What do people who spend their day faced with solving creative problems choose to surround them selves with in their work area? Do these items serve as a momentary refuge to glance at when road-blocked? Are they cluttered tchotchkes, sentimental souvenirs or sources of inspiration?

Most people probably know a designer who has an usual collection. Some of the designers we know have collections such as tin lunchboxes from the 1950s, the entire Simpson family of Pez dispensers, hot-rod hot wheel cars, Sno-globes, family photos, flipbooks, European candy wrappers, children’s drawings, and wind-up toys. Is there something about spending the entire day being creative that begs for gadgets, mementos, or familiar diversions?

What’s in your cube? Inspiration or clutter?