Desk Setup With Exposed Brick Wall in Romania

Name: Darius Dan

Location: Romania, Cluj-Napoca

Occupation: Interface Designer

Room size: 46 m² (495 ft²)

Cost of setup: ~$5,3K

Social media: X

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

Hello, I’m Darius. I’m an interface designer — I move shapes until they make sense.

I started my journey designing avatars and signatures for online forums.

Having possessed a natural talent for drawing since childhood, I quickly realised my true calling was to unleash my creativity.

From 2010 to 2014, I worked as a print and advertising agent at a local shop, where I ventured into photo editing, print design, logos, and other related graphic work.

In 2014, I joined a small design agency as a Senior Designer for a fixed term of six months, where I focused on creating logos and webpages.

It was in the same year of 2014 when I chose the most challenging path: to go full-time into freelancing.

Besides working on client assignments, I started to build my own digital products.

This enabled me to push my boundaries and build huge icon collections and UI kits.

In 2022, I was recognised as a Top 30 Icon Author worldwide.

I continue to help people shape new ideas through icons, illustrations, and logos. As a no-code enthusiast, I also enjoy crafting websites and bringing them to life.

Take us through your setup

Since I spend a lot of time in my office, having a visually appealing workspace inspires me to be creative.

A big window for natural light is essential.

I especially appreciate the patterns and textures of natural elements like old brick, wood, and stone. These are beautifully combined with large white surfaces that reflect the light.

I’ve always leaned towards the light side.

I believe that people should complete all their work during the day and rest at night.

Perhaps that’s why I prefer light interfaces over dark ones, natural plants over artificial, and sunlight over any other source of light.

The patterns of natural elements appeal to me due to how light casts varying shadows across their textures.

Finding this location was a major challenge for me, especially in a crowded city where I still wanted a nice view and easy access to local groceries and eateries.

I’m so grateful for this workspace; it’s perfect for me and needs no improvements at the moment!

What’s your favourite item on your desk?

There are a lot of items in my workspace, but I like to keep them well organised.

I still do traditional drawing and enjoy taking notes and sketching in a Moleskine pad.

To maintain a clutter-free desk, I ensure that cables are hidden and I avoid placing random items all over.

Cable management accessories mounted beneath my desk significantly help to keep plugs and cables out of sight.

Some of the items I proudly own that enhance my workflow include a Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils set, a naughty cactus, an Apple Pencil 2, my trusty iPhone 13, and a few good books.

For the love of a minimalist desk look, I store all my other regular tools and items in drawers, pulling them out only when needed.

What apps or tools do you use to get things done?

My favourite tool has to be Figma.

You can do so much with it, from designing invoices or client brand books to creating complex prototypes and UIs for mobile or desktop software.

When it comes to drawing illustrations or quickly sketching logos, icons, or anything else, my primary tool is Procreate on my iPad Pro.

What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?

I try to draw inspiration from real life as much as possible, which is why I enjoy travelling with my wife.

For example, during a city break, if we’re in front of a historical building, I also analyse their posters, marketing materials, etc., to find intriguing elements.

When I’m at my maker station, I turn to websites like Pinterest, Dribbble, and Behance for inspiration.

Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?

I’m a minimalist.

I always advise others to keep everything well organised, hide anything that’s not required for daily use, and keep the office as uncluttered as possible.

What does your typical day look like?

When I reach my office, I usually read a few lines from a book while letting in some fresh air from outside.

Then, I head straight to my chair and start working, taking quick breaks for push-ups.

For lunch, I either order something or quickly visit the local grocery shop to grab a bite.

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At the end of the day, I pick up my wife from downtown, and we head home together, where I make an effort to disconnect from work and spend quality time differently.

I typically work eight hours on average, but on days when I’m in the groove, I can end up working 16 hours.

Your tips for working from home?

I actually work from an office studio downtown.

As I mentioned, I even find inspiration in my everyday routine of getting dressed and travelling to my office.

Seeing trees, cars, lights, and people are all part of the creative world we live in, and this, in turn, fuels my creativity.

I’m not opposed to the “work from home” concept — I tried it for three years and simply concluded it wasn’t for me.

I’m far more productive in an office away from home and can focus much better there.

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