Journal

Ideas for better focus, calmer desks and analogue living

Explore the thinking behind Focus Lab, from the science of fidgeting and ADHD-friendly workspaces to tactile design, natural materials and a more considered relationship with technology.
How I stay focused when working from home
How I stay focused when working from home
Working from home gives you freedom, but freedom and focus aren't the same thing. Here are 7 small habits that make concentrating considerably easier, with some science to back them... Read more...
Sometimes the best way to change your mind is to change the room
Sometimes the best way to change your mind is to change the room
After 20 years in creative industries, I've noticed one thing: changing where I work can change how I think. Here's what the science says... and what I've learned from working... Read more...
Close-up of a tactile wooden focus tool, showing natural walnut grain and satisfying texture — a premium adult fidget tool designed for calm, focused hands.
Adult Fidget Toys vs Focus Tools: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between an adult fidget toy, fidget tool and focus tool? We explore how design, intention and language are changing fidgeting at work. Read more...
Open notebook on a desk with handwritten notes, representing personal reflection and intentional working day design
How to Design a Working Day That Suits You
A personal reflection on 20 years of working, from the freedom of self-employment to the structure of a large organisation, and what it taught me about designing a working day... Read more...
A close up section of Focus Deck, showing a metalic dial on a cream white faceplate that is set into a walnut wooden body
How Tactile Fidget Tools Help You Focus (Especially with ADHD)
For many people, especially those with ADHD, the hands need something to do for the mind to settle. Here's why tactile fidget tools can genuinely help — and what to... Read more...
A close up shot of Focus Deck with the metal dial in view, in the background the toggle switch and cream plastic faceplate can be seen
The Perfect Desk Object: Why Tactile Design and Craftsmanship Matter
Why do some objects earn a permanent place on your desk while others end up in a drawer? Explore the design philosophy behind Focus Lab; and why the weight, texture,... Read more...
A close up of some beautiful walnut wood, smooth and polished revealing the unique wood grain
Why We Use Solid Walnut Wood: The Case for Natural Materials in Desk Accessories
Discover why Focus Lab uses solid walnut wood to craft premium focus tools and desk accessories. From its natural warmth and tactile grain to the patina it develops with use,... Read more...
A hand holding Focus Switch, a beautiful walnut fidget with an engraved logo on the front
Why Analogue Still Matters: Reclaiming Focus in a World Designed to Distract You
In a world of notifications, screens and endless digital noise, analogue objects offer something rare: your full attention, given back to you. Explore why Focus Lab is built on the... Read more...
A close up of a pair of dark walnut wood headphones with black ear padding
Focus Music for ADHD: Why Calm Isn't Always the Goal (and What to Listen to Instead)
Focus doesn't always feel like calm. Sometimes it feels like energy pointed in the right direction. Explore how tactile objects, music and small sensory rituals can help channel restlessness into... Read more...
A conceptual image of Focus Deck, a beautifully designed control panel set in a walnut body.
The Story Behind Focus Deck: From Childhood Doodles to Analogue Desk Tool
Focus Deck began with a childhood obsession with control panels, a love of mid-century design, and decades of restless fidgeting. Discover the origin story behind Focus Lab's flagship analogue desk... Read more...
A close up shot of Focus Switch, a walnut wooden body with a metalic switch and white plastic cap
Focus Switch: How a Walnut Fidget Tool Was Born from an ADHD Diagnosis and a Block of Wood
Focus Switch began as a prototype, a toggle switch pressed into a block of walnut during the development of Focus Deck. Discover the story behind Focus Lab's first product: from... Read more...
A close up shot of a hand touching the toggle switch on Focus Deck
Why Friction Matters: The Case for Tactile, Analogue Objects in a Frictionless World
Technology has spent decades removing friction from our lives — but what if some friction is worth keeping? Explore why the resistance of a mechanical switch, the grain of wood,... Read more...