Mark Jones trained as an architect before running his own architecture business. He then moved to an academic position at the University of New South Wales, where he teaches in the design school in the faculty of Arts, Architecture and Design. He is a design historian, which involves research around design history – Australian and Scandinavian.
His passion has always been architecture. As an academic, he can do research in his passion areas.
The significant change has been the work from the home phenomenon. Most people have been working from home because they have to and not by choice. Delivering education courses online has required a shift in priority skill sets. The principles of the design process are the same. Students find the raw materials in their homes to create prototypes which is taking priority over the finished product until students can return to the physical school environment.
The pandemic has piqued interest in the design aspects of our life. Everyone has had to be creative in the way we work and live how we set up a workspace at home.
For leaders, the change in interpersonal relationships has been the biggest change. Screen-based relationships are not the same as face to face.
Leaders need an acute awareness of the members of their teams and the individual challenges each person has. There is an acknowledgment that there is a change in how we work.
People are now working differently and are practical and efficient in different ways.
There is some camera hesitancy, and people are protective of their situation at home.
The development of office space has to change. Open workspaces was a thing but have been shown to be less productive.
Expensive office fit-outs will be less required.
Office buildings have always gone through the transition from office to an apartment and then back again.
Any training in a creative field is useful across a range of areas. Always pursue a creative career. Creative jobs are becoming more important.
