Need New Ideas? Try Coworking

Posted on 25. Dec, 2009 by Daniel in Design Trends

For those of us who are freelancers, the benefits of this type of work is immense – the ability to take on projects that are intellectually stimulating or suit our interests, control over our schedules as well as the ability to work anywhere. But work location precisely can in itself be a problem. How many times have you found yourself talking when no one is around? How often have you ended up working at a coffee shop just to get the feeling of community that you get from working in an office? Have you ever felt like you have reached a creative dead-end and don’t know where to go?

There might be a solution for this, and it may come in the form of a new type of workplace where freelancers convene to get things done. It’s called coworking. Imagine working in a place with freelancing people just like yourself – yes, it actually exists.

Plus, a coworking space is set up as a collaborative environment, so there aren’t any cubes. In its place is an open space with wi-fi and coffee available. Many coworking locales also offer meeting space in case you need to meet a client.

Here’s how it works: in order to start coworking, you need to see if a coworking space has been set up in your area. Then you can visit to see if you would be interested in becoming a member. The fees are usually around a hundred bucks a month, and space is limited to a set amount of members.

To try a place out, most coworking spaces offer a trial membership, or “visa” which is a pass for a specified number of days. A visa can come with a set number of days for a nominal fee, or it may even be free. So check it out. The benefits? You get out of solo desperation, come up with some creative new ideas and you might even meet a colleague/friend.

There appears to be coworking locations popping up everywhere. We’ll be watching this new trend, and keep you updated.