The goal of Smart Home Office is to create a comfortable and efficient workspace that supports you in achieving your goals. We offer high-quality products designed to address common challenges of working from home, such as:
- Maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal life;
- Organizing and storing work items in order;
- Preventing overworking.
However, simply having a new home office isn’t enough. It’s also essential to acquire knowledge on improving work performance and enhancing your well-being while working from home. To support you, we share various tips and emphasize the importance of taking breaks.
Our mission is to inspire you to dream big and live your life to the fullest.
If you are unable to find a suitable desk, please contact us at info@smarthomeoffice.eu, and we will create a desk that meets your specific needs.
Anna-Liisa's story
In 2021, I decided to pursue my dream of creating a home office flap desk and developed the flap desk ANNA. After a year of use, I improved the design and created ANNA 2.0 in collaboration with Enima.
Simultaneously, I started developing the NELE desk, which I successfully completed in early 2023. Currently, I am working on the NELE 2.0 version in partnership with Enima, aiming to create a stylish dining desk that also functions as a home office desk.
Flap desk ANNA development
First prototype
2019: EKA product design curriculum school project in cooperation with the company Woodman
Second prototype
2021: Complete product development and design change
Flap desk ANNA 1.0
2022: Final version of flap desk ANNA 1.0
Flap desk ANNA 2.0
2023: Further development of flap desk ANNA 1.0 into flap desk ANNA 2.0
The biggest lessons in product development that we learned
The behavior of wood
When creating plywood for a curved desk flap, we experienced unexpected behavior from the wood. The wood bent differently than intended after being removed from the mold. We learned that the bending jig must be made with a larger radius.
When building the NELE desk with 100% oak, the desk flap warped significantly. We added additional strips to straighten the shape of the flap, but it didn’t provide much help. This experience taught us to consider the unique properties of wood.
3D visualization
A 3D image alone doesn’t provide a complete understanding of the product. It’s tough to gauge size and feel through a screen, and materials and structure can’t be fully assessed.
When developing the ANNA 1.0 desk, we initially planned for it to be 20 cm wider. But after creating a 1:1 cardboard prototype, we realized it was too large and would bend. Therefore, we promptly reduced the dimensions. After using the desk for an extended period, we identified the changes needed for the new version.
Patience in furniture industry
It’s important to keep in mind that the furniture industry often experiences delays, so it’s crucial to clearly communicate our requirements.
Typically, issues and mistakes only become apparent when the product is fully finished, so it’s vital to monitor the entire process and address any material or design concerns as they arise.
New ideas and changes
New ideas can arise unexpectedly, even when a product is already in production.
We made last-minute changes to the NELE and ANNA 2.0 desks because we discovered better solutions after the initial work.
Overall, we learned that understanding the behavior of materials, thorough prototyping, clear communication, patience, and openness to new ideas are crucial in product development.
Wishing you great success while working from home!
Anna-Liisa