be curated by you?

    Thanks
    Eric

  16. Kelly Varela says:

    Cheers. Gorgeous website! Beautiful work.

    (your model friend from lunch at Pi with Paige)

  17. Ginny Gould says:

    Hey Kate,
    I stumbled upon this website and it’s way cool. Are you from KC!?
    I’m a native too and I was so excited to see you’ve worked for the Atkins!
    Keep up the awesome work!

  18. wow, wow, wow.
    i dnt spk eng, i am italian 🙂
    but: your site is meraviglioso 🙂

  19. tee says:

    Love! And…love you madly! It rocks tits, Kate!

  20. Keyaar says:

    Coming back after quite some time. Lovely as ever. Mind if I use an image to link to an article here? Thanks.

    • kate donnelly says: (Author)

      sure just please link up and give proper credit ; thanks for your nice note.

  21. mandy cobley says:

    couldnt agree more, love the site

  22. Hemant Basankar says:

    Beautiful Desks. I’m a graphic designer from Mumbai and hoping to be a part of your project. Great work!

  23. Absolutely love this idea. As I look around at the mess that is my office…I realize how organized + tidy I am throughout my home with exception to this room and this room only. It’s an organized mess. I leave things out on my desk as a reminder to “use” them…

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