CableTread: Desks with Embedded Wiring
cabletread.com
cabletread.com
That said I think a focus on the entire desk might be a difficult sell. I’m not going to replace my existing desk with this. I’m not even sure if I would go for this if I was in the market for a desk unless I could customize it in some way (or at least choose from multiple configurations depending on my needs). It looks like that’s included in your future planning, so congrats.
You know what I would buy immediately? A well-designed standing/convertible desk that makes a modern design statement. I don’t like the extremely utilitarian look of all the standing desk options I’ve seen. Give me the 2020 version of the Steelcase (or numerous other manufacturers) tanker desk and I will buy in a heartbeat. Those tankers are utilitarian and stylish. I would probably own one already if they didn’t weigh half a ton.
It has 4 thin legs instead of 2 T-Rex style legs and you could probably customize it with storage on both sides to get close to a tanker-style desk.
https://www.watsonfurniture.com/gallery/images/859
Edit: I should also note that it is a bit more of a B2B company as opposed to B2C, but figured I'd share since I am very satisfied with them.
I hadn’t heard the T-Rex description before. It perfectly captures the look of every standing desk I’ve seen. It’s amazing how much the four legs changes the look and feel of the desk.
Since you seem to be in the know: Do you see any of the more B2B type companies (or designers) focusing more on the consumer market in the future or is the opportunity in selling to corporate offices going to keep things as they are? It seems like a lot of the design talent is focused on the corporate office space and needs. For example this C9 looks to have a rail system line etc built around the desk, which makes me wonder if different design choices would be made if the focus was more for a home office setting.
Most of the big companies such as Herman Miller, Haworth, Steelcase, Knoll all have online stores where consumers can buy individual items. Those brands also own a bunch of other brands such as Muuto, Hay, Naughtone, turnstone, Coalesse, BuzziSpace, and more which could have some crossover into the home office setting (and can also be shooped for online).
I imagine as the consumer market for home office heats up other brands will figure out how to manufacturer limited lines with limited options for finishes and fabrics so they can be made and shipped more rapidly.
For C9 though, you actually don't need the rail (we have 3 single desks in our office without a rail). While these are more expensive than something you could get elsewhere, they are built like a tank and manufactured to order to the specs you need at a facility in Washington State.
I really appreciate you taking the time to list those companies and I’m definitely going to look into them, although with your experience and what I’ve seen of the C9 it looks hard to beat.
I didn’t have a new desk in the budget this year but it might be time for an upgrade!
With hydraulic car jacks to make it sit-stand ;-)
I just use a drill or staple gun, and lots of zap straps. Everything goes to exactly where I want it. You can buy grommets pretty cheap if you need a hole. I find myself making adjustments a few times a year, when I upgrade or replace hardware. Yes, it takes a bit of up-front work, but the result is great. This approach has worked just fine for me for 15+ years.
Your story is relatable. Most desktops don't think through cabling. Cables management is considered an add-on accessory even though EVERY modern desk has cables. Why aren't cables bettern integrated into desks? This is my response to that.
It's really odd when companies try to come up with expensive laborious solutions to truly simple problems, and market it like it's solving this massive issue plaguing the world. Bonus points if they're reasoning is to trail blaze "how X should REALLY be like."
[1] https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/sb1/cable-management-desks...
The keyboard integrated into the desk is a beautiful piece of form over function, I'm sure it will be fun to pretend you're the head of Encom until you want to shift your weight and you try to shove the keyboard over a little bit to make your wrists happy.
Inset keyboard and trackpad may not be the most ergonomic. But boy does it look clean. I will look into a more one size fits all approach.
In an adjacent category, something like this for electrical engineers would be pretty awesome. A lot of instruments have gone "USB connected with computer as display device." I could easily see a workbench that had 'tilt-up' bays that would expose oscilloscope ports, or powwer supply ports, etc. With the instrument displays on maybe three or four displays across the back.
[1] Not general purpose "computers" which often have slots for different peripherals that would not work well in such a configuration, but I digress.
I think Industry-specific workstations have a lot of potential. Generic one size fits all desks don't cut it for many people.
I thought streamers/gamers would be a great market too.
Furthermore, what's about regularly changing the ordering? I can clean and streamline my ordinary desk right now with a few cable straps and extension chords. This will take me 15min and look fine. But tomorrow I decide to use other hardware and need to decompose all that clutter. A management solution definetly needs to be flexible to allow me to save time when cleaning up the desk.
I am working on a version optimized for a laptop -> usbc hub -> multi monitor set up.
By having structured set ups with a set number of power/USB outlets and cable lengths controlled on the back end, I can provide super clean set ups.
Zipties are cheap as dirt and work exceptionally well for organizing cables into bundles and tucking them out of way and out of sight. There are other equally economical ways of doing the same, e.d. under-table cable baskets and such. It's also a problem that generally needs solving just once, so whatever does that in the cheapest and quickest way wins.
I also don't see many people being able to justify paying extra for a beautiful looking underside of a table.
Finally, and only tangentially related, the website has massive problems loading on an older iPad, showing long stretches of white and black space with nothing on them, stuttering when scrolling and then just outright crashing the browser :-/
I can kind of see the point for locations where aesthetics are more important than usability (eg. receptionists) but otherwise for most people it wouldn't add that much, since they'd lose the aesthetic by plugging in whatever cord they need to charge their phone, USB coffee mug heater or whatever.
A more useful thing in my option would be a build your own option that allows placing items where you'd want them and have it route and build the thing automatically, but I'm not sure part of that target market, so take that with an appropriate amount of salt. :-)
For now it looks like making a more modular one size fits all solution makes the most sense.
The idea is cool if you're into elaborate (expensive?) custom desks, but it seems more like an design school final than something of practical use.
Believe me though, it looks nice, I can tell you worked hard on it. I just don't get why build a business around it now instead of iterate on it as a hobby until you get something of use for the average desk worker.
Thanks for the note about the website. Works fine on my ipad, but I will look into it. Not a good look.
Edit: never mind, just saw the top is solid.
Is the keyboard integrated to the desk, or I can use my own keyboard?
This version has the apple magic keyboard and trackpad built in. Easily adaptable to any set up.
This version is highly specialized.