SG Designed is the product design label by Simon George focusing on creating standing desks for healthy lifestyles. Simon is a designer with previous experience in web and print design studying for a Computer Science degree, now expanding into the tangible world of product design. Simon uses his prior design experience to bring pleasing aesthetics to products, and his computer science experience to precisely code them.

In the past people such as author Ernest Hemingway have used standing desks. There are some compelling reasons:

  • Standing promotes good posture which may help reduce back ache
  • Standing with shoulders back opens the chest and could improve breathing
  • Since muscles are used to stand you burn more calories
  • You feel more free with the ability to move around (perhaps even dance a bit!)

SG Wave standing desk seen from above — the acrylic surface is transparent for a stunning effect

During his A-level Product Design Simon became convinced to create a standing desk. There was room for improvement in the DIY construction, so he looked into perfecting and professionally manufacturing it. The result is designing the SG Wave as a scalable project to be brought to you.

Anecdotally, Simon’s concentration and productivity have increased as he no longer slouches and daydreams in a chair. He feels more awake when standing; sitting now makes him feel sluggish. If forced to sit he increasingly gets back and neck ache. Now he happily stands daily and plans to keep using the SG Wave standing desk indefinitely. It’s just that good.

SG Wave standing desk

Inspired by nature, cut by laser

SG Wave standing desk.

SG Designed’s flagship product is the SG Wave standing desk. Elements of the design are inspired by curves found in nature, such as in shells and crashing waves. The curves are precisely designed from the golden ratio for a powerful visual balance. The standing desk is constructed from high quality Baltic birch plywood, transparent acrylic, and soft natural cork.

By using bottles for legs, the standing desk can be set at the perfect height for you by choosing the right size bottles. The bottles not only allow height adjustability, but also customisation in a unique way. Choose coloured bottles, or bottles with interesting labels to jazz up your standing desk. You can even go a step further and fill the bottles with coloured aquarium pebbles for an artistic effect. Or bring some nature indoors by using a bottle as a flower vase that can’t be knocked over. To create a harmonious look, the standing desk comes with 2 matching birch bottle stoppers.

Different size & style bottles — some filled with coloured aquarium pebbles, one used as a vase, another a pen holder, and shown with the matching wood bottle stoppers

By using bottles the environment wins too. They are reused not recycled so no energy is spent turning them into something new. Replacing table legs with bottles means the packaging can be dramatically smaller saving waste and CO2 in transport.

Detail of SG Wave standing desk construction. Backstop with cable slot to catch wires, bottle being used as pen holder, and drawer with dividers.

Under the spacious keyboard shelf there is a drawer for stationery which is lined with cork to protect delicate items, and removable dividers allow flexibility. At the rear of each surface a backstop with cable slot prevents pens from rolling off or wires falling behind the desk. At the front of both surfaces is a curved soft cork palm rest for comfortable use over extended periods. Every detail has been thought of making this a beautiful standing desk like no other.

Kickstarter

SG Designed is running this Kickstarter to fund prototyping the SG Standing, make final improvements to the other prototypes, and reach enough scale to lower the laser cutting cost as much as possible; so you can own perfectionist design at incredible value.

This project is nearing completion with most prototypes done and needing hardly any changes before production. Now SG Designed needs your help to succeed with the project. If it doesn’t reach the funding goal your card doesn’t get charged and sadly no products can be made, so please back on Kickstarter and share with others who you think would like the benefits of a standing desk.

For more info about the project visit the SG Designed website, follow SG Designed on Twitter, like SG Designed on Facebook, or look at more pictures on Flickr.

This project will only be funded if at least £6,000 is pledged by Thursday Jul 25, 12:05pm EDT.