Desk Setup of the Year: A Photographer's Mac Studio Work Desk

This desk snagged Desk Setup of the Year from a field of 132 entries—the jury called it "a work of the year across all categories." It belongs to a Hangzhou-based photographer and creator who managed to pull off something pretty rare: they folded a full retouching station and a living, breathing workspace into one warm-lit corner. At the heart sits a Mac Studio M4 Max, paired with a single 42-inch LG C5 OLED display, with a camera always within arm's reach.

A Retouching Desk That Actually Looks Like Someone Works There

The desk itself is a Witlink T4P Max, paired with a Qingxian ergonomic chair in the 48 cm extended version. Warm light spills across the whole setup, and the camera isn't tucked away in a bag—it lives on the desk. That's the key move here. Everything you need is right there. The chair pushed back, headphones resting on a wooden stand, the desk mat marking exactly where the work happens.

Looking at the screen, you see a photographer mid-workflow: the 42-inch LG C5 OLED display is basically a lightbox of frames waiting to be sorted and edited. Keyboard and mouse sit on a BEESIR off-white mat (4 mm), which acts as a visual anchor for the working zone.

One Screen, Infinite Workspace

The 42-inch LG C5 OLED sits on a Hexcal Studio riser—which isn't just a stand, it's actually smart design. It lifts the panel up and carves out real shelf space underneath. Above the display sits a BenQ ScreenBar Halo, so you can light the desk without flooding the room.

That's where the drives live: a LaCie d2 Professional 10TB and a Samsung T7 Shield tucked on the shelf. Keeps them off the actual working surface, which means more room for the keyboard, mouse, and mat where things actually happen.

Editor's Notes & Summary

What got this desk to the finish line was how it balances order with warmth—how it feels organized but lived-in. The prize? A Hexcal Studio riser and a Hexcal Elevate standing desk. Here's the full rundown: