A father of four has created a recyclable school desk for home schooling and parents are rejoicing
Sydney dad Benn Murphy’s home was drowning in homework. When he couldn’t find school desks to buy for his kids he did the next best thing - designed his own.
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The pandemic has turned the world upside down for all of us, but kids, and accordingly their parents, have been hit by this strange new world and in a very particular way.
Lessons are now directed through video calls, school sites and emails and homework is done at the dining room table, or perhaps the kitchen, or maybe the lounge room floor depending on how many kids you have.
Fact is, if you have a young person in your house right now it’s highly likely you are finding it difficult to find a flat surface to call your own.
This was certainly the case for Benn Murphy.
The Lindfield resident is a father of four. Yes, four. And each of those youngsters is in school - or would be, if not for COVID-19. The pandemic saw them sent home and homework was carried out all over the place with the kitchen table being everyone’s favourite destination.
Not surprisingly, that was tough for Benn and his wife Clementine, the very patient mother of this adorable quartet.
“There was homework and papers and pencils and the rest all over the house but particularly at the kitchen table,” says Benn.
“It was stressful for me and it infuriates my wife,” he adds with a laugh.
The kitchen and dining area used to be the place the family retreated to at the end of the day to share stories of the day and to relax and enjoy one another. But with kids’ homework and associated paraphernalia everywhere to be seen all six members of the Murphy clan were on edge.
Benn was also having to cope with working from home and seeing his print business, one with primary customers in the cruise industry and the retail and hospitality space, face some new and significant challenges.
But then - after some discussion with team members, in particular the group’s industrial designer (who Benn jokingly refers to as the cardboard engineer) - a brainwave was had.
What if instead of creating cardboard point of sale display units they designed a cardboard desk - one which could be shipped to homes within 48 hours and built within minutes?
It took only days for the prototypes to be created and just a week for Benn’s brand new Build-A-Desk gig to be fully functional.
And these hardy, 100 per cent recyclable, stylish items are selling and fast.
Benn is delighted. And for several reasons.
Yes, the desks are keeping one arm of his business fully functional and accordingly his staff too. Equally as importantly, Ben and Clementine have their dining space back.
Also, their daughters Arabella (Bel), 12, Harriet (Hatty), 10, Florence (Floss), eight and Hermoine (Mini), four, all have their own personal work stations. This means less mess, fewer arguments and also, a more productive ‘school’ day.
“When this first happened we were thrown in the deep end like most families,” says Benn.
“My wife finished teaching 12 years ago and suddenly she is doing it again and I was working from home and focused on how to reinvent.
“The girls were having to adjust too.”
It made perfect sense that everyone would begin to gather at the kitchen table where they sat for meals each day but it was impractical and for several reasons. It was hard to focus for one thing but also, there was no break between ‘work’ and ‘home’.
“It was wonderful we were spending more time together as a family,” says Benn.
“But there was no circuit breaker between school and work and where we had breakfast and lunch and dinner. It was stressful.”
Having everyone at their own desk has changed all that however.
“It’s like when you go to work and get a coffee,” explains Ben.
“You know that means it’s time to start work. It’s a trigger. It’s the same for the kids … when they sit at their desks they know it’s time to start learning.
“My wife has even started to pack a school lunch for them,” he adds.
“That keeps them out of the pantry.”
Benn’s Build-A-Desks will be with his kids for some time too. Despite being made out of cardboard they’re particularly hardy and can withstand a weight of 80kgs. They’re lightweight and durable, but importantly, 100 per cent recyclable too.
And they’re incredibly easy to put together working something like a jigsaw puzzle, no Allen key required.
“It’s not only made life easier at home, but also in the workplace because by creating this new product I’ve been able to keep my 65 staff in a job during COVID-19,” says Benn.
About Build-A-Desk
The Australian made Build-A-Desk is designed and manufactured by Clarke Murphy Print and can be delivered to your door within 48 hours. Dimensions 1200 x 600 x 780mm (height). The desks can be ordered in plain colours or can be custom-designed.