Schemata’s Froggers are hard at work - and spread across the city! We are in our second month of working remotely, and although we really miss the camaraderie of our open office space, we are settling into a new productive rhythm in each of our respective homes. We feel lucky to be healthy and well-equipped to take the situation in-stride, and are working hard to support friends, neighbors, and members of our community for which this has not been as easy.
With all this time spent at home, we are realizing new things about our spaces (and our at-home coworkers!).
Schemata is lucky to have many hard-working parents on staff, who are now enjoying working in-situ with their families.
Mira: This photo of my #WFH setup describes the chaos and cuteness well. I have my laptop and phone set on my kitchen counter while my partner uses the home office upstairs. Highlights include: hearing giggles and laughter from the kids all day, daily walks to the corner coffee shop (Tougo) for grab & go coffee, abundant daylight from the kitchen windows, gratitude that my M-I-L is serendipitously here for her sabbatical and can spend some extra time with the kids while we work. Win-win!
Joann: My work from home setup is at our dining table. My desk mate tells the corniest dad jokes and my other coworker is a budding musician, so it’s never dull. The commute is great and there’s ample daylight.
Our staff also includes many animal lovers, who are finding that their furry coworkers add excitement to the workday.
Margaret K: This is a photo of my work from home situation (complete with 2/3 of my new coworkers!). Positives from #wfh: My partner is also an architect so I get to bounce ideas off of him, I get to spend 200% more time with my cats, I’m discovering lots of new music and podcasts, and I’m taking walks around my neighborhood!
Drew: My golden doodle Margot loves that I am working from home! I could not make it through without wireless headphones, a door that I can shut, and a sheepskin for my * highly ergonomic * wood folding chair.
Margaret T: This is my #wfh setup in our living room. It's super-comfy and quiet (I think I'm more productive) and I can see most of Pratt Park from my spot. My partner Danny has set up his office on our dining room table (two large monitors, a laptop, and the loudest wireless keyboard known to humankind), however we have similar work styles so it’s been lovely working in the same room. We also have extra time to spend with our elderly cat, although she spends most of her day snoring on the loveseat and ignoring us!
For some of our staff, the opportunity to work from home is a chance to recenter, customizing their environment and connecting with what they love about their work.
Geoff: My #wfh setup is at the end of our dining table, which I usually use for at-home/evening work (I wrote AIA Washington Council’s current bylaws here!). I like all the natural daylight, and it’s a good place to track what’s going on in the rest of the house. I keep the suet feeder outside the window filled so that I can watch my regular bird visitor friends. Most commonly the Chickadee, House Sparrow, House Finch, Junco, Oak Titmouse, Stellar Jay, Flickers (see the photo), Crows, and occasionally a squirrel.
Guy: My home office is familiar, comfortable, convenient and efficient. It was originally set up in this location while I was still in school. It has new furniture, and of course the computer has been added, but I wrote my thesis while sitting in the same place I’m now working. Access to Schemata project files through Citrix and to office meetings and team chats through MS Teams has been seamless!
Emma: I re-arranged my desk so that I’m able to see outside and get some natural light. I also dragged over a comfy chair from the living room to serve as my desk chair (so that I can sit cross-legged!). My setup includes three monitors, so I have more screen space at home than at work, and I get a lot done when I set my own hours and don’t have to commute. I also love being able to see the world go by while I work!
Grace + Mike: Working remotely doesn’t look too different for us because we “live above the shop”. With the school closure, it is much more productive for us to be in the office than with our pre-teen daughter who is busy with homework, piano practice, and art projects. Perks include lots of focused time to get our work done, eating more lunches with family, getting out for walks around the block, and getting more sleep.