New issue(s)
An update about my new job, new projects, and a new desk setup
At the beginning of February, a curious set of events led to me accepting a web design position with the folks at Remote Brand. They are a strategic brand development agency, mostly specializing in the sustainability space.
For a long time now I’ve wished there was some kind of way I could pivot my career and do something that is involved with sustainability. I never really considered that I could just keep doing what I am good at: working with content, layout, and web technologies, and use those skills to make a difference. I was excited to start with them for that reason.
At the time, I had been living in Vancouver for a year and I decided that it would be a good thing for me to start trying to work with people in and around this area, because up until then most of my work was for freelance clients back home in Sask and Alberta. So I was really pumped to jump in with a new team that is also based in Vancouver.
Things are busy and I’m working really hard on my projects, which involve designing and developing websites for their clients.
I wanted to share one thing we recently shipped: a product page for one of our clients, Smart Plastic.
One of their products is a chemical, that when added to regular plastic during its manufacturing process, makes it so that plastic literally completely decomposes in a matter of 4 years leaving nothing more than water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. It’s so cool.
Now they’re coming out with a single use plastic straw which uses the technology. You can check that the product page I designed1 and developed here.
The new job is 100% remote (which I LOVE and am so grateful for), and it’s been interesting learning how to properly work from home. Naturally, I spend a lot of time at my desk. Which brings me to this email’s next topic…
Weekend desk update
My desk is kind of like my happy place. I spend all day here, most if not all of that time on the computer.
But I knew that we were entering a long weekend, and I wanted to just kind of get the computer out of my sight, and have a more chill weekend. I find that if technology is around, I want to just play around on that rather than really enjoy my leisure time or rest – so I did a bit of an analog desk makeover.
I unplugged my computer, and put it away on a shelf. Also, I removed my LG external display and moved that to a corner. I really wanted to be able to disconnect from everything a bit more than usual this weekend.
This is how the desk is looking now:
It’s super zen, I’m really enjoying it. I feel like having the computer gone just makes the room feel more restful and it’s interesting because as you all know, I’m obsessed with technology and love having it around. But I find that honestly, when I’m not using it, I really like being able to put it all away, and have it out of sight.
It also makes the process of using the computer more intentional. Like how I’m writing this article right now: I was like “oh yeah, I really want to write something to send to my list this weekend”. So I actively grabbed my iPad and started writing this.
I think that the habit of putting technology away when it isn’t being used is one that will really aid me in my journey of learning how to effectively work from home as well.
Just being able to put the computer away when I’m not using it will make me be more intentional about how I spend my free time. Because lord knows I have many hobbies I want to spend more time doing, rather than wasting time online.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll talk to you again soon.
Gary
In collaboration with my talented colleagues Landon and Jon, of course.