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A Conversation on Desk Setup Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Order with Michael, the People’s Favorite of WDSF 2025
"I’d say Hexcal Studio was my introduction to desk setups — the starting point for everything. It anchors the visual focus at the center of the desk, setting the tone and layout for the entire setup like the foundation of a building. "
Q1：Please give a brief self-introduction.
"I am Michaelexclamationmark, a desk setup content creator."
Q2：What led you to become a desk setup creator?
"I’ve liked tech products since I was a kid, but initially, I never thought about creating content on social media. The turning point came when I discovered Hexcal — that’s when I started organizing my desk, taking photos, and researching gear. My first Rednote post was actually about Hexcal Studio. At the time, it was just for fun, but when I saw that people really enjoyed that style of content, I began putting more effort into it.
My introduction to the desk setup world was actually through keyboards; I used to be obsessed with them. I was buying keycaps and accessories from niche studios, assembling them, and tuning switches. People outside of the keyboard community might not get it, but anyone in the community would instantly understand. My audience is also relatively niche, but very genuine."
Q3: Were you previously balancing your work in architectural design with desk setup content creation?
"Yes, but nowadays my main job is actually being a full-time dad. My child is two now, and ever since he was three months old, he has loved running into my room to play with keyboards. His mom doesn’t let him look at screens, so all he does is play with keyboards — and honestly, it's a blessing. If I had this kind of gear when I was a kid, I definitely would’ve shown it off to my classmates. You know how boys are — when he’s in elementary school, other kids might say, “My dad bought me a game console,” and he could say, “My dad has all of them.” "
Q4: Has your background in architectural design shaped your approach to desk setup aesthetics?
"It’s had a big impact. When I shoot videos, I don’t see the items on my desk as just props — I prefer to understand and present them from a more holistic perspective. Maybe it’s because of my background in architecture; back then, I often shot drone footage, so now when I film my desk, I bring a bit of that “architectural” mindset into my camera movement and composition.
For example, some of the objects on my desk are arranged at varying heights and in a staggered layout. From a distance, they really look like a row of buildings. Sometimes there’s a whole line of fill lights, speakers, and filming equipment placed in different heights and positions, and that spatial harmony absolutely fascinates me."
Q5. Your black-white-gray color scheme is very unique. How did you develop it?
"The color scheme is not an act; it’s simply a part of my life. My furniture, clothes, shoes, and tech gear are almost all black, white, or gray. Even my dog is white.
My black-white-gray aesthetic first started forming in 2012 when I went to Melbourne for my studies. The style of the local boutique stores and vibe of the streets influenced me a lot. Back then, I had an entire wall of shoes — all in black, white, or gray. Occasionally, if there was a pair I really liked that didn’t come in one of those colors, I’d make an exception.
I’ve always felt that the best thing about black, white, and gray is how well they go with everything. I go by a simple rule: if I really like a particular product and want to buy multiple versions of it, I’ll limit my choices to black, white, and gray. That way, I can only end up with a maximum of three which I like to think saves money… not that it actually does (laughs).
It’s the same when I buy keyboards. If I like a particular model, I’ll get two or three of them, but I always get them in black, white, gray, silver, or a combination of those. This minimalistic palette has become a part of my life, and it has naturally carried over into my desk setups."
Q6: Many people want to copy your setup, but it’s not that easy, right?
"Even if you are just using black, white, and gray, making a setup look good still requires a design. I spend a lot of time on my desk setup, but it’s not like fixing a car where I’m constantly taking things apart and putting them back together. I’m often thinking about how to arrange everything so I can make the most of my desk space. This makes the setup convenient and efficient, not just photogenic.
I can make my setup spotless, but if it’s not functional, then it's pointless to me. That’s why I leave some empty space on my desk to avoid clutter. Since I have a lot of equipment, I need to find a balance between aesthetics and functionality. This is actually the most time-consuming part. For example, I might have more items on the left and fewer on the right, or taller equipment on the left and shorter ones on the right. I keep adjusting and rearranging things until everything feels visually balanced and I’m satisfied with how it looks. Only then will I start taking pictures."
Q7: How did you gradually put your current setup together?
I’m a bit of a contradiction — I like having a lot of things, but I also care deeply about cleanliness and organization. Finding the balance between abundance and order has always been something I'm figuring out. I usually do a major year-end revamp, and it’s normal for the room to be a mess for a week or two during the process — but nothing beats the satisfaction of having everything tidied up.
I’m also particular about details, especially with anything mounted on the wall, like pegboards or shelves. Whether I’m drilling screws or sticking something onto the wall, I’ll check it repeatedly with a level to make sure it’s perfectly straight. Otherwise, it will bother me every day. When I mounted my 48-inch TV as a monitor, I thought it looked a bit crooked. I ended up taking it down three times, patching and remounting until I was completely satisfied. It’s been up like that ever since."
Q8: How would you describe your desk setup style?
Q9: How do you keep your desk organized when you lean toward a maximalist style?
"I like having everything out where I can see it — it just makes me happy. If I put something away in a box, I might just end up not using it at all, so I prefer to keep things on display. Even though I have a lot of items, I pay close attention to categorizing them and maintaining order. For example, I group things by type and height to create a sense of visual layering and rhythm.
I’ve also put a lot of thought into wall storage, maximizing the vertical space in my room so every inch is used. The pegboard and a set of shelves originally designed for books now hold my keyboards perfectly. This way, I can display the things I love while still keeping the space neat and organized."
Q10: From your photos, it’s evident that you have continuously upgraded your gear, yet your style has remained consistent.
"Yes. Even when I upgrade my gear, the overall tone doesn’t change. The adjustments are mostly in the details, like switching a monitor from landscape to portrait, or swapping desks around. The overall look is still unmistakably my style. Honestly, Hexcal Studio has a lot to do with that. With this “big guy” sitting on my desk all the time, how much could the style really change? Having an underlying tone also keeps my creative energy going."
Q11：What role do you think the Hexcal Studio plays in your desk setup?
"I’d say it was my introduction to desk setups — the starting point for everything. It anchors the visual focus at the center of the desk, setting the tone and layout for the entire setup like the foundation of a building. For me, it’s not just functional, it's a also a game-changer for photos. No matter what I’m shooting, as long as the Studio is in the frame, the image quality instantly feels elevated. This is especially true when I’m photographing keyboards. Many people have said that I can make a 200–300 rmb keyboard look like it’s worth 2,000 rmb, and that’s because a well-designed setup can instantly boost the atmosphere.
I think it’s really cool. I’ve never thought about replacing the Studio with another product, and to this day, I still haven’t seen anything in the same category of products that can match its presence. The 1.2-meter panel offers plenty of space, making it easy to display small items, which is incredibly practical. On top of that, it has an excellent color palette and material finish, giving it a solid, substantial feel. The immersive lighting effects are also fantastic. Sometimes when I’m taking pictures, I’ll turn off the lights and let ambient light fall across its surface. The texture still comes through beautifully in the pictures. That level of detail is something other products simply can’t offer."
Q12: Have you tried any other Hexcal products? How do you feel about them?
"Yes. This year, I have also been using one of your desks, and my experience has been great. I used to have a height-adjustable desk with a locally-produced motor, and at the time, I expanded my workspace by joining two desks together. However, each time I adjusted the height, it would wobble and sometimes even bump into the desk next to it, which made it feel unstable. The Hexcal desk has none of those issues. The height adjustments are incredibly stable, with almost no side-to-side movement, and the motor is from Linak, right? It's super reliable.
I’m also using the cable management tray and under-desk drawer that come with the desk. I added the drawer later on, and it’s been very handy. The cable management tray is quite spacious, but since I have so many devices, I’ve managed to fill it up completely (laughs). If a larger version ever comes out, I’ll be the first to get it."
Q13：In your desk setup photos, there are almost no visible cables. How did you do that?
"I leave most of my cable management to the Hexcal Studio, and all the cables under the desk go into the cable management tray. Setting up the new desk gave me the chance to stop using other power strips and streamline the devices on my desk. Since I added another desk on the right side, I moved some of my equipment over there, and now the Studio alone handles all my power needs.
Since my desk faces a window, whenever I need to remove the monitor or tidy up the cables behind the computer case, I have to pull the desk out a bit. In the past, when I had more devices under the desk and messy cables, moving the desk meant disconnecting a bunch of wires, and that was a hassle. Now, I just unplug the Studio’s power cord, pull the desk out, and I’m good to go. It’s so much more convenient.
Cable management is very important to me. After all, visible cables have no place in my setup style. In reality, there are a ton of cables, but I have hidden them. I used to think it was fine for things to be messy under the desk since they wouldn’t show up in photos, but not anymore. Every cable goes inside the the cable management tray now, and the space under my desk stays spotless. Even if it’s out of sight, knowing there isn’t a tangled mess makes me feel much better. Maybe not everyone has this obsession, but I care about it a lot.
A lot of desk setup creators put effort into cable management. Some people start with a clean desktop, but over time the area under the desk turns into a spiderweb of wires, and they just leave it that way. I usually have a “tolerance threshold,” and when I can’t stand it anymore, I’ll spend an entire afternoon taking apart every cable and redoing them all. Now, with a cable management try, it’s much easier. I just throw the cables in instead of routing and tying each one individually. In the past, I aimed for perfect neatness even in places I couldn’t see, tying everything up beautifully. But every time I changed equipment, I had to undo it all just to pull out one cable I needed, which was a huge hassle. I don’t do that anymore. Now all the cables go straight into the cable management tray, and when I need one, I just pull it out. That’s a lesson I learned from experience."
Q14. You won the The People's Favorite at this year’s World Desk Setup Fesival, with the highest number of votes overall! How did you get people to vote for you, and do you have any special memories from the experience?
"I am extremely grateful for everyone's support! The moment that stood out the most to me when I woke up one morning and saw that my votes had suddenly jumped to first place — I was honestly shocked (laughs). I asked quite a few friends in the desk setup community to cast their votes, and they were incredibly supportive.
It’s actually quite touching. I started out as a typical fan who kept up with some popular creators, and I never imagined we’d gradually become friends. Compared to more popular categories like home décor, tech, or cars, the desk setup community is really niche, but the vibe is so wholesome. Everyone genuinely appreciates and learns from one another, and it feels amazing."
Q15. You must be pretty influential now, right?
Copyright 2025 Michaelexclamationmark
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