If you have to work all day, you might as well put your own personal touch on your workspace, right? Whether you prefer to be productive cozying on a couch or hoofing it on at a treadmill desk, the spot in which you spend the majority of your days is important. Spaces that Work showcases the digs in which Boston’s best get sh*t done.
If you’re stuck in a cube, you might as well pretty it up, right? And by pretty up, we really mean slap on some “bad ass” quotes and graffiti prints. Just ask Chase Compton, the Hotness Facilitator, er, we mean Graphic Designer, over at ViralGains, a former MassChallenge and 500 Startups viral video marketing company that’s currently housed in Communispace’s downtown offices.Compton’s red hair desk is quick to catch your eye whilst taking a turn around ViralGains’ quarters. A Jaws-esque twist on a classic Japanese print grazes his wall beside an Oscar Wilde quote that helps the creative see the glass half-full. When the talented designer hits a wall, he needs only to take a gander at photos of his friend’s graffiti art, pinned to the side of his station. That, or he’ll pick up a ball of clay with which to wring out some new ideas.
Who: Chase Compton, Graphic Designer (Hotness Facilitator) at ViralGains
BostInno: Describe your workspace in exactly five words.
Hmmm. Five words, that's tough.
What are three workspace essentials you can't live without? And why?
- A ball of clay. It helps to have something malleable to occupy my hands while my brain is sizzling with creative hotness.
- My external monitor. I have so many things open at once, I need that extra real estate so I can look at funny GIF's (say it with a J sound) while I’m inside a full screen program like Adobe illustrator.
- A backwards Boston Red Sox cap. 1. It keeps my orange locks from flowing about, 2. It contests other office workers idea of what should and shouldn't be worn at work, and 3. I rep my team. (Suck it, Yankees.)
If we rubbed a clean white glove across your desk, what would we most likely find?
Cliff Bar crumbs and a 5 Hour Energy.
When you're not in the office, where do you prefer to work? (Coffee shop, home, couch, etc.) Why?
At home, I freelanced for a couple years before coming on full-time for ViralGains. It's nice to be at home with my two Australian Shepherds and sit with my back to a nice, big sunny mill window. Only drawback is, my girlfriend expects me to clean the house because "I'm home all day.”
Desk decorations or no? If so, your favorite?
Hell yeah. I can't stand staring at blank walls when my eyes need a break from the design tunnel vision. It helps to surround yourself with quotes that are badass in nature or imagery that inspires you. My favorite decoration is probably my oversized black clothes-pin I haven’t found a practical use for just yet.
Silence or music?
Music. Some of my best work has come from a couple hours of straight robot noises, typically dubstep or TRAP, blasting into my eardrums.
