Your desks – in pictures

This is my desk and home of the Guardian Work section; I have cleared a path to the keyboard but generally I like some territorial mess to spread around. The silver thing below the keyboard is my voice recorder and that teetering stack of books by the screen are just some of the work/business books publishers send to me. I’ll probably let it pile up to the top of the monitor or wait for it to collapse, whichever happens first. The empty coffee cups accumulate during the day, then they go in the recycling bin on the way out. Other miscellaneous items: money, calculator, wallet, snail-patterned mug made by eldest child, pink tub of cleaning wipes left by despairing colleague in the vain hope that one day I’ll clear up ... Photograph: GrahamSnowdon

'I sort of cheated since this was only hours after moving to my new (home) office,' writes computing academic and part-time music producer Flipip23, presumably referring to the general tidiness. 'Essential items: obviously the Mac Book Pro, the espresso cup, and the tube of hemp cream. It largely still looks like this, honest, except for a pad of paper with my pomodoro lists on it ...'
Photograph: Flipip23

This is morus1516’s revision desk and home to another Mac Book, this time cocooned in real books and, in our view, an avalanche waiting to happen – that central prop looks like it’s doing a lot of work. We like the photo of the desk on the computer screen, for added metaphysical value, but we’re also intrigued by the tome on MI6 on the right – a possible future career path? Well they are hiring, though you may need to brush up on your Arabic
Photograph: morus1516

Admit it, we’ve all been here, haven’t we? Spare a thought, therefore, for Gav, who kindly shared this vision of desk hell with us. 'Lid popped off, coffee exploded,' he explains succinctly. One can only hope – not least because this looks suspciously like a Guardian desk – the evidence has long since been mopped up and disposed of Photograph: Gav

Desks look both functional and fun at social media agency Jam, where Jenny Lau works. 'No agency is creative without a ping pong table,' she claims. A pom pom unicorn and 3D drawing pad ('to bring my ideas to life') offer further evidence of the creative whim at work
Photograph: Jenny Lau

If you’re pondering how on earth Martin Taylor took this overhead shot of his desk in Redwood City, California, the obvious conclusion – that he is in fact Spider-Man – is sadly wrong. 'I tried a little experiment which I thought would be easy,' he explains. 'Put my digicam on a monopod - set it wide, and on self-timer and then hoisted it to the ceiling to take the shot.' The result, Martin admits, does make his office 'look a little claustrophobic'. We can’t fault him for effort though Photograph: Martin Taylor

'Standard Red and Black notebook, Diet Coke Can. Bonsai Tree is suffering,' writes Tom Ellingham. That’s what happens when you plant them in Diet Coke, Tom. Curiously, no explanation is offered for the absolutely massive stapler, not to mention the notable absence of a computer ... Photograph: Tom Ellingham

We liked the funky chair, the washing line of photographs and the generally soothing Scandinavian functionality of Sara Hayward’s desk. The letter pinned to the wall behind the screen is from her prison pen pal
Photograph: Sara Hayward

We include Accident Prawn’s desk as a poignant reminder of how things were prior to the implementation of a draconian new clear-desk policy by her employer: 'No pictures, postcards or any personal touches will be allowed. Ho hum!' Photograph: Accident Prawn

From the old to the new to the newer still: a typewriter, a Mac Book and a Kindle all on one desk. 'It’s messy and I like it like that,' claims Gary Edwards, somewhat preposterously. We shudder to think what it looks like when he’s tidied up Photograph: Gary Edwards

This is fatwalter2011’s home office. 'I have another office elsewhere, but it is not available for photographs,' he says mysteriously. Oh well. Still, plenty of kit and clutter to ruminate on here Photograph: fatwalter2011

Redfin17’s home workspace may be compact and bijou, but it is brightened up immeasurably by her daughter’s artwork on the wall. 'There’s a hamster behind me but you’ll have to take my word for that,' she writes Photograph: Redfin17

You can almost smell the petunia oil wafting off this photo of CB Wallace’s desk, in his room at university. 'I’m a student, with aspirations of being a writer,' he writes. 'I have a taste for strange and random objects which I like around me. However, as much as I try I can never work at my desk - too many distractions'
Photograph: multitudinal

This is one of our favourite offices of all, courtesy of Ben Waymark who works as a website programmer for Click Creations in a converted bus. 'I’ve converted my desk to a "standing desk" as I find it helps me concentrate and be more productive,' he says. That’s his dog, Bobby, in the foreground, who is also apparently on the payroll Photograph: Ben Waymark

If you thought the Kokeshi dolls on Aaron Johnson’s desk were a clue to where he lived, you’d be wrong. 'I love Japan – the dolls and the toy train are reminders of a recent trip,' says Aaron, who is actually based in Oak Bay on the west coast of Canada. The Polaroid on the desk reflects Aaron’s love of photography, while the wall picture is by Vancouver-based artist Martin Budny
Photograph: Aaron Johnson