At the Kit Kemp Design Studio, we are fortunate to have an office that is always alive with the buzz of our creative team.

It has been hard not having the frequent visits from those we work alongside, so this week we have been in touch with a few of our makers to catch up and to get a glimpse into their day to day life and how their routine has changed whilst working at home.

Marcus Wells

1. How has your day changed since working from home?

My working day has changed completely because, until very recently, I have been spending much of my time here in my office; in fact more time than I ever have. Normally I am either in the workshop or I’m out and about seeing people. The last few months have been a fantastic opportunity to think, plan and be creative – time is definitely a luxury.

2. Give us a little tour!

My office is a room in the basement of my house in Dulwich in south east London. It is freezing in the winter but blissfully cool in the summer, so it was a wonderful refuge in those really hot spells that we had recently.

It is crammed full of bits and pieces that I have gathered over the years – I am a compulsive collector! Dougal the dog keeps me company each day.

3. What’s an important thing to do whilst working from home?

Have a routine!

4. Imagine life returns to normal tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’re going to do?

Go to the ballet, the opera, the theatre or a concert – I feel bereft without the performing arts. A visit to the pub and a restaurant wouldn’t go amiss!

Melissa White

1. How has your day changed since working from home?

My studio is just a five-minute walk from my home office, so I’ve been able to continue working from both which is fantastic. That said, getting hold of materials like paint and printing services has been challenging. With projects that were going to keep me busy over summer suddenly mothballed, I’ve been using the time to completely overhaul my studio, website and home.

2. Give us a little tour!

This is Hugh, our rescue cat, who we took on at the start of lockdown. Like most cats, he wants to be wherever the action is. Clearly he needs my office chair more than I do…if it’s not the chair, it’s my comfy keyboard!

3. What’s an important thing to do whilst working from home?

Start the day with intention and solid aims. I write lists to keep on track and occasionally I actually manage to cross everything off. To be honest my lists do include some gardening, chitchat with my fella who’s also working from home, our allocated daily exercise and, on a hot day, a dip in the sea!

4. Imagine life returns to normal tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’re going to do?

Visit Great Dixter, Charleston Farmhouse, the V&A and interiors showrooms to see all the latest fabric and wallpaper collections. I’m desperate to be inspired by nature, art and design that are larger than the little squares of my Instagram feed! I can’t wait to sit in my favourite café opposite a tangible friend or two.

Margit Wittig

1. How has your day changed since working from home?

At the moment I can’t cast new resin pieces for my lamps at home, so I’ve been concentrating on assembling lamps with pearls and portraits. I have time to create new combinations and designs. Also having the time to pick up my sketchbook much more often and put new ideas on paper was a luxury.

2. What’s an important thing to do whilst working from home?

For me, it is keeping a routine and communicating with others out of one’s own social sphere. It’s important to make sure we don’t become one dimensional.

3. Imagine life returns to normal tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’re going to do?

See my family and friends, visit art galleries and finally get back to my studio again. I’m looking forward to working with clay again, to translate my lockdown sketchbook designs into clay pieces.

We can’t wait to be back in the office alongside such wonderful artists and makers, pouring over tables laden with fabrics and hot cups of tea. Until then, enjoy exploring the day to day of our makers through the Kit Kemp Design Thread and remember to tag us #designthreads to show your artistic workspace!