Design

Tips from the Good Code Design Team: Staying Productive and Creative While Working Remotely

Emily Wong

9/26/2024

In today’s world, remote and hybrid jobs are becoming increasingly common. While remote work offers benefits like greater flexibility and autonomy, these advantages can also present challenges—especially for designers, who must balance productivity and creativity.

As a remote company with a strong emphasis on design, we’ll share insights from our design team on how we structure our environment to enhance creativity and productivity in remote settings, hoping to inspire you with strategies to turn these challenges into opportunities.

Design is inherently collaborative, and it’s important to maintain that spirit in a remote environment. Here are some strategies we use:

• Sharing Work in the Design Channel: This allows team members to quickly gather feedback and stay connected with each other’s projects.

• Post Design Inspiration and Resources: Sharing inspiration keeps everyone updated on industry trends and aligned with a collective vision.

Switching up your surroundings—whether it’s moving around your home or visiting a coffee shop—can significantly boost creativity and help you break through feelings of stagnation while sparking fresh ideas. Plus, it can also be a fun side quest of exploring local spots!

To prevent work from spilling into your personal life, it's essential to establish clear boundaries. Here are some strategies:

• Designate a Workspace: Create a specific area for work that inspires you and reflects your personality. Having a dedicated home office vs working from home can make a significant mental difference.
• Invest in Your Setup: Don’t skimp on home office equipment. A quality setup is crucial since you’ll be spending most of your day there. Treat yourself to that extra-wide monitor—your productivity will benefit, and your boss will take notice!
• Dress for Success: Wearing work attire instead of loungewear can create a mental shift that separates your professional and personal life.
• Utilize Do Not Disturb Features: Customize “Do Not Disturb” filters to differentiate between work and personal notifications. Try snoozing alerts during focused work sessions to help maintain your flow.

A routine provides structure within the flexibility of a remote setting, boosting focus and productivity. Here are some key considerations for creating yours:

• Set Your Hours: Determine your working hours by focusing on when you work best. At Good Code, we believe in leveraging your most inspired and productive times.
• Schedule Breaks: Scheduling regular breaks can help reduce burnout and enhance focus.
• Incorporate a “Commute Walk”: Consider adding a short walk before and after work. This can help with transitioning mentally between work and personal life while integrating physical movement.
• Try out power naps: A quick nap can help you recharge and refresh your mind, keeping you energized and engaged throughout the day.
• Utilize different time management techniques: A popular approach is the Pomodoro Technique, which consists of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break.
• Allow for Flexibility and Spontaneity: While it may seem counterintuitive, incorporating flexibility into your structured framework can help alleviate feelings of stagnation.

Prioritizing self-care and your personal life is essential for maintaining a sustainable, productive, and creative work life. Aside from the fundamentals like getting enough sleep, consider engaging and investing in fulfilling activities such as:

• Spending time in nature
• Incorporating some form of daily movement
• Pursuing hobbies
• Connecting with friends, family, and pets

Mindset is as powerful and important a tool as visible actions. Here are some key insights from our team for approaching remote design work:

“Don’t be afraid to fail; you won’t hit your mark on the first or fifth attempt. Productivity isn’t just about output, but how you reach that output.”

“Don’t count hours; this might seem odd, but we aren’t robots. Everyone works at different paces and solves problems uniquely.”

“Enjoy what you do. If something seems boring, find a way to make it enjoyable.”

“Look for inspiration outside of UI/UX work. While it’s easy to search for similar examples on Dribbble, pay attention to art, architecture, and graphic design as well.”

“Dedicate time and space for exploration. Don’t be afraid to create a lot of rough drafts to help you produce something great.”

While remote environments present unique challenges, learning to maximize them is a skill you can develop over time. This journey of trial and error can be an exciting opportunity for self-discovery, as different approaches resonate with different individuals. Once you identify what works best for you, you can focus on intentional communication and setting boundaries, enabling you to turn even the challenges of remote work into strengths and make them work for you.