No. 379 · December 17, 2023

Cole Blankenship

No-code Web Developer and Author of the Basic Web Guy newsletter

Cole Blankenship’s workspace

Cole Blankenship is a no-code web developer and author of the Basic Web Guy newsletter, a column about online culture, misinformation, and the impact of the web on human society.

Note: This was Cole’s setup in 2023. He was more recently featured in edition #490 of this newsletter with a (somehow) more minimalist setup to kick off 2025.

What is the most useful item in your workspace?

My monitor light bar has drastically changed my setup. It keeps my desk perfectly lit, while staying out of the way. It’s such a small thing, but it makes a big difference.

How do you spark creativity?

I am often influenced by the work of others, which helps spark ideas. There are so many people sharing their work on social media these days and that has been a major inspiration for my creativity.

What's the first thing you do when you sit down to work for the day?

With coffee close by, I start work on the biggest project of the day. I’m less desctracted during my first few hours of work, so I’m able to focus more on what’s most important.

Cole’s gear

7 items.

On the desk7

From the census

Checked against every interview we’ve published. The Top 50 ›

No. 2

The Herman Miller Sayl is the second most-listed chair in the archive, behind only the Herman Miller Aeron.

No. 3

A Logitech MX Keys is the third most-listed keyboard in the archive.

One year later

Read No. 490 ›
Cole Blankenship’s desk in No. 490 No. 490, June 28, 2025. Website Consultant living near Lake Tahoe in Nevada.
Still on the desk
  • Herman Miller Sayl
  • IKEA Lisabo Table
Swapped
  • Mac mini M2 Pro MacBook Pro
New since 2023
  • Grapefruit scented from Trader Joe's

The last four Saturdays

All 552 desks ›

Similar setups

Browse all ›

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