November 6, 2013 - November 7, 2014: Tables, tabs, and tabulations

In a time of pure speculation about the possibilities of a dream desk, I decided to create a series of tables in Excel outlining the possible dimensions, secret compartments, and hardware to match the vague vision in my mind. This process began with mapping the dimensions for the executive desk my parents had given to me that served me well throughout the majority of academic career (until I moved out, unable to bring the desk due to its imposing size and design).

Building on these dimensions as a proven foundation, I began to research desk design and measurement, particularly as they related to ergonomics. An excellence reference proved to be Nick Engler's "Making Desks and Bookcases: Techniques for Better Woodworking", leading to a second supplementary table summarizing a a range of suggested measurements to accommodate for writing/typing surfaces and a range of body shapes.

These sources of information, supported by additional reading (please see the books post under INSPIRATION), led to a functional conceptual framework to create visual representations of what a desk well built could be.

Excel proved to be a useful mechanism to organize my thoughts, through which I started to track both ideas for secret compartments (because why not?) and hardware (primarily from Lee Valley).