At Clear Space, we’re endlessly curious about design, creativity, and the clever little things that make life smoother, smarter, or just more fun. So every couple of months, we’re sharing a handful of our current favourites.

Each edition, one pick from each of us, could be a beautifully designed object, a killer app, a game-changing gadget, or something that just gets our creative gears turning. It’s a peek behind the scenes, a snapshot of what’s inspiring us right now, and a reminder that great design shows up everywhere.

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Tahirah – Nothing Phone (3a)

Right now I’m obsessed with my new Nothing Phone (3a). I’ve had my eye on Nothing’s products for a while, and finally getting one feels like joining a very stylish tech cult (in a good way). The glyph lighting and transparent back showing off the faux ribbon cables are just cool. But it’s not just the hardware, Nothing OS feels thoughtfully designed and fresh. I’ve been customizing my phone since the CyanogenMod days (full theming support, staying up until 3 am building the perfect home screen, showing off on r/androidthemes) and Nothing scratches that itch. It nails the aesthetic I used to chase when I had full control over every detail. Their widget library is functional and fun (one is literally Snake), and their fonts Ndot and NType 82 look beautiful on screen. The new Essential Space and its dedicated button has been beyond useful, too. I can screenshot some design inspo, record a voice memo to attach to it, and come back to it later. Which has been way better than screenshotting something and forgetting why it’s in my gallery a month later. It’s nice when a device doesn’t just work well, but actually sparks inspiration and creativity. Nothing does this!

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Will Hum – Kalour Colour Pencils

After a pretty long break from drawing or painting I picked up a sketchbook and a set of 72 Kalour colour pencils. They came in this sleek travel-sized tube with a white gel pen and a colourless blender, which is a nice touch. That said, the tube isn’t super practical, once you've sharpened some of the pencils down they disappear into the mix and become hard to find.

The colours themselves are surprisingly vibrant, with a solid range across the spectrum. Oddly heavy on the greens, but no problem here, green’s my favourite anyway. The pencils are on the softer side, so I’m sharpening them a fair bit, but I kind of enjoy that rhythm.

They’re not top-tier artist quality or anything, but that’s not the point. This set is more of a warm-up—something to help me ease back into sketching without any pressure. Once I get into the groove again, I’m thinking of levelling up with a set of Moleskine watercolour pencils. I’ve painted with watercolours before, but never used the pencil version, so that’ll be a fun experiment.

Lately, I’ve been reaching for the sketchbook often, getting into a nice flow for an hour or so at a time. It’s such a refreshing shift from the screen.

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Korneliusz – Wacom One Sm Pen Tablet

I’ve been using the Wacom One Sm Pen Tablet lately, and honestly, it’s become my go-to creative tool—especially with my remote work setup constantly shifting. Some days I’m at the dining table, others I’m in a café or tucked away in a library corner (classic remote worker life). Because it’s so compact and has Bluetooth plus a solid 3–4 day battery life, it’s super easy to bring with me and turn any random spot into a legit workspace. What I love most is using a pen instead of a mouse—it just feels more intuitive, like writing or sketching on paper. It’s way easier on the wrist too, which means I can keep working comfortably late into the night (sorry, not sorry, hand cramps). While my MacBook’s doing the grunt work, the tablet is what really unlocks the creative flow. A trackpad feels clunky, a mouse gets tiring—but this? This is smooth, responsive, and natural. It takes me right back to why I got into design in the first place: an idea, a medium, and a canvas. Only now, it’s all digital.

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Will Robinson – Umbra Picket 5 Wall Hook

Right now, I'm digging the Umbra Picket 5 Wall Hook. It is a wall-mounted hook system with five fold-down hooks. I have three of them on the wall of my entranceway.

When I first moved into my apartment, there was a long piece of wood with a ton metal hooks screwed onto it. Great for hanging up coats, bags and hats, but it didn't have the warm, minimal vibe I was going for. I found the Picket 5 Wall Hook and was hooked on the clean, minimal aesthetic with high functionality. I bought three of them and still have 15 hooks at my disposal, but now the space looks clean and warm when not in use. The wood is smooth, and folding the hooks up or down is effortless. They are surprisingly sturdy. Combining this fold-away storage idea with the TRONES shoe cabinet from Ikea keeps my entrance clean and organized while being functional and helpful.

Applying this concept to web design, I like the idea of creating a minimal, satisfying visual experience while still being a helpful website.

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Paul – Spencerian Penmanship Workbook (and Blackwing 602)

I’ve started taking notes in the morning instead of jumping straight into email. It’s a slower, more thoughtful way to begin the day. But my handwriting? A mess. So I searched how to fix my handwriting and stumbled on an 8-year-old video by @TinyOryx about Platt Rogers Spencer and his penmanship workbooks.

Spencer developed a full system for elegant, legible writing that took off in the 19th century. His sons published theory and practice books that were taught in schools across the U.S. I’m now working my way through the Spencerian Penmanship workbooks.

Still with me? One more rabbit hole: in @TinyOryx’s video, she held up a pencil I didn’t recognize, the Blackwing 602. Apparently, it’s a legend. Artists, writers, and musicians like John Steinbeck, Aaron Copland, E.B. White, and Chuck Jones swore by it. Discontinued in 1998 and revived in 2011, the Blackwing 602 is loved for its smooth glide and iconic design.

If it was good enough for Steinbeck, I figure it can handle my morning scribbles.