The pandemic made working from home the new norm; however, for designers and architects it was anything but business as usual. Four firm leaders tell us how new policies have encouraged collaboration and personal connection in novel ways that are still paying off.

Before the pandemic, the idea that remote work could improve productivity and encourage collaboration was laughable. But here we are, six years later, and design firms of all shapes and sizes have embraced the practice. With downsized offices and hybrid schedules, designers have thoroughly rearranged their workflows to bridge the physical distance between team members, while allowing them the freedom and flexibility they’ve come to enjoy.

Many of those changes come from subtle shifts that happened on the fly as designers felt their way through the pandemic. Firms adapted to chatting on digital platforms instead of catching up by the water cooler, and personal connection through a Zoom window rather than around a conference table. As workplaces continue to get back to their routines, it’s clear that many of those adjustments are here to stay.