The office is buzzing with excitement over MODE’s big move across town, myself included. Talk of 10-foot glass walls, more individualized workspaces and a never-before-had break room complete with a full size refrigerator has the team anxious to step foot into the new building. While every one of the improvements tickles my fancy, I am most excited about all the new workspaces to choose from, and the possibility of having one that I can call my own, as I have not had that luxury at our current office. I live a nomadic lifestyle here in the office, changing desks every so often based on needs.

The first desk I occupied at MODE was during my internship during summer 2007. The desk, which currently is inhabited by Alex, is located in the very corner of the office, next to Maxim (1). The view was enjoyable; it has two corner windows that converge to create a lovely vignette of the beautiful landscaping that surrounds our building. When my eyes needed a momentary rest from the screen, I could peer around the side of my monitor to gander at the small finches and robins that often fed in front of the window. If I was lucky, I even caught some drama at the bus stop located on the corner, conveniently in view from my window. I gave up this location when I left my internship for my last year at Winthrop. Little did I know it would be far from my last seat in the office.

It wasn’t until I came back to work for MODE after graduation that I took up my next abode. My new workstation was located in the opposite corner from my old one right next to the conference room (2). Lacking the additional add-on, this desk was noticeably smaller, which I found to be perfect because my body size to desk ratio was probably the equivalent to everyone else in the office (which was all male at this point). However, with my promotion from intern to designer, I not only accumulated more responsibility, but also more equipment. During my internship, I only had one computer. Once starting my second term at MODE, an additional scanner was added to my collection (not to mention a second computer sitting on my desk). I quickly outgrew this escritoire within a matter of weeks once a very wide Epson Stylus Photo 1400 printer came into my possession; it was time to relocate.

My new accommodations took on a new elevation (3). Upstairs was an entirely new experience with new people, new surroundings, and more activity than the ground level environment. The size of the desk expanded back to the measurements of my first desk (1), sufficiently fitting all my equipment and myself (the second computer did not travel with me upstairs). I preferred the spaciousness of this new setting to the smaller location downstairs; nevertheless, I could not make this my home. The desk belonged to the previous project manager and would be reclaimed by our current project coordinator.

The day before Caresse (project coordinator) started, I moved again, back downstairs to the small corner desk I once called home for a brief period (2). Approximately two and a half months went by before my next relocation. Within this expanse of time, I took a fancy to this desk. There were many great features, but perhaps one of the best was the picture of Michael Phelps, clothed only in his patriotic Speedo, which appeared out of nowhere one afternoon and decorated the wall in front of the desk.

My next move occurred when the amazingly large printer was called back into action. The inkjet was back in my possession, but without a home for it, a move was necessary to house us both. Back up the stairs I climbed to my current dwelling on the second floor (4). Similar to my first desk I have a lovely view of some plant life located on the upstairs deck. The morning sun shines in the windows making the need for artificial lighting unnecessary, which appeals to my green side. I have been here for about a month, finding this location delightful. Yet MODE will be moving the office soon, which means another new desk for me.
In the total eight months that I have been employed here at MODE, I have occupied four different desks of the available twelve (one-third!). I have taken on a transient nature here, changing desks every so often with no permanent location in sight. While it would be nice to have a desk to call my own, this type of existence certainly keeps things interesting.