When I designed my first client's home office, he made one request that surprised me. He wanted his MBA degree on the wall. Not hidden in a closet. Not stored with old paperwork. Displayed.
My client had earned that degree while building a consulting startup. It represented years of late nights, difficult exams, and pushing through when things got hard. He told me something that stuck with me: "Some days I forget what I'm capable of. I need something that reminds me."
The Psychology of the Evidence Anchor
I call it an evidence anchor. It's different from decoration. Decoration fills space. An evidence anchor fills purpose.
For professionals who push themselves hard, self-doubt creeps in. The same drive that makes them successful also makes them question whether they're doing enough. On difficult days, feelings can override facts.
An evidence anchor interrupts that spiral. It's physical proof of past capability, positioned where the person will see it exactly when they need it most.
The Placement Decision
Not just anywhere would work. I spent time in the space, sitting where my client would sit, noticing where his eyes naturally traveled.
I chose slightly above and to the left of center. Here's why: when people look up from difficult work, they tend to look up and slightly left. The credential sits exactly in that sightline.
He doesn't see it constantly. He sees it when he needs it—when he lifts his eyes from a challenging task and his brain is looking for reassurance.
The Result
Six months after completing my client's office, he told me: "I look up at that degree at least once a day. Usually when I'm stuck on something hard. It reminds me I've done hard things before."