Remote or in the studio, what’s better? We asked Alright Studio, B&B Studio and Happening Studio

Whilst it was by no means new to the industry, remote working and WFH have certainly surged to unforeseen levels as a result of the pandemic. In the years following – studio spaces are more than filling up again – but remote working feels like it’s here to stay. Some studios have stuck with it, some have gone back to the studio full-time, and some have opted for a hybrid approach. Is there a ‘best’ way to go? Why choose one over the other? We spoke to three creative practices to find out their unique preferences and perspectives on remote work. “We’re big fans of balance,” Alright Studio tell us. The creative studio, based in New York ‘but operating globally,’ have experienced all forms of working; “completely remote, completely in-studio, or a mix of both.” Lately, however, working in the studio Tuesdays to Thursdays is the model that has suited everyone best. The week is then bookended by Mondays and Fridays working from home. Explaining the thinking behind this decision, they reveal that “it allows for enough time to get in the flow of a project, while letting Monday and Friday be the ramp up / ramp down days that they’re intended to be.” It’s reflective of their wider approach to workplace well-being, with work-life balance ranking as a high priority. Following a period of change and growth, the team of eight relocated to a shiny new studio space in Bushwick. From there, finding the right space and schedules for everyone was an essential factor, which of course took some trial and error. Over the years, Alright have realised that every type of work location lends itself to different types of people and styles of working. “For meetings or high-touch days where we’re all collaborating together,” they say, “it’s hard to beat the quick feedbacking of being in the same room.” Conversely, more intense forms of “heads-down” work, such as concept development, “are often easier to tackle in the comfort of one’s own home.”