design:retail presents “Design Diaries: Confessions from Quarantine,” a new series featuring uplifting personal stories from our industry friends. Here’s what it’s like to be in retail design, creating and working from home during the COVID-19 crisis.
Chapter 10 is brought to you by Garrison Latimer, visual merchandising manager, ZenGenius.
There it is again. That sound. You know the one, alerting me that it is time to get out of bed and prepare for my day. I press snooze for nine more minutes of ignoring that today has the potential to be just like yesterday.
Eventually I accept defeat, throw back my comforter and stand up. The sun is in the early stages of rising and not yet bright enough to be blinding. Behind me, my dog, Daisyfuentes, is still snoring, immune to responsibility and the current state of the world.
I’ve taken to having green tea with ginger in the morning. It’s the first thing I do each day and the ritual of filling the kettle and waiting for the steam-fueled whistle allows me time to begin to form a plan for my day.
An hour of emails and industry news. Team video call at 10 a.m., often with cameos of children home from daycare and pets unsure why they can’t smell the familiar faces on the screen. Project No. 1 for a bit. Project No. 2 for a while. Take a walk. Then maybe some lunch. Respond to emails. Walk around my house aimlessly while eagerly awaiting more emails requiring a response. Look at the clock. It’s 12:30 p.m. I still have half a day left.
As an artist, I have no problem spending hours and hours alone, working furiously on personal projects. The more tedious the better. In fact, my art-based Instagram handle is @whymyfriendsneverseeme, a name that began as a joke but quickly became a very accurate moniker.
As a professional creative, I have discovered how much I rely on collaboration in my workday. My brain works similar to other creatives, in that it never stops. Ideas form all the time. When that happens, I run to find someone, anyone, who might not only be interested in the idea, but also builds on it and a rousing brainstorm begins.
The idea may have legs, or it may be dead in the water. Regardless, this impromptu session of sharing and collaborating on an idea allows my creative muscles a workout. Like push-ups for the right side of my brain. This exercise leads to better results on the projects that matter. It keeps me in sync with my fellow creatives at the office. It makes our team stronger and closer.
I miss that. It has been one of the toughest struggles in adapting to working from home. Sure, there are phones and video calls, but I have realized that when it comes to collaboration, I thrive with face-to-face interaction. It is easier to focus, to communicate excitement, to build the idea into a concept. It’s just…better.
The dog is awake now. I can hear her moving around upstairs. She’s an old lady now, so I have to go get her and carry her down the stairs and out into the backyard. I talk to her all the time like she understands me. I share my ideas with her. No matter how outlandish or ridiculous they are, she never tells me I’m wrong. She also never tells me I’m right or participates at all, really. Unless there is a treat involved. Then I get the excitement I’m craving.
