Treehugger recently published an interesting article on the concept of the standing desk, focusing on the offices of Herman Miller as a case-study, both as a designer of such workspaces (Herman Miller’s Action Office, 1964) and as a potential user group (looking at the Herman Miller’s offices today)… The Standing Desk: Why Hasn’t It Caught On?

Over the years, there have been many purported benefits of using a desk that allows one to stand, beyond the obvious increase in choice and freedom of movement it provides:

- Improved productivity
- Increased energy
- Better circulation
- Reduced wrist strain
- Reduced back and neck pain
- Greater mobility

While the vast majority of my own work time is still spent at my main desk, in a traditional seated position, I really value the ability to break up the work day with other options. I’ve long enjoyed the option of a standing workspace, and even found it to be helpful in breaking creative blocks. I built a small, secondary desk at standing height in a little corner (photo at right), which I primarily use for hand illustration. I also use it in combination with a BioFit stool as a quiet place to write with a laptop.

“Man’s physical machine has evolved to do many things well but no single thing continuously…Proportioning some of our work to standup work stations would do more than anything else to overcome sedentary decline. The office can be a kinetic, active, alert vigorous environment.”

- Robert Probst, The Office: A facility based on change, 1986

I’d love to hear what works for others. What’s your workspace like, and is it working for you?

This past weekend, during one of several adventures with rooftop ice dams that involved climbing out the window of an attic dormer, a bit of text happened to catch my eye, peaking out from beneath a small hole in the attic floor. After pulling up the floor board, I was delighted to find copies of the The Boston Sunday Globe and the Haverhill Evening Gazette from 1937.

What fun to read the news of that day, and all the cool ads too! Here’s a sample ad from a local Chevrolet-Buick dealership of the time, located at what is now a parking lot for a Rite Aid pharmacy.

Getting around to sharing this one a little late, but here’s another snow-inspired piece we created recently — our “Winter Window” holiday card.

Printed on recycled 67lb Cover, using two sheets affixed with adhesive to create the pop-up window effect. This card is a sequel to last year’s card, also a pop-up featuring the cardinal and a snowy pine.