Top 10 office accessories gift guide that are the essential upgrade your work environment needs

I remember when the lockdown was first announced and everyone began scrambling to figure out how they’d work from home. WFH as a product category absolutely spiked in the past two years, and even though people are returning to office, they’re carrying a part of their individual personality back to work… because that’s how they were productive at home. The boring standard white cubicle is dead, and we’re now in the era of individualized workspaces. This means having productivity tools that give YOU the right sense of focus and bring out the best in you. In our series of specialized gift guides this year, this gift guide focuses on your workspace, with tools that boost your productivity, help you stay organized, help you create content, and even a few nifty and fun toys to add a little frolic to your workspace! Consider this the best personal gifting and Secret Santa idea guide ever!

1. Moft Z Sit-stand Laptop Desk

Designed to be the world’s thinnest laptop stand, the MOFT Z is a 4-in-1 invisible sit-stand desk that can be propped up at 25°, 45°, and 60°, or elevated to a height of 10 inches. Winner of the Red Dot Award 2020, the MOFT Z is a lightweight and versatile solution, that allows everyday laptop users to maintain a flexible and comfortable posture throughout their workday. Just a little larger than a sheet of A4 paper, and almost half an inch thick, the compact laptop stand can accommodate 22 pounds of weight, which is pretty impressive, considering the 16-inch MacBook Pro weighs 4.7 pounds. Its origami-inspired Z-shaped structure ensures that it is super easy to open and close, and allows you to seamlessly transition between a sitting and standing desk while offering ergonomic angle adjustments. Affordably priced, the MOFT Z is the only portable desk that you can grab like a magazine, and create a flexible work setup with, wherever and whenever you feel like!

Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $69.99 (Starting with $10 off with coupon code “BF10”)

2. Timekettle M3

The great thing about the pandemic ending is that we can now ditch those annoying zoom calls and meet and greet our clients again. The bad thing is that we didn’t use those two years to brush up on our French, German, or any other foreign languages. However, the folks at Timekettle have you covered. Meet the Timekettle M3, a pair of TWS earbuds that will actively translate up to 40 languages for you and as many as 93 accents! The M3 takes your average pair of TWS earbuds to the next level. It comes with ANC and dual-mic noise reduction for your voice, but the M3’s most impressive feature is its ability to translate languages in real-time. It relies on the world’s leading translation engines (DeepL, Google, Microsoft, iFlytek, AmiVoice, Hoya) and even on Timekettle’s own engine to quickly translate audio with 95% accuracy. The M3, which comes with a split-case design, can be used in 3 modes (Touch, Listen, and Speaker) to cover a wide range of uses, from having one-on-one conversations or just listening to lectures, podcasts, news coverage. The M3 are IPx4 water resistant and last for 7.5 hours on a full charge, with another 25 hours of battery when used with the charging case. There’s an app that helps with translations too, while also letting you control the M3’s EQ settings.

Click Here to Buy Now: $108 $149.99 (25% off for Prime Members + Additional 5% discount with coupon code “YDESIGN22”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

3. Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector

The Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K is the most compact 4K laser theatre you’ve ever seen! The Nebula Cosmos will unleash a whole new level of brightness on your home entertainment – that is the power of 2400 Lumens. It has been equipped with the Laser Forge Image Engine which is powered by lasers, and features ALPD 3.0 software, which is quite interestingly used in professional theatres! It boasts a true color accuracy of 100% Rec. 709. The laser features a compact form and an ergonomically curved top handle that allows you to carry it wherever you go, and transform any space into a movie theatre. It also showcases a Seamless Autofocus, which produces instant image clarity, so you can spend more time engaging and enjoying your favorite content! You can link up the Nebula Cosmos with your portable power station. It is most compatible with the Anker 545 Portable Power Station (PowerHouse 778Wh).

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $1600 $2199.99 ($600 off with the up to 30% off Black Friday Sale)

4. SuperCalla Cable

The SuperCalla is a one-of-a-kind magnetic charging/ data cable! It looks similar to most cables, except for the fact, that at certain intervals, it has magnets around it. These magnets will organize your cables, and ensure they stay that way, with the help of magnetic attraction. The different cables can be coiled in a circular pattern, put together in a zigzag, or wound up the way you would typically organize cables. Just make sure the magnets align and the SuperCalla has the innate ability to stay organized whether in your pocket, backpack, drawer or even on your suitcase. The magnets allow you to easily open the cable out, using as much as necessary, therefore keeping your drawer, bag, and general workplace as neat as possible. SuperCalla comes in two sizes – 3 feet and 6 feet. It is available in two color options – black and white, and also looks really fun to fidget with!

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $14 $20 (30% off applied directly at checkout)

5. ASMR Zenball

In our offices, where we are surrounded by artificial materials, how do you connect to nature? While the most common answer is plants, having a plant can be a messy business. We bring to you the Zen Ball – made from genuine volcanic stone that has been shaped into a sphere, this desk device is an ASMR tool and a fidget toy, all in one. In a day filled with notifications that come at you from every side, pick up the Zen Ball to center yourself, give yourself a moment to breathe and refocus your energies, so you are acting rather than reacting. As an added value, you can drop some essential oil onto your ball and spin it for an added aromatic experience. Hold it, spin it, smell it or use it to calm yourself in stressful situations, this modern office must-have can be your reminder to stay in the moment.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $84 $99 (15% off applied directly at checkout). Hurry, storewide Black Friday sale ends in 48 hours.

6. Revopoint Mini 3D Scanner

The Revopoint MINI transforms objects into 3D models with a 0.02mm precision! The Revopoint MINI transforms 3D printing into an easy, accessible, and economical process, allowing you to bring your 3D model dreams to life. It works fast and accurately, with up to 0.02mm precision and a point distance of 0.05mm, which simply means it will be able to scan even the smallest and deepest parts of an object. It is primarily designed to be used in your hand, giving you the freedom to control the direction and speed of the scan, especially with a stabilizer that keeps the scan steady even if your hand isn’t. You can also just set it on a table with the built-in tripod. It has been amped with binocular blue light technology to project ultra-high resolution structured light, as well as a high-resolution dual-camera system, and an intelligent algorithm to ensure the scanned model is extremely detailed and precise.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $703 $799 (12% off for Mini Standard Package, 20% off for Mini Dual-axis Turntable Combo Or Mini Premium Package)

7. Better Back

Its unconventional design aside, what BetterBack does goes far above and beyond what any ergonomic cushion or chair can do. By hooking to your knees, the BetterBack perpetually keeps your lower back in the right position, preventing you from hunching. It’s a simple device that can be worn pretty much whenever or wherever you find yourself sitting for long hours – whether you’re in front of a laptop, the TV, sitting in a flight for 3-4 hours, or even at a game. The harness looks sort of like a slingshot, attaching to your knees and pulling your torso forward so your spine is in the right position. It instantly causes your back muscles to relax, your spine to realign, and your internal organs to feel more free given that they aren’t getting cramped by you hunching over! The BetterBack comes in various sizes that can adjust to fit pretty much any adult.

Click Here to Buy Now: $60 $99 (30% off applied directly at checkout)

8. Sisyphus Mini

A beautiful combination of art and algorithm, the Sisyphus Mini gives you the joy of owning your personal kinetic sculpture! Named after Sisyphus, a character from Greek Mythology condemned to roll a boulder up a mountain only to have it roll back down, the Sisyphus table turns that story into an artistic experience. The table comes with a sand chamber, and a steel ball that rolls around, creating valleys in the sand. A magnetic system under the sand chamber helps guide the steel ball, moving it in a series of hypnotic patterns that get increasingly complex with time as the ball moves across the sand, creating its elaborate design. The MINI comes with variations of a hardwood construction and a glass top, allowing you to place objects on it, although it’s best left undecorated, so you can admire the gorgeous designs that get created on it. There’s a ring of LEDs built into the Sisyphus’ rim too, which keeps the pattern illuminated even in the dark. Place Sisyphus MINI in your office where you can focus and work or add it as a table top decoration to your cabin – wherever you keep it, these mesmerising

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting at $573 $637 (10% off using coupon code “BF-2022”)

9. Eilik Companion Bot

Eilik has the personality of a Tamagotchi in the body of EVE from WALL•E. The tiny little robot stands on your tabletop, letting you interact with it through voice commands and touch, while it responds, reacts, and engages back with you to make your day a little more fun! Unlike most robots that have an air of emotionless superiority, Eilik actually does the opposite. It’s a robot with a personality and a heart. With its dynamic display for a face, Eilik actually responds and reacts to how you treat it. Ignore it long enough and it’ll sulk, pat it on the head or tickle it and it’ll smile. Lift Eilik off the ground and it gets scared of heights, give it food (a magnetic little food-shaped object) and it feels satiated and calm! The best part, however, is when two or more Eiliks come together! Place two Eiliks near each other and they play, tussle, and have adorable interactions with one another. Introduce more Eiliks and you can even get them to sing Christmas songs as they dance and wave their arms about! Talk about an emotionally advanced robot!

Click Here to Buy Now: $140 $149

10. DUEX Max Monitor

The DUET MAX is the must-have dual-screen laptop accessory that every heavy laptop user needs to boost their daily productivity! The large laptop monitor features a 14.1-inch 1080p display, high brightness of 300 nits, and small bezels, creating the ultimate immersive second-screen experience. It even boasts an ‘Eyecare Mode’, which minimizes blue light, and its impact on your eyes. What really makes the DUET MAX truly revolutionary, is the fact that it is not simply an ordinary extra screen for your laptop…it’s the kind of extra screen that’s always attached to it! You can swivel it out whenever you want. It can be mounted onto any laptop and oriented on either the left or right side, depending upon your comfort. Its auto-rotate feature enables you to intuitively adjust its orientation based on the placement of the screen. In a world where multi-tasking is the norm, and WFH culture means we need to work 10x more efficiently, the DUEX MAX is a boon because a single screen is simply not enough anymore!

Click Here to Buy Now: $264 $479.99 (45% off )

The post Top 10 office accessories gift guide that are the essential upgrade your work environment needs first appeared on Yanko Design.

These Japanese geometric scissors double up as quirky templates

When you need scissors, you’re probably looking to just cut something. You need something that will perform its function and not something that’s unique or pretty. Well, at least if what you need is just something that can cut through paper, plastic, or whatever needs cutting. But if you want something that will look pretty on your workspace or something that can do other functions than just cutting, then there’s apparently a Japanese brand that’s been doing that for decades now.

Designer: Zencix

The Trisqucle scissors come in different shapes than the usual scissors that we see. There is a triangle, square, and circle-shaped pair of scissors, which is probably where the name trisqucle comes from. Aside from cutting things, the accessories can also be used as shape templates with various sizes of circles and as a ruler and compass in case you need it for your office work or school work. The items are made from steel and have various colors as for some parts like the holder, circle shapes, etc.

These unique-looking scissors have apparently been around since the 80s and was created by the Japanese, who are of course known for some pretty unique products. But after a lengthy “hiatus” the Trisqucle is now back and is now called Shape Scissors and is being distributed by a U.K stationery brand called Present & Correct. But if you want something that feels a bit antique, a pair of vintage scissors are available in auction site Worthpoint.

For those that want to join the more modern era of school and office accessories, then the Shape Scissors may be more your jam. As someone who has problems with regular-looking scissors, I don’t think I’d want a pair to use for my cutting needs. But as decoration for my desk, then this can be a welcome addition.

The post These Japanese geometric scissors double up as quirky templates first appeared on Yanko Design.

Thermal mat adjusts room temperature for your forearms

When you work in an office with centralized air-conditioning or heating, it can be pretty hard to please everyone with the “right” temperature that’s comfortable for everyone. It would be ideal to have something for each room or cubicle but of course, that’s impossible and impractical. So having a device that can give each person a more comfortable working experience would be pretty convenient. It’s still a concept for now but this wrist rest device might be the closest thing to that kind of setup.

Designer: Tony Elkington

The concept device is called Stratum: Workplace Thermal Comfort and it is a mat where you can rest your wrists and forearms and adjust it to the temperature that makes them comfortable. It is based on the concept of spatial alliesthesia which gives you different thermal stimuli depending on the weather or temperature conditions that you’re experiencing. For example, there is a pleasure in holding a cup of hot chocolate during winter or running a bottle of cold water on your face in the middle of the summer.

There is a device located on both ends of the elongated mat which is where you set up your desired temperature and where it self-regulates the temperature of the mat itself. Stratum is able to either cool it down or heat it up, depending on what you currently want. It basically personalizes the temperature at your desk, or at least the one where your wrists and forearms rest. As most people are sitting in front of the computer or writing something when at the desk, those are the parts of the body that can benefit from thermal adjustment.

You don’t need to constantly fiddle with the device as the mat is self-regulating and it’s easy to switch to your desired preset: heating, cooling, and neutral. In case you don’t need the mat or you need more space to do your other tasks, you can just roll it up and store somewhere until the next time you’ll be needing it. As someone that sometimes feels a bit cold when at the office, this is a pretty nifty device to have.

The post Thermal mat adjusts room temperature for your forearms first appeared on Yanko Design.

This backpack is designed for stylish millennials who want to add a pop of colour to office outfit!

It’s no secret that today’s younger generations look at work differently. Just because ‘adulting’ was once equated with a 9-5 office job, it doesn’t mean it still is or that we ever have to lose our own sense of style while working one. Today’s younger generations are geared towards more casual, remote working anyway, workplaces have implemented more transparent and inclusive business models, and employers are steadily recognizing the value in each of their employee’s unique personalities and perspectives. Named after the German word for “young,” the Jung Business Backpack designed by Nicole Nassif was created for the young (or old) professional who wants to show off their personal style inside and outside of the office.

Nassif set out to build a backpack that’s conventional in function, yet unconventional in appearance. The Jung Business Backpack takes care of all the practical needs as your standard business bag. Inside, a padded laptop sleeve protects your personal computer from any potential damage following a fall or drop. Then, an outer sleeve wraps over the backpack’s main zipper, offering an extra buffer against any potential damage and a place to tie any items or carabiners to the outside of your backpack. Nassif stitched accessory pockets to the exterior of the Jung Business Backpack, providing spaces for you to keep your smartphone, stationery, and car keys. Each leather pocket is also given a primary color, answering Nassif’s whimsical blueprint. Plastic bubbles were also sewn into Jung’s outer sleeve to provide an added layer of protection against the elements and theft, keeping your accessories safe inside their bubbles.

Maintaining the backpack’s traditional silhouette, Nassif gave the Jung Business Backpack a rectangular shape, rounding its corners to give it a less rigid form and echo its young personality. Combining playful colors with heavy-duty materials and an overall minimalist personality, Nassif built the Jung Business Backpack to remind us all that work doesn’t have to be so serious all the time.

Designer: Nicole Nassif

Nicole Nassif set out to design a backpack that’s conventional in function and unconventional in appearance.

Nassif’s final prototype envisions plastic bubbles to cover leather accessory pockets.

Named after the German word for “young,” Jung Backpack is whimsical in appearance but gets the job done in the office.

Accessory pockets line the outside of Jung, while a padded laptop pocket fills up a quarter of its interior space. The backpack’s outer sleeve wraps around Jung’s exterior with plastic buckles that leave room to tie any items or carabiners.

Nassif aimed to create a minimalist backpack, adding whimsical accents like primary color pockets.

Product designs to help you return to office + boost work productivity in the new normal!

Offices are slowly opening up, and people are returning to their everyday work routines. Though the world may be returning to normalcy, it’s still important to take the necessary precautions and always be careful! And you may need a few products to help you with that. So, we’ve put together a collection of product designs to help you prepare for your return to the office while taking into consideration that there is a whole new normal now. From sanitizing devices to air-sealed work pods, and even quirky office stationeries, this range of office gear will help you rehabilitate into your work environment as effortlessly and safely as possible!

Just like working from home brought to light issues we didn’t have, working in the office during or after a pandemic will have its own set of new issues and that is what designers are aiming to solve with concepts with Qworkntine. The non-essential companies have to open up at some point to keep the economy (and our income) running. Qworkntine is an air-tight pod system that wants to make working in offices safe while we figure out long-term solutions. It protects the employees and can make it easy to monitor how many employees are in per square meter of the space – it also makes contact tracing convenient in larger offices. Its hexagonal shape lets companies arrange it in any format to suit their physical office – it is like assembling a beehive to keep all the bees healthy and happy! It can be customized to fit right-angled corners and can be elongated as per the needs.

We’ve featured external SSDs on this website before, but the Cléxi is something completely new. Perhaps one of the first SSDs to take encryption and security incredibly seriously, Cléxi uses a 2-factor authentication system to grant you access to the drive’s data. Once enabled, the security measures require two steps to let you access your files. First, you need to tap your phone on the Cléxi, which then sends a prompt to your phone to scan your face. Once the Cléxi knows it’s you accessing your files, it automatically unlocks for you, protecting your data from being accessed or copied by anyone… and that’s just the first step in Cléxi’s multi-pronged approach to protect your files.

Meet the Hygiene Hand, a Captain Hook-inspired piece of EDC that lets you interact with the world without, well, physically interacting with it. Machined from a brass billet, which is known to possess anti-microbial properties, the Hygiene Hand acts as a keychain that you can use to push, pull, and generally maneuver objects without actually touching them. Designed by a retired New York paramedic, the Hygiene Hand is what you get when Everyday Carry meets Personal Protective Equipment.

Ukrainian product designer Julia Kononenko created the ‘Eco Pot’, an intriguing little product that organizes your desk and adds a pop of green to it! The multipurpose desk accessory is basically a flower pot with an integrated pen holder. Divided into two sections, the smaller square-shaped section has been reserved to store your pens and pencils. Whereas the elevated larger section functions as a planter. Add a succulent or two and watch your desk bloom! Crafted from elmwood, Eco Pot is also lined with glass vessels, to ensure that neither the water nor soil damage the wood structure. The glass cover also helps to keep your desk dust-free even if the plants haven’t been planted.

You may remember Wool & Oak from their past Kickstarter campaigns, including the wildly successful 6-in-1 Duffle that introduced modularity to travel cases. Their latest campaign, The ALL DAY BAG, brings that very same level of problem-solving and pragmatism to a product that’s clearly plagued with problems. By redesigning the core UX of the woman’s handbag, The ALL DAY BAG gives women the ability to do more and carry more, with the freedom of being able to wear their handbag the way they see fit. The ALL DAY BAG is essentially a well-designed backpack in the avatar of a woman’s handbag. It functions as a tote, backpack, and office purse!

It’s a wireless charger, but it’s better than a wireless charger. Cell by Ampere works as a dock as well as a UV sterilization chamber for your belongings. It’s a weirdly relevant combination of features but believe me, Cell does a great job of being multifunctional but still being sensible. Every feature and use-case is well thought out, making it just the most conveniently handy accessory to have on you. Here, let me explain. Cell by Ampere comes with a collapsible design that houses 2 wireless charging coils on the top, and UV-C LEDs on the base. Place your phone on top, and it fast-charges without wires, however, collapse the silicon rim around the sides and the base becomes a UV chamber, allowing you to sterilize your phone, watch, earphones, keys, or any EDC in mere minutes.

The Memo Roll is shaped like a teardrop, and to understand its functionality, I guess it’s best to compare it to a tape dispenser. It’s basically a tape dispenser…for Post-It or memo notes! You simply tug out a note as needed, scrawl down whatever you need to remember, and stick it onto your desk or bulletin board. No more scrounging around for your memo notepad, while you struggle to jot down crucial details. You can place your Memo Roll conveniently onto your work desk, providing you with easy access to the notes. You surely won’t miss its cute quirky form.

Relying on a process that turns regular tap water into Electrolysed (EO) water, the IOON spray gives you an instant, effective, non-toxic sanitizer that you can spray on everything from your hands to door-handles, and from elevator buttons to cutlery (and even food!) When electrolyzed or ionized, water breaks down into a solution of hypochlorous acid and sodium hydroxide, which acts as a remarkable detergent and disinfectant, instantly killing bacteria, cleansing off harmful chemicals from food, purifying the air, as well as busting odors. The technology, which has existed for over 4 decades, creates an all-purpose cleaning solution that replaces the need for carpet-cleaners, floor-cleaners, room-fresheners, car-fresheners, fruit and vegetable purifiers, and general disinfectants. Needless to say, the electrolyzed water is food-safe, child-safe, and eliminates the need to clean your house with chemicals that aren’t healthy… and the IOON, a small, portable spraying device, can electrolyze and spray the water directly from within its hand-held, wireless form factor.

The N30 is a literal trip down memory lane, taking inspiration from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controller. Designed as a juxtaposition between classic and modern, this mouse, created by Daniel Jansson for 8BitDo transforms a hallmark of console gaming into a neat, functional mouse that’s a sheer tactile joyride! The mouse originated as a concept created by Janssen in 2009, only becoming a reality this year after 8BitDo really saw promise in it. The wireless mouse comes with clear-cut lines that you’d imagine wouldn’t be comfortable, but actually do feel familiar. It features classic NES controller-style red left and right-click buttons, resting on a black platform which is, in fact, a touch-sensitive scroller. To complete this whacky/adorable mouse’s design, Janssen incorporated a D-Pad on the side, that can be controlled via your thumb.

Busy workdays sometimes mean compromise for our meals. Instead of sitting down to fully enjoy a meal and our full lunch hour, we’re three-quarters of the way through a sandwich the size of our face five minutes after closing time. As relaxing and recalibrating as sitting down to eat a proper meal can be, work always seems to come first. SOC is a lunch box created by designers at Midea who hope to bring back the ceremony of enjoying a meal, even during the busier workdays. SOC Lunch Box is a three-tier lunch container packaged inside a magnetic carrying case that doubles as a tablecloth. The three levels of SOC provide space for the user’s different food items to be separated and neatly arranged, with enough room inside for utensils and a metal cover that keeps the food steamed throughout the day. With three enclosed compartments, each meal taken from SOC will taste as fresh as when it was made

Sorry Post-it notes, we are moving onto digital sticky notes!

Yes, we all have notes on our phones but has that phased out the use of paper and pen at our work desks? Nope, in fact, most people still prefer to write down their to-do lists because checking it off is gratifying. As a reflex, we always tend to frantically search for a notepad to jot down a number, address, meeting feedback, last-minute lists, or notes during a class. To integrate this existing behavior with the technology we already use, designer Jeong Woo Kim created Ouverture – a conceptual keyboard accessory that is a number pad + a digital notepad when you flip the cover. It has a typing mode which is the number pad and a memo mode which is the writing pad. “The leather cover acts as a number pad on a conventional keyboard. Current from the fingertips passes through the special conductive fiber to the touchpad inside the leather cover,” explains Kim.

A quick survey showed that 98% of people take notes when they are working on computers and 70% of them said it is uncomfortable and 34% complained that their desk tends to get messy or notes tend to get lost. With a device like Ouverture, your notes are saved as image files and your desk remains clutter-free. But it would be interesting if technology also lets you convert it into text for easier transfer of information. Another important point to consider if this goes into production is to make sure it is modular so that the left-handed demographic can also be included – we all deserve to have a chance at being more efficient! Ouverture comes with a magnetic pen on the side so that you don’t need to look for pen or paper anymore – it retains the tactile experience and incorporates it with our digital lifestyle without us having to learn any new behaviors. No more messy desks, paper waste, or lost memos!

Designer: Jeong Woo Kim

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This sticky note dispenser is a must have for every stationery addict!

Having some cool stationery designs on our work desk can really transform work into a joy, and makes dealing with everyday tasks easier. It’s hard to keep track of the multiples tasks we have to complete by the end of the day – meetings to attend, calls to return, assignments to complete and more. Sometimes we just need to note it all down, especially when your boss walks into your office, throws a couple of random instructions at you, and strolls off! Jonghwan Kim’s Memo Roll promises to help us with that.

The Memo Roll is shaped like a teardrop, and to understand its functionality, I guess it’s best to compare it to a tape dispenser. It’s basically a tape dispenser…for Post-It or memo notes!  You simply tug out a note as needed, scrawl down whatever you need to remember and stick it onto your desk or bulletin board. No more scrounging around for your memo notepad, while you struggle to jot down crucial details. You can place your Memo Roll conveniently onto your work desk, providing you with easy access to the notes. You surely won’t miss its cute quirky form.

In fact, Kim’s even provided us with an option of four colors, black, green, white and brown. The subtle colors of Memo Roll allow it to effortlessly merge with your work desk while standing out as a fun office accessory! This one’s a boon for all the forgetful ones.

Designer: Jonghwan Kim