Office... Upgraded for Small Spaces: Add-Ons For Artists

If you missed the original post, check it out... here!

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 Add-Ons For Artists 

I couldn't forget about artists when it comes to office upgrades, but if you're not an artist... stay tuned!

A place for your sketch pads should definitely be considered. One of which allows for vertical storage so that you don't have to pull from under others and potentially have a spill or a sloppy look.

This organizer is 9.25"L x 8.26"W x 7.28"H

If you're a concept artist or something similar and you work from home, add a pinboard/corkboard or another type of board that allows you to attach images on the wall space. If you need them directly in front of you, but you don't have the wall space... or it's a window, consider stringing them across from wall to wall with clips for the drawings. 

Think of how the festival flags are hung up from strings that run over carnivals and party spaces, you can just clip the art for a temporary period. Folders w/ sleeves will certainly be a requirement for the loose images if you want organization, but this is a "Duh of the Day" for most of you. I still recommend a vertical storage option for easier access.

If you're a traditional artist or you start on paper, keep the printer/scanner in a convenient area.

Oh yeah, speaking of paper... a place to store your printer paper is a must, it's something that gets used and doesn't pile up in the form of waste. Find a place to store the paper that keeps it clean and flat for your printing needs. A number of us use different types of printing material (myself included), so you can even use stackers or a multi-slot solution to store these print materials.

A number of artists go into detail with various tip sizes and colors when it comes to pencils, pens, and such... so storage for these items is a must. Tossing them loosely in a container might work, but fishing through them isn't going to be as efficient. Verticle or slanted storage/holders work great so that you can grab what you need quickly. You see the size of the pen and color at the tip when it's stored that way, and if you place them according to size and even have them listed based on colors... knowing what's what and where it's located will become second nature. 

There are multiple office storage solutions, so don't stop at one.

This organizer is 7.48"D x 5.71"W x 8.5" H

If you're a digital artist, or you do both traditional & digital, definitely consider a digital drawing tablet. I highly suggest one with a screen... especially if you don't have experience with screenless tablets. This can go on your desk if you utilize it daily, or... place it on the shelf until needed.

If you wish to go... green, I highly suggest a digital drawing tablet because it will reduce paper usage down to 0 as far as drawing is concerned.

By the way, for artists... I recommend getting a glass desk if you can get it to fit in the area. The reason is... if you need a lightbox (for traditional art), all it takes is a little DIY to turn your entire desktop into a lightbox.

Here are 3 ways to pull it off:

• Use standard paper and tape it to the underbelly of the table + Sit a lamp on the floor that won't burn the paper. A lamp might not cover the full area, but you can move it around as needed.
• Static Cling Frosted Glass Window Film
• Frosted Glass Spray Paint for a more permanent solution

If you aren't going with the cheapest option of using standard paper and a small lamp, you can even use a ring light with a tripod and tilt it up at the underbelly so that you get the lightbox effect. There are also other options like the 360-degree flexible gooseneck light you see below. You can actually turn this upside down and cover the underbelly of the table nicely. I'd recommend this for the static cling and spray-painted options.

I hope these add-ons allow you to make a positive productive impact with your space.

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Office... Upgraded for a Small Space!

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There are a number of people looking at their office space... scratching their heads on how to make it functional. It all depends on what your intentions are for that space. That said, let's dive in and figure out how to make your small space do what it do... baby, so that you can officially say "Office... Upgraded!".

Don't think you have to break the bank, It's not all about having the most expensive additions to your space. Aim at making it as user-friendly as possible so that you're productive and nothing is in the way. First and foremost, clear out the clutter so that you can actually see what room you're working with.

In a small space, you really need to get creative with the office, and they're usually narrow. In the case of narrower office spaces, I recommend either getting a desk that fits almost as flush as possible in that space wall-to-wall or installing a wall desk. 

If it has an area where you can install it on a side wall with this type of space, you're saving space if haven't been using this effectively.

If you don't have this type of wall, definitely take the desk to the back of the space so that you have room to move around without wasting space. Here's a 62" desk that could fit into a space like the one you see above. You can keep the legs on because they run more toward the end or you can use them as a holder so that you can mark and install wall mounts with an even placement. This particular table is foldable with no installation needed so you can place it immediately to get to work or start your mount.

By the way, here's a 48" wall desk, which is foldable but a full mount is best.

Two of these wall brackets can support up to 1100LBS (grab 2 sets of good mounts).

As seen in this image, if you have a window, in the back of the desk, you can run a shelf to the side. There are some desks/shelf combinations as well, just make sure... you have the room to work.

There are desks with drawers that you can utilize, but... I don't recommend those desks if you have the space to add shelving above the desk or off to the side because the leg room is a plus. Keep that space nice and clear because a lack of legroom can get tiresome afterwhile and if you work-from-home... why have the unnecessary distraction?

Utilizing the shelves well will definitely help you, especially if you have a ton of mail and paper in general. If you have tons of paper that don't require shredding, get the storage solutions that work for you for important documents, but also have a bin for your printer paper, shredding, recycling in general, and trash. Also don't forget a shredder that fits into the storage area (a bin-less one works well). If you keep the papers moving out on a consistent basis, they won't... pile up. Add a dust vac to the mix and keep your office fresh.

This organizer is 16.5"L x 12.6"W x 9.8"H to give you an idea of the fit.

There will be plenty of shelf space left, and you will have a fresh desk/workspace to get your grind on. By the way, I can't forget about a printer/scanner option to go on the shelf. If you put it near the end of the shelf you can hide the cord a bit better, and you can run the cord down and tame it from there.

If you have a shelf that's close enough with enough open space above to keep a PC cool, then place your tower on the shelf. If it's a longer wall-to-wall desk, place it on the desk to the side.

If you have openings on the desk with the caps for plug management, it remains clean and you get immediate access to your ports without the need to get under your desk. If you're constantly swapping parts in your tower, this definitely is the best route for you.

This specific desktop pc is great for a shelf or near the end of the desk. The ports are right in the corner, not up top where the ports can potentially wiggle and cause connection issues. You should be able to get two monitors or a nice-sized monitor on the desk with ease.

Cable management will also be a benefit for this space to keep your legroom free and clear. Using some velcro ties... gets the job done well. 

Additional USB ports for charging devices can be mounted under the desk... and a surge protector can go on the wall either mounted under the desk near the main outlet or (preferably near the wall that's within a comfy reach). Protect your legroom.

In terms of chairs, if it's tight, consider getting an office chair that doesn't roll but... it spins. That will decrease the chances of your chair tearing up your walls and the desk. If you have a longer desktop space, definitely go with a traditional one so you can slide as needed.

The average person will stop here unless they add speakers, but... those generally get a spot on the sides of the monitor and don't require much space (unless you go surround sound).

*Before I move on... don't forget to show your walls some love. Perhaps pics, art, an Echo Show 15?

Stay tuned, because I'm going to follow this post up based on various needs that may be sought for this type of space.

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Hey Blu: Where Can I Find Game Industry Opportunities?

I won't mention any names, but I was contacted about opportunities in the industry. Who you know is honestly one of the faster tracks to gain access, but... it isn't the only one. A previous article touched on this... which is more than likely the reason for the message, but... I'll deliver more information here.

One thing I will say is... you don't have to work at an established game studio in order to gain access to the game industry (as mentioned in the previous article). Having the ability to develop games gives you access as an indie developer, but if you want to work for an established company... click here.

Regardless of working for yourself or a company (which is great experience and a resume builder), you will have to do indie in some form so that you can gain experience for that job you desire.

Full courses are available outside of a college classroom, without the debt... including courses for game development using the new Unreal Engine 5 (literally 8 courses for $25, which this sale lasts until May 26, 2022). Learning how to create levels and characters is great, but don't feel left out if you're more so skilled with music, programming, or even making cool voice impressions, these all play a hand in games.

At times it will require you to work a day job while honing your skills, but at least you have a goal... and these skills won't go up in smoke. You have the ability to actually do something with them. Once you get the ball rolling, consider creating a LinkedIn account so that you can rub shoulders with other developers and companies. You will be able to include your work history, skills, and all that good stuff, which can turn heads and possibly get someone's attention. You will also see jobs promoted on this platform also, so... take advantage of every avenue possible when it's go time.

There are also Mod and Indie platforms out there that allow you to collaborate with others, just make sure you get with people you vibe well because it could actually turn into a game studio before you realize it. Ultimately, just avoid wasting your time and you will be fine. If you're a teen reading this, you and do the same things as far as learning and developing your own games, but consult with your parents before taking the step to share or release them so that your ideas are protected.

Full Courses Starting At $12.99