PERSPECTIVES from home
Our perspective has evolved. We’re learning new ways to connect, share, learn and thrive. And while we don’t know exactly what our “next” might look like, we’re optimistic that the things we’re learning now- about ourselves and the way we can work remotely- may shape what’s next in positive ways. We asked designers how they’re maneuvering around this new landscape and what they’re looking forward to. Here’s what they said...
“Sitting in an actual task chair is like a dream come true for my back. Clouds and marshmallows come to mind! �
Mel Price Principal | Work Program Architects | Norfolk, Virginia Do you have a new routine for getting your day started? When we get started with our day, everyone says good morning on our Microsoft Teams morning channel (whatever time that is for each person). We each tell the team what our main focus is for the day will be. We all update our calendars a few days ahead with times that we are free for calls or video conferences. That way, we aren’t calling each other during head’s down time or when we are already in meetings How has work from home protocol changed what technologies you utilize? New apps to allow us to sketch at home, take crisp photos, and virtually post for the design charrette...This is going to change how we work in the future. We are all so much more efficient, and it’s not going back.
What insight have you gained about yourself through this crisis? I am enjoying a more balanced life...I no longer have a constant level of underlying stress that hums in the background. At the end of the day, I relax, and on the weekends, I relax. I hope that I can carry this part of the new normal over when we shift into the stabilization and recovery phase. What’s your biggest challenge with Working from Home? Ergonomic seating at my counterheight setup. But [American Office] fixed that for me! What has impressed you most with any of your colleagues? Everyone has proven to be nimble, team players who have been open about the various ways this virus has caused them stress, we’ve shared that, and we’ve helped each other through it.
What has been a blessing in disguise during this forced WFH experiment? The more easily repeatable processes we can build, the stronger the company. On the softer side, we’ve all re-learned what is most important (people, family, work is still going and it has to take a backseat during times of crisis). Oddly enough, we had our best month of invoicing this year when half of the month involved everyone adapting to a very new normal. How are you communicating a sense of team/expertise with new potential clients/projects? Revisiting our core values is always how we re-ground ourselves and problem-solve. We are writing a white paper now on how we’ve adapted and we will share the technology we are using with our clients and other colleagues. PERSPECTIVES from home
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Tamara VanMeter Principal + Interior Design | SMBW | Richmond, Virginia When did you begin working from home? On 3/18 (my birthday actually). Do you have a new routine for getting your day started? {I make] Coffee and get ready from the waist up. How are you staying connected with your design team, partner firms, reps, and clients? Zoom meetings, company wide online happy hour and online lunch dates once a week. How has work from home protocol changed what technologies you utilize? I’m using Zoom, Teams and Webex on a daily basis. We’ve also adopted new software for online presentations with clients. We’ll continue to use these
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What insight have you gained about yourself through this crisis? It feels more like work because I’m alone and not drawing any energy/ enthusiasm from being with my coworkers. I’ve always said the day flies by and never feels like work. This confirms I’m a card carrying extrovert! What’s your biggest challenge with Working from Home? Internet speed, we live on a farm in a rural area so connection speed is slower. What has impressed you most with any of your colleagues? The creativity. My Father-in-law passed away in the midst of this and my co-workers wrote personal notes and scanned them onto a sympathy card that was emailed to me. It was clever and touching.
What has been a blessing in disguise during this forced WFH experiment? Spending more time with my kids. Being able to work outside on a nice day. Despite having a whole house and a 90 acre farm, they are happiest sitting right beside me. All day” How are you communicating a sense of team/expertise with new potential clients/projects? Educating them of new technology workarounds so they realize their project can maintain momentum.
“I can focus more at home but find 8 hour day ‘feels’ longer. ”
“As someone who never worked from home, its been a challenge to say ‘work is done, its personal time when place and time bleed together, you have to try to set boundaries. Still working on this one.”
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Theresa Sheils Managing Director + Principal | GENSLER | Washington, D.C. When did you begin working from home? We had a beta studio start March 9th to work out any kinks, but then our full office has been WFH since March 16th. How are you staying connected with your design team, partner firms, reps, and clients? We actually meet more often internally to make sure everyone is on track and staying positive, and the technology is working well. Client meetings and connectivity with reps and firms has stayed strong. We’ve even done virtual furniture tours with clients and vendors, as American Office knows! How has WFH protocol changed what technologies you utilize? Our IT team has been great to make sure WFH is a breeze, and we’ve transitioned all of our projects to BIM360...some teams have found this even faster than working in the office.
Have you discovered new tools, resources or links that are helping with this new way of working? Are there any you’ll continue to use when things return to business as usual? As a global firm we were able to learn lessons from our Asia offices. I’m leaning on them for tips around how they returned to work. There’s not going to be a switch that gets flipped, it will be gradual. Our firm also created a work from home client survey that can help clients manage the process and understand the needs of their team. What insight have you gained about yourself through this crisis? I have found that I’m a pretty positive person, because the change has been easier than I would have expected. It really reinforces my love of people and the energy I draw from them. [There’s] no replacement for true human interaction.
What has impressed you most with any of your colleagues? I knew I worked with an amazing team, but this situation has really shown me the strength of our people, their ability to adapt and stay positive. What has been a blessing in disguise during this forced WFH experiment? I broke my foot just before we started working from home. If it had to happen, there couldn’t be a better time. I’m not missing out on any fun. How are you communicating a sense of team/expertise with new potential clients/projects? Video is really important, especially with new or potential clients. They need to be able to see you and trust you. And seeing their faces also gives you cues that just don’t come across without seeing someone.
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Anne Stahl Principal | LUUA DESIGN STUDIO | Baltimore, MD When did you begin working from home? No change there, I have always worked from home! Do you have a new routine for getting your day started? Early Healthy breakfast and long walk w/ the pup in the park! How are you staying connected with your design team, partner firms, reps, and clients? Zoom, phone calls, etc.
How has work from home protocol changed what technologies you utilize? It’s the same. Have you discovered new tools, resources or links that are helping with this new way of working? Are there any you’ll continue to use when things return to business as usual? PERSPECTIVES from home
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Not really but learning to feel comfortable with zoom meetings. I think and hope we will use more virtual tools to cut down on unnecessary travel.
What has been a blessing in disguise during this forced WFH experiment? A lot of house projects are getting done.
What insight have you gained about yourself through this crisis? I’ve learned patience and relaxation amidst a “crisis”, going with the flow, as we cannot change what is happening.
How are feeling about returning to work? No Change :) But I’m ready for all of my projects to get going again!
What’s your biggest challenge with working from home? For me, it’s always has been work life balance! What has impressed you most with any of your colleagues? Creativity in staying connected and virtual activities
How will this experience change the way you work when you’re able to return? I think we can cut down the amount of meetings we have, be more conscious about the driving we do, etc...
“Not much has changed for me.”
“Suffice to say I completely HATE working from home. ”
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Matt Rohr Senior Associate | HICKOK COLE | Washington, D.C.
Do you have a new routine for getting your day started? I spend the entire day on scheduled conference calls or video chats. How are you staying connected with your design team, partner firms, reps, and clients? We (or at least I) have not figured out the art and science of having informal meetings/impromptu collaboration happenings (like we did in the office all the time) via this new virtual world we find ourselves in. I think we can all remotely stumble through the transactional/ administrative side of our business, but the real design collaboration efforts that often happen spontaneously in the office amongst coworkers just cannot occur in a virtual world.
It is obviously impossible to over hear side conversations while we are all at home. Being immersed into the “studio atmosphere” is what it is all about…at least for me. How has work from home protocol changed what technologies you utilize? I will say that we have all become fairly proficient at using MS Teams very quickly. We do most of our meetings through Teams – both video chats and sharing documents on our screen. It is rather easy to use. And now that they have increased the amount of people you can see in a video chat from 4 to 9 life is getting better.
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