The Abra Duo: Dual-Use Desk & Dining Table

Introducing the Abra Duo: A dual-use desk and dining table designed by Erica Fink ’25 and Jin Zhu ’25 for professionals working from home in small to mid-size apartments.

The Problem

Twenty-two million adults are working full-time from home in America, and 45% of these remote workers are working from a multi-purpose room—be it their bedroom, kitchen, or living room. Having no walls or boundaries separating work life from home life has, for many, blurred their work-life balance and made home a more stressful place.

Multi-purpose work spaces like living rooms or kitchens also lead to ergonomic compromises. If workers don’t have room for a proper desk set-up, they might work from the couch or kitchen counter. This not only affects health but also productivity; without the space for a second monitor, studies show that productivity declines by 42%.

Everyone deserves the dignity of not having to work next to their bed.

Product Landscape

Fink and Zhu analyzed existing products based on their functionality and how easy they made it to hide work. They found that none of the desks currently on the market were satisfactory for their target user: a solo dweller or couple living in a small 1-2 bedroom apartment. They felt it was key that their customers shouldn’t have to forfeit the ability to host friends and family, and that everyone deserves the dignity of not having to work next to their bed.

Fink and Zhu conducted further market and ergonomic research to understand the requirements to seat six adults across percentiles around a dining table comfortably (5th percentile woman to the 95th percentile man). In parallel, they considered the requirements of a desk for remote workers, including appropriate legroom, distance from a monitor, and space for items such as an additional monitor and water bottle.

Solution

The Abra Duo is a desk that knows when it’s time to log off.

Through built-in technology, this dual-function workspace seamlessly transforms from a spacious desk into a sleek dining table for six. Once you’ve signed off for the day, the Abra Duo keeps your work life out-of-sight, out-of-mind, allowing you to keep healthier boundaries and make space for friends, hosting, and hobbies.

Launching with three debut styles—Scandinavian, Industrial-Vintage, and Modern Art—the Abra-Duo expands the functionality of your multi-use rooms while elevating the space.

Product Details

In addition to designing for their core product functionalities, Fink and Zhu considered a wide range of details. The Abra Duo features built-in laptop storage, cable ducts throughout, and a built-in desk lamp for optimal lighting.

A dust-proof perimeter allows for buffer space when transitioning from Desk to Dining and waterproof strips protect against spills. The base of the desk easily snaps off, enabling quick access if anything falls through the cracks.

Promotion & Expansion of Brand

The Abra Duo will be advertised on StreetEasy, via targeted Instagram ads, and through NYC subway ads.

Beyond the Duo, Abra may explore other products that support making the most of multi-use living spaces. Above all, they believe that amidst the chaos of this world, home should be the one place where you can truly switch off and unwind.