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Elliott MoodyWORKING FROM HOME with Barcelona-based studio Folch
The Coronavirus has sent a shockwave through our industry, with studios, agencies and freelancers being forced to adapt their business and work remotely as we wait for the outbreak to subside. For the third instalment of our WFH mini-series, we spoke to Albert, Adriana and Josep from Barcelona-based studio Folch.
Albert Folch, Founder and Creative Director
EM Have you got a daily routine going?
AF Yes! It’s necessary in this new situation. We decided to take turns in the morning and afternoon to work and take care of our son. First shift runs from 9.30 till 11.30, and second shift from 11.30 till 13.30. While one of us is working, the other one is taking care, playing and doing things with Pau. The same in the afternoon, in this case from 16.00 till 17.30 and from 17.30 till 19.00. About the time we spend with Pau, Ángela focuses on artistic exercises and I propose him more scientific things. But this kind of daily routine will change in 15 days… when our second baby will be born…!
EM Are you dressing up for work or keeping it cosy?
AF These days I’m dressed as when it’s weekend… Wearing comfortable clothes, which does not necessarily means sports clothing. Just comfortable and wide clothes.
EM Whereabouts in your home do you like to work from?
AF Since we moved to our new apartment, Ángela and myself prepared an ‘office’ space at home. She’s usually working at home two or three days during the week and I always tell her and make fun with the fact that I never use the office space, which we could say that has become ‘her place’… But since confinement began, we’re finally sharing our ‘corner office’! Even sometimes the three of us use the office table together, when Pau, after his daily nap, joins us to watch animal documentaries.
If I get deconcentrated, I move around the house to work or make a call in random places.
EM How do you stay motivated while at home?
AF It’s hard! The news communicates the current situation as a film drama… The world is upside down and in about fifteen days we’ll have a new baby… It’s a weird situation to handle… But I feel positive and I’m convinced that after all, we’ll become more aware consumers than before (or at least it’s what I dream about these days…)
One thing that is helping me to stay motivated, fit and to keep my thoughts calm, is running for half an hour in the community courtyard. Running around in circles though, but it feels good!
The important thing is to stay constant and to be mentally and physically active.
Adriana Pons, Designer
EM Have you got a daily routine going?
AP I try to keep the usual work schedule to keep my mind focused on the projects that I have ongoing. Although, of course, working from home makes it easier for me to be more flexible and adapt my routine to the mood and needs that I have during the day. The important thing is to stay constant and to be mentally and physically active. I try to alternate hours of work with moments that I spend practising sport, watching movies, reading… ah! And I’m starting to challenge myself with some cooking recipes!
EM Are you dressing up for work or keeping it cosy?
AP The truth is that the first days I was wearing only comfortable clothes but throughout these days I have realised that dressing as if I was going out helps me to be more active and focused when it comes to work. For some reason, it gives me more strength to face the day and positively affects my mood, so in general, I try to dress up.
EM Whereabouts in your home do you like to work from?
AP The living room is the space in my house that has more natural light and actually for me that is an essential factor when working. I need to be in an open space, with plants and light. And even if I live in a small apartment, the truth is that I have managed to appropriate a corner of the living room to install a table with the essentials for work. Luckily our profession allows us to easily work from home.
EM How do you stay motivated while at home?
AP Luckily I don’t live alone, and precisely one of the factors that helps me the most on my day to day is being accompanied and, of course, keeping in touch with the rest of my family and friends through video calls! To stay creatively awake, initiatives that are taking place to bring culture closer to everyone are essential. I would say that culture, art and technologies are, without a doubt, saving us these days!
I’ve gone back in time to when I illustrated and enjoyed cooking, which are things that now I realised I left behind.
Josep Puy, Art Director and Designer
EM Have you got a daily routine going?
JP At the beginning of the quarantine, I didn’t believe in getting along living at home every day and not leaving home. But following the schedule we had at Folch allowed me to continue with a routine on weekdays without getting too bored or overthinking about this general situation. I find that getting along with our team helps to set up a creative environment where we can still share possible ideas and inspiration, and every Monday we get through the morning together having a weekly status.
EM Are you dressing up for work or keeping it cosy?
JP It was fun to work on your pj’s yet I usually have working meetings and getting dressed helps me to set up a working mindset. So I still try to get dressed exactly as if I was going to work every day!
EM Whereabouts in your home do you like to work from?
JP It’s kind of a challenge since I live in an open loft where everything is connected, so the dining room in the middle of our place has become my home office where I am lucky enough to get natural light all day long. Still, sometimes I get fed up in that position and I just take my laptop and work from the sofa too!
EM How do you stay motivated while at home?
JP I live together with my partner and we are constantly finding new ways to keep ourselves active and energetic. Personally, in this (I hope temporary) period, I’ve gone back in time to when I illustrated and enjoyed cooking, which are things that now I realised I left behind. In a way, I find it satisfying to have these activities back in my daily life as a nice way to disconnect, have fun and even better while listening to our vinyls!
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