Interview about Desky Office Desk Booking Software, winner of the A' Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design Award 2024
Desky is a workspace management tool designed to enhance the hybrid work model, offering a blend of logistical and social solutions. It provides a strategic weekly overview, allowing employees to plan office visits for optimal collaboration. The desk booking system ensures a personalized workspace, minimizing stress. An interactive map showcases office events, cultivating a vibrant culture. Additionally, schedule tracking promotes team dynamics. This innovative approach addresses the multifaceted challenges of hybrid work, making Desky pivotal for a productive and enjoyable work environment.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsI began with a simple question: What would make someone actually want to go back to the office? I conducted qualitative research with hybrid employees across industries. The findings revealed that the motivation wasn’t desks—it was people. That insight informed Desky’s core features: colleague visibility, weekly presence planning, and social-aware booking. I designed the tool to not only solve logistical pain points, but to rebuild workplace culture in a decentralized world. I think this people-first perspective is what helped Desky earn international awards like the A’ Design Award, Muse Award, and Indigo award.
I’ve always believed that tools should adapt to human behavior—not the other way around. Desky helps users see when teammates are in, so they can sync up naturally. It’s a subtle but powerful way to encourage collaboration. When I serve as a jury member for design awards like IxDA or Communicator Awards, I look for that kind of thoughtful integration—where functionality and empathy are balanced. I took the same standard and applied it to my own work.
Because it was a personal project, I had the freedom to move fast and adjust based on real feedback. I ran weekly usability tests and applied what I learned immediately. My experience judging hundreds of entries across awards like WINA gave me a sharp eye for friction points and UX clarity, which helped streamline that process.
I wanted the office layout to feel alive—not just a static grid. I took inspiration from transit maps and even a bit of game design. It’s intuitive: you see who’s sitting where, what’s available, and book with a tap. This approach to visual storytelling was something I knew would resonate, and I’m glad the A’ Design jury saw its value as well.
Desky reimagines what a workplace tool can be. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about culture, connection, and user care. From the tone of the microcopy to the fluid motion design, I focused on warmth and clarity. I think being on the jury side of major awards helped me understand how to craft that kind of well-rounded experience. Winning the Bronze A’ Design Award felt like a validation of that holistic mindset.
It was all about giving users control. You can choose whether others see your status or not, and everything is opt-in by default. I wanted to avoid anything that felt like surveillance. When I review entries as a design juror, ethical design is a huge consideration—and I held myself to that same standard here.
Desky was designed mobile-first, since I knew many people would book on the go. But it also scales beautifully to desktop, thanks to a flexible component system. My background in front-end development and accessibility played a big role in making sure everything just worked—whether you were on your phone or a widescreen monitor.
Accessibility isn’t just a checklist—it’s a mindset. I built Desky to support screen readers, high contrast modes, and keyboard navigation. As someone who's judged accessibility-focused design entries, I know how impactful inclusive design can be. Making Desky accessible was non-negotiable—it’s part of what makes good design good for everyone.
Desky started as a booking tool, but it’s really about connection. I’m working on expanding it into a more holistic workplace experience—things like AI-powered suggestions for team overlap, or even mood-based check-ins. I think the future of hybrid work needs tools that are not just smart, but also emotionally aware.
In-person culture matters, even in hybrid environments. I wanted Desky to bring back those small but meaningful moments—like birthday lunches or workshops. By integrating cultural touchpoints, Desky becomes more than a utility; it becomes part of the workplace rhythm. That balance of function and emotional resonance is something I always admire when judging entries—and it’s what I aimed to build into this product.
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