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Elliott Moody
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WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)


WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)

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 ninth part of our WFH mini-series, we spoke to Mirella and Nicolas from Melbourne-based studio Vertigo.

WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)
WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)
WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)

I work until mid-afternoon then spend the rest of the day doing things at home that make me happy.

Mirella Arapian, Founder and Creative Director

EM Have you got a daily routine going?

MA Yes, I have to, otherwise I’ll waste the entire day which doesn’t make me feel very good. I wake up (obviously), drink coffee, meditate, practice gratitude, alternate between walking around the local lake and doing yoga, shower, get dressed, then start work. Around lunchtime, I’ll go for a walk around the block, and when I’ve finished working for the day I’ll walk around the block again in the opposite direction so it feels like I’m ‘going home’. It’s super important for me to have that separation between home and work.

EM Are you dressing up for work or keeping it cosy?

MA A combination of the two. My style at home is casual and I have a pair of sneakers that I only wear indoors when I’m in the studio. Getting dressed and looking presentable (as much as one can be during a pandemic) increases my productivity and gives me more confidence, especially if I’m having phone or video chats with clients. I can’t work in pyjamas or slippers because my brain registers that as ‘couch mode’, I never get anything done.

EM Whereabouts in your home do you like to work from?

MA I’m lucky to have a studio set up that has everything I need. My desk has a view of trees with big boughs that attract a lot of feathered friends throughout the day. Listening to their chirping and the wind is really nice, and with everyone at home, the neighbourhood is super quiet.

EM How do you stay motivated while at home?

MA With the lockdown, I’m finding it more challenging than usual and some days I’m not motivated to do anything at all. So now I work until mid-afternoon then spend the rest of the day doing things at home that make me happy: reading, playing video games, watching movies, chatting with my friends and family, cooking, and working on side projects. Allocating this time for myself has improved my mental health and I’m grateful to have a home, a dedicated space where I can work, and the capacity to do the things I love, especially during this time when so many don’t.

WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)
WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)
WORKING FROM HOME with Melbourne-based studio MEK(formerly Vertigo)

I make sure to take regular breaks and get some fresh air every day.

Nicolas Collerson, Art Director

EM Have you got a daily routine going?

NC I wake up early, drink coffee and slowly ease into the day. I finish work in the afternoon and wind down with some gaming, comic books or going for a walk.

EM Are you dressing up for work or keeping it cosy?

NC It depends on the day and the weather but I generally keep it cosy. Some days I’ll wear PJs and other days I’ll wear vintage football shirts. It depends on my mood too, but always super casual.

EM Whereabouts in your home do you like to work from?

NC I mostly work from the home studio in a dedicated workspace where I can spread out and be creative with a nice view of the trees outside. Sometimes I work from my art studio next to the kitchen.

EM How do you stay motivated while at home?

NC I make sure to take regular breaks and get some fresh air every day. I also stay motivated by focusing on my creativity through other outlets like writing music, painting and making sculptures.

Contributor

MEK

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