As someone that’s been working out of their home for the past few years, I know how valuable space can be. I’ve lived in large homes, small apartments, and everything in between and regardless of the size of the home, I’ve always found myself doing the same thing, which is trying to make my work area more efficient because, really, your work area is your world.

 

Over the years, I’ve been both privileged and cursed with setups at home and at the office. Setups that either worked remarkably well or not at all. I even took to working outside on my back patio for most of 2020 because I didn’t have an actual desk to use. During that time, I started to think about what kind of workspace I would like to have…once I got back inside of course. The problem was I didn’t know exactly what to do. When horizontal space becomes limited, one starts to look at verticality. So, that’s what I did.

 

Unless you have a desktop computer and it’s sitting on your desk, the largest thing on your desk is probably a monitor or was in my case later on, a flat-screen TV. Maybe it’s just your notebook. Whatever the case, think about all of the little components that has to be connected to your device to make that device function as intended. Everything from the power cable, the power brick, to the dongles attached to your laptop (and I bet there’s a lot of them if you’re like me), to the communications equipment like your router, modem, or TV/cable box. Maybe you have a docking station or external hard drive on your desk adding even more cables to the long list of cables you already have to manage. Heaven forbid you have a gaming console on your desk too. Now you’re in real trouble because you can’t actually use or even get to your desk. I bet you’ve already forgotten what color it is underneath all of that tech clutter.

 

To sound exactly like an infomercial, “I’ve got the solution for you!” What it actually is is just a new way of thinking about how to eliminate clutter on your desk that doesn’t impact the ease of plug-and-play. In fact, it may even make it easier for you to operate the tech you utilize every day. Thinking about tech clutter is obviously not a new concept but I think I have a new or perhaps new-ish idea of what to do about it, and that takes me back to the monitor or TV sitting on the desk. That TV monitor is probably sitting vertical because of a stand, so why isn’t there a stand for standard technology. Well as it turned out, there is but there isn’t. You see, most monitor stands are obviously designed to support flat-screens, their size and weight, not the size and weight of a console or compact PC. Now imagine putting multiple consoles, multiple NUCs, or multiple external hard drives on that stand at the same time, including all their prospective cables and even those annoying power bricks. If you could, all of those devices combined would now have a footprint the size of a small-to-medium potted plant. Note that I said “most stands” above because as it turns out, I do know of one that can support all of that weight. It’s been my old/new favorite product over the last few years because of its low cost, accessibility, and ease of assembly. I know from experience, having one right next to me that it could be the last base setup you’ll ever need.

 

More details to come.

In 2019 my partner and I decided to launch a series of websites to put on display our passion for art, design, and technology. It started out as personal blogging but as we began to create content, we came to realize that we were also filling a void. A void that is hard to explain, but not hard enough to not recognize. That void is the gap that exists between culture and technology.

 

This is not just a business but a tale of our lives: born from creation, sculpted by the masters, and tempered by life. We do not view art through rose-colored glasses. Regardless of whether it is client, corporate, or commercial. In art, everything is relative because everything is. A trained artist, a good designer, will always consider the social impact even if they don’t intend for their work to ever be seen. This is the discipline and the artist’s responsibility.

 

I don’t know what the future holds for technology, but I do know it is a tool and not a replacement for culture. We live in a brave new world. A world where fact and fiction, myth, and reality, all comingle in a sea of chaos that has left everyone stranded on a vessel of fear and despair. Sometimes it even takes an artist to remind other artists that it’s not about winning awards, it’s about communicating the nature of things and what’s important to our lives.

 

When we started, we asked ourselves one fundamental question; can we make it? can a completely unknown designer and a disabled artist come together to create something special and be successful. We have no social media following, no business prospects, no deals, or contracts. The only thing we have is our skills and our determination. So, can two people like us make even a little difference without getting caught up in the dogma and woke pessimism that seems to be so prevalent in the world today? I guess we’re about to find out. #tekethos4life

We want to help break the negative stereotype about social media merch, specifically within the tech influencer space where there seems to be such a low standard or expectation which is that it’s just another way for influencers to monetize, and they don’t really care about any of the social impact, let alone the environmental impact, of what they are putting out. We’re of the belief that if someone is going to make the decision to design something as visceral as a piece of clothing to be worn in the real world, they should also make the decision to think about the end user and how they’re going to be viewed. I love all things art and design, and fashion is certainly part of that sphere.

 

I understand that brands must promote but they should care what goes on the stuff and why. Let me be clear, when it comes to social media fashion, there’s the Kardashians and then there’s everyone else. We don’t expect to be the Gaultier of YouTube. We just want the opportunity to design good merch that transcends social media design, fashion, and traditional art mediums. In doing so, the result will be merch that makes people feel that they are a part of a universal tech community and not part of a cult.

 

You want to feel confident on the street, but you shouldn’t have to compromise your intellect to do it. We want you to feel comfortable wearing the clothes you see in front of the camera, even when you’re not in your bedroom or in the studio. You, the fan, are not just a spectator but a part of the social media fabric, regardless of your tech knowledge or enthusiasm level.