

DESK’S PICKS OF EVENTS
JOURNAL
MATTERS of OPINION from the DESK of DK
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‘There’s a charm in having something tangible to hold in your hands’
Reading a nice story about how the Kyoto Shimbun is letting zinemakers…
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DK’s Graphic Design & Architecture Project-based Residency in Phnom Penh
Be a part of something new and fun, low-key, lofi, and in…
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Protected: DESK | Where I can add value
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Meeting the artist Yim Maline in Phnom Penh
Happened to pop into The Gallerist for the first time today, and…
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STEER
STEER. Looking to chart a course for the near-term, or even long-term?…
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Protected: DESK | Things that happen, things that don’t
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MAKE ZINES CAMPAIGN
Flyers in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and elsewhere began conversations in invite-only Telegram spaces, sometimes LINE, then Signal and now also Discord, to say ‘hi’ to people who were curious enough to see what the flyer might lead to. DK distriuted more than 500 flyers and handbills personally: in Singapore at Art SG; in San Francisco at SF Zine Fest; and out and about in cities on the US tour this summer 2026. Curious? Send a Telegram to @makezines.
DESK IS A MAGAZINE OF DESIGN
SEE
Art is not pretentious, let’s find that kind of art. The richness of what’s currently going on, which we see right around us in the everyday. Celebrating this beauty and the now is one goal for DESK. No ‘trauma’ art for us to get into because that’s not us. We are looking at tomorrow, feeling our way there from today.
MAKE
This is not a place to pretend, or put together something perfect-looking. Rather, we want the honest. The real, and the right here, right now kind of stuff that is put together by people who still care about making, and the feeling we get when we can share something we feel, ‘I made this!’ Send us something. Contact >
READ
What constitutes strong writing? What makes it worth reading and giving our attention and time to? We want to curate editorial here that we feel is not only well-informed, but has taken an interest in more than one viewpoint.
FEEL
In Design Kompany’s view, ‘art’ is something that one can experience and feel, intrinsically, moved by. This happens for lots of reasons, sometimes it’s just pretty, or shocking or it creates a kind of response because the person who is looking at it can feel a connection. Resonance, and also, the way it has been created. Is there a solid concept? Is there mastery of technique? We are looking for ‘art’ that isn’t just bloated because someone rich or connected to an institution said it is ‘art.’ We want to find art that speaks to us, personally, and says something we find noteworthy, remarkable, and unique.
DESIGN IS CONVERSATION
Talk through zines: Art & Copy Club
Be part of the Art & Copy International Zine Club to stretch yourself, creatively, by first of all recognizing this is an actual thing that matters to you. Prioritize that. You can use this experience to make sure you get to it, because you have done so. Meantime you can also join our calls and meets in person to talk to other people, in other parts of the world. Go outside your usual boxes. You can. This is a way to meet new people. Co-make ‘zines’ with us. It’s an international, asynch community of curious, creative people. Here’s a link.
Make Zines
Talk through our short course
One of the first things to unlearn is that ‘you can’t be creative’. You can. You also don’t have to have permission. Most people hold themselves back: there’s a lot of self-inhibition. But…. art and strong design start with wanting to express something… unique, and your own. Let’s get started? Work with Design Kompany to challenge yourself creatively. Try our Short Course, UNBOXED.
Talk through a design commission
Leaders can hire DK. We work best with small business owners with more than 5 years of experience. By then you know who you are, what you’re doing, and what your clients are telling you they like, because they are returning. You’ll also have discovered what you are not into doing. Let’s communicate about how to tell your brand story through great design. We are on Signal, Telegram, LINE, Discord, email, and Zoom these days, to support DK’s clients in shaping and telling their honest, real stories with simple but elegant design. Schedule a free discovery call. Contact >
Talk out your thought leadership
Many people who are in academics, or software, or architecture have hired DK to spell out the ‘why’ of what they do and ‘why it matters’ to a lay audience. See what it feels like to ‘get to done’ on a particular messaging project you’ve been meaning to flesh out. We can help. Contact >

ABOUT DK
Seattle is where we registered DK officially, in 2005. Even today, influences of Scandianvian and cool blues and greys there continue to inform our design style. Designers hired us. Architects, software developers. Professional service-industry solopreneurs, too. Read their testimonials. DK World HQ is in Phnom Penh since 2014.

