UX director at Doejo (a Digital Acency in Chicago) by day, passionate audio entrepreneur by night. Garrett Galayda’s home office and his projects like The Hifi Case and LP Marketplace are one of a kind. Let’s take a closer look.
Can you tell me something about your desk setup?
My desk setup is best summed up as DWAR (design within ACTUAL reach). I like older stuff made well, deals from flea markets and ebay paired with work made by friends. I do admire the beautiful polished desks I see on pinterest but a little spending restraint always seems to win over in the end.
Is there anything you would like to improve on this setup?
A cheapy LG LCD I’ve had forever and has served me well for optimizing my designs while working in CSS. My next purchase will be a Apple Thunderbolt Display.
Do you switch workspaces during your day? If yes, what’s the reason behind it?
I switch often.
In the morning I start by trolling ebay/craigslist and other sites for suitcases and speakers and trying to mix in some social media all on my iPhone.
My day job has a pretty nice open timber loft office but focus can become an issue at times. It’s a pretty nice desk setup once the headphones are on.
After my day job I’ve got a workshop for building HiFi Cases in the back of my friend’s brewery called Aquanuat.
When I get back home I’ll do some social media work for my vinyl startup (LP Marketplace) while playing records.
Can you tell us something about the items on your desk?
I could tell stories about all the objects on my desk but I’ll stick to just a handful here:
Object #1:
A few years ago I helped my friend with some website issues on homelesscop.com.
In return he gave me a custom painting. Each line is done with paint markers.
His work is really impressive considering he’s all analog.
None of this is done using the aid of a computer but the line work is so precise. Really cool work.
Object #2:
Obviously I’ve got to plug my Speaker Suitcase side business here.
I kind of just fell into this a couple years ago after I called it quits
from playing bass for local bands after a 15 year run. Above in the slideshow is the first case I ever made.
More at The HiFi Case.
Object #3:
Panasonic Atomic Clock from the nuclear age of 60’s design.
A really nice artifact showing where design/technology intersecting
in time to inspire some major brands to create beautiful home electronics.
What are you doing to stay focused?
Music follows me through everything I am working on. Music with no lyrics is great for researching and working through UX exercises. When I’m at my workshop I listen to NPR to keep my mind active while working through more physical tasks. Its really about context. I do what most interests me and make sure to give myself the time in the day to see it though to the end before moving on.
Is there something on your desk which helps you stay focused? What is it?
Apple Music/Spotify and my headphones.
What was your latest self improvement experiment?
I’ve really noticed recently how much like attracts like. So being up front and honest at all times is something I’ve focused on as I feel that has been really where some projects have gone south in the past. It’s really about knowing your limits and knowing yourself before you commit to your next project/challenge. Remember your time is valuable and there is no need to burnout to hit unrealistic expectations by others. Take your time and do the work right and good things will naturally come your way.
Where do you see yourself and your desk in the next 5 years?
Hopefully still doing much the same things but on a higher level. On to the next one…
