FEAR OF RETURNING TO THE OFFICE

These months of lockdown have informed me well as an interior designer. I lived through launching my business just before 911. We collectively imagined we would never bounce back. WE DID . Then the recession , where so many of my colleagues went bankrupt and imagined new careers. An indomitable spirit and a hard head proved to serve me well. I forged on and continued to grow into a new way to design for developers to reach a wider audience.

WE ALL SURVIVED AND GREW STRONGER Now there is the invisible but ever present Covit 19 that is threatening the way we live and work . Most everyone is fearful of returning to the communal work space. Considering that the corona germs last longer on hard surfaces I wonder why all these plexiglass dividers are currently installed in the offices. Felt or fabric dividers are easier to clean and have a shorter life span of transferring the germs. The webinars by @BUZZI have created an entirely new category of safe felt room dividers . I am always seeking the innovators.

I had re-calibrated my design firm to adapt to a home office just by luck in early January . Now there was a new design challenge . How to create a home office that truly supports and inspires my work. The problem was how to carve out a space with a clear delineation of work life and private life.

The importance of asking all the questions was front and center. How does a growing family delineate a space with a multitude of needs ? How do you create study spaces for your children that engage them to participate ? How do you find an area in your home that is private ? How do you present your brand when you are working in the middle of your living room ? How do you stop working and start living in your home ?

The never ending ZOOM calls were my new obsession . I took screen shots of how everyone shows up on the calls. To date I must have around 1,000 images. Studying which people showed up in a manner that was detrimental to what they represent was the first red flag. The space was cluttered or not considered what so ever. There was literally nothing to view behind their head but a window which quickly transformed them into appearing as criminal suspect in a police lineup. Not reassuring whatsoever.

Then I asked myself what can I create to inform professionals and business owners . I identified seven specific needs and started researching each aspect. I engaged with professionals in lighting, IT , Sound attenuation, furniture design and extended into the area of maintaining good health. The unpacking of each area informed the ideal solutions .

I recommend the inclusion of apps such as @CALM . The sound of a bell to literally pause and take a breath during the course of your workday was a practice I adopted after a retreat with the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. I consider this just as important as having an ergonomic chair or the correct table light . This pandemic has forced us all to re access our health and take good care of our immune systems. Creating spaces that are launchpads for both creativity and healing are key. It is just good for business to be surrounded by elements of beauty that provide inspiration.

The discovery and articulation of each clients needs is part of the process. I partnered with the best commercial furniture company in the industry to provide a tremendous range of services and products . My mission is to create an ideal work environment in your home. I invite you to participate by sharing an image of your home workspace and include the specific challenge . Our design sessions are completely virtual as I guide you through each step of the process. All the purchases and installations are done directly through the furniture company and we extend value from literally 400 different manufacturers.

Your challenge is as particular as your thumb print. One size never really fits everyone as we all know. I look forward to providing insight via the contact page on my web site . We are looking for business owners that are open to being featured in social media sharing the transformation and in turn promoting your business.

" When you change the way you see the things you see change " www.depoledesign.com .