ADAPTIVE SPACES

Technology has made geographical boundaries defunct – we can now achieve anything from anywhere (almost) – and COVID-19 has just proved it in full force. Offices are shut, meetings have been cancelled, site work is at a standstill! But does that mean we stop? No – we improvise, adapt, innovate and we move on!

Humans, the “social animals” that we are, we have been enclosed in our homes in isolation – much against our intrinsic nature and the nature of our work! But another human trait, one we often ignore, is to adapt and to evolve. The time is most definitely now! Thanks to innovation in the internet space, we can connect over time-zones and see our friends, family and colleagues in real-time. And it is this technology that will help us stay put and work or get on with life from wherever we are.

Adaptive spaces today are a necessity, not an option. As we are all working from home, our rooms have transitioned into multi-functional spaces! That’s where we typically relax, read, eat, sleep – and now that’s where we all work from! Though this transformation took a while to settle in, eventually it did – human nature, we adapt.

So how do we create a that workspace at home? Our team has been working on a contingency plan for the past 2 weeks so that we can work from home as seamlessly as we do from office. Not only a plan – but how we set up our workspace decides our productivity, too! Here’s how we morphed:

Finding that corner and staking claim to it!

Each of us found a corner in our home in an area that allows us to focus – for some it was a bedroom, for others, the living room and for one, a separate study! We made sure we had all we needed handy in and around our designated work desk, just like in office. Living with families we were often unable close ourselves off – a good idea for that turned out to be a “Do not disturb” sign, and now our families respect our work time and space, making it easier for each of us to focus.

*If you’re setting up your workspace in your bedroom, make sure your desk is positioned in a way that your bed and your pillows are not visible when you’re on call – even when at home, your personal space should be just that – personal!

Light & backdrop – getting creative!
The environment you’re in directly reflects the quality of work you produce – so we set up our workspaces in an area that has sufficient natural light. Not only did it improve the quality of our video calls, but it all made us look and feel more professional! A few plants around or a nice painting also added pleasing backdrops for our zoom calls, and it was interesting to see how creative the team became!

Becoming inclusive

Each and every one of us involved our families in creating our workspaces – one team member asked her kid brother to make a fun “Do not disturb” sign – while another let her kids create a cool backdrop for her calls! It was great to hear the stories of how partners or parents helped to create an interesting work area!

Well, this is how we have used experiential design to create professional workspaces in our personal sanctuaries, and it has really helped us achieve our daily goals. It has also got our families buy-in, and their support for dedicated work time!

How have you done it?

With everyone struggling to maintain their professional appearances, every bit of help helps! Post your creative ideas and solutions in the comments below – who knows how many people would benefit from your insights! You could also post a photo of your workspace at home!