COVID-19 has forced all of us to adapt to new ways of work. In particular, designers are facing a massive challenge of how to stay creative while working from home, looking to several different sources and methods for inspiration.
It looks like WFH is here to stay for a while, and with time we've gained more experience for how to adapt to the current situation. Here's a "behind the scenes" look at some of our Wix designers' creative world during the pandemic.
Shir Albin, Product and Content Designer: Flowers all around
As I was locked in my apartment for two months, feeling that time was stretching thinly between my four walls, I started noticing and documenting flowers throughout the day. Flowers are an expensive treat, but as a result of the economic climate, flower growers — who until then worked to supply flowers for daily events sought new ways to sustain their businesses. When the quarantine started, farmers began selling flowers at a wholesale price directly to private individuals. My neighbors got together to form a small community of flower buyers, which came from the fields around us, and I surrounded myself with them.
With flowers' presence, this strange daily routine became colorful, fragrant, and somehow connected to nature. Staying at home also allowed me to observe. I found myself examining these live, growing elements closely and marveling at the various stages in their life cycle. Prolonged observation of a flower is a celebration for someone like me, obsessed with colors, shapes, and textures.
Nofar Rosenblatt - Interior Designer: Clean and Bling
As someone who spent a significant part of her professional life in art direction, once it became clear that my apartment would soon become my living, working, and creative space, I immediately considered how I'd create art in this small space. For the first month, I had little time to dwell on what living in isolation meant. Still, as the Passover holiday approached, I gradually realized that I'd be celebrating this holiday without family or friends. It suddenly struck me that everything has changed, and made me consider the more grounded aspects of tradition and holidays, and how they connect with a unique heritage. Spring, blossoms, and renewal symbolize a part of the Passover holiday thorough cleansing, which translates to cleaning your home. This holiday is also steeped in family history and tradition. Coming from a long line of goldsmiths, "family" connects to jewelry and ornaments. Images I've created in this time show different takes on the feeling of longing, imprisonment, city life vs. nature, and artificiality. A series of photographs of flowers in water bags attempted to catch spring as it slipped through my fingers. I've learned that creativity is present even in situations of chaos. During isolation, working gave me meaning and connection to the world. I was finding the time throughout the madness to create because it was real.
Avital Pudinsky - Product Designer: Chaos to Order
Realizing I needed to stay home for an unknown period, I started a to-do list that included three steps: (1)Sort (2)Throw and (3)Arrange. First, I bid farewell to my IKEA shelf hive and with it to my storage space. Looking at my things, I considered what was worth saving and what just took up space. Creating a system made things easier, like moving papers to drawers and arranging them in piles according to sizes and types. I rearranged the pots on the balcony, gave away some to change my view, and turned my bedroom 180 degrees to wake up in a different setting. To arrange some of my mood-board inspirations wall materials, I started a Notion sheet that would visually identify elements and make things more available for viewing. But the most exciting part was using this system to work within this new space and doing a photoshoot at home. The concept was OCD, and I arranged groups of objects by size and color on top of the colorful paper: sewing tools, brushes, artichokes, chips, leaves, office supplies, and tools. While the photography was simple, the complex and most enjoyable part was extending my interior logic to this brief.
Tania Rubashko - Photographer: Mindful Creativity
In these weird and strange times, I felt that I could stay at home forever to get through my continuous home improvement. I did and did and then tried to figure out what to do next. The irony was that when I finally had spare time to shoot whatever I wanted, I felt reluctant about photography; my hands didn't want to touch the camera. Something was wrong. I knew it, so I had nothing else to do but rest.
I found practicing breath meditation before going to sleep was surprisingly helpful. Before this, as my body would rest, my mind became restless. After breath meditation, I started practicing yoga again, still camera free. And soon, while I'm hardly the cooking type, working with my hands turned out to be meditative, and not knowing the result was gratifying. Eventually, after hours of scrolling my feed and seeing the surge of talent, I picked up my camera, still unenergized. The inspiration came back after watching "Abstract: The Art of Design" and seeing artists with creative sparks in their eyes that made me feel full and ready. My body was flexible and relaxed, my arms reached for the camera with love and energy, and my mind was calm and full of ideas. I experienced the principle of fullness and deep inspiration through self-harmonization, body and mental synchronization, and mind release.
Lior Wenger - Graphic Designer: Creating Together
As soon as I realized I would be staying at home for a long, unknown period with my husband and three boys, I felt like I had no air to breathe. I worried about how I'd keep them busy while keeping my job. But soon after, all the household members started finding themselves in this new routine and noticing the great things about it. I missed having some time for myself and realized that if I wanted to do something that would fill me with joy and energy, I would probably have to do it with my kids. I obsessively hoard crafting materials and so making creative work with them was simple and easy. So I scheduled creative time for my older children every day, and during these times, the three of us immersed ourselves in a world of imagination and fun. I'd spend my days thinking about Pinterest boards. I also rediscovered baking and cooking, and how I enjoy inventing recipes, even sprinkles. I'll always remember that one night with hours of meditative work drizzling powdered sugar and food coloring in thin lines and cutting them. The last recreational meditative work was designing clay jewelry, and while there was no need to wear it during quarantine, making time to create was just pure joy. After feeling anxious about staying in, the quarantine became a unique time that allowed me to spend time with my children, get to know them better, and find myself more profoundly. Most importantly, I didn't give up!
For a jellyfish origami bookmark, you will need:
Multi-colored paper, approximately 14 x 14cm
Colored paper to make the jellyfish arms
Small white paper to make the eyes
Scissors
Glue stick
Marker pens to decorate (optional)
Fold a piece of paper in half, with the white side on the inside, diagonally to get a triangle. Bring the right corner of the triangle to the bottom middle—Tuck the tops into the pocket. You now have a completed bookmark.
