9.26.2013

Awesome Ideas: Co-working Spaces like The Makeshift Society






Ever since I found out about the Makeshift Society in San Francisco, I've been dreaming of a creative coworking club in DC. How awesome would it be to have a place that's not work and not home where you can go to get stuff done at big long tables or comfy couches, surrounded by other people on the grind?

Much has been made of the importance of the "Third Place" as a way for people to feel engaged in community and connected to group efforts. I also just feel that I work more efficiently and happily when I am "alone in a crowd".




Since I first moved to DC in 2006 a bunch of coffee shops have opened that do a great job filling that role to some extent, but I think it would be really special to have a place dedicated JUST for co-working that wasn't also worried about meeting food and drink minimums (it's still unclear whether allowing people like me to camp out at their laptops for six hours is really a good business practice anyway).

At the Makeshift, membership is $30 a month, and affords members unlimited access to a communal workspace with a mini kitchen. That's way less than I spend on coffee. The super-awesome Scrap DC is currently renting min-studios at insanely reasonable prices, but I'm more in the market for a big table with a coffeepot nearby.



Anyway, as much I love hanging out with a presspot and a stack of grading at the Big Bear, it's even funner to save cafes for social time with friends (or pleasure reading).

Today, office-less and working from home, I'm fantasizing about how great it would to have that third place in my life, and the creative community that comes with it. I think the exchange of ideas ( or even just the presence of other bodies) would be energizing and fun-- even when the work felt dreary.  The Makeshift Society is opening a Brooklyn outpost soon-- I think DC should be next! Who's with me?


2 comments:

  1. hello gala with lambchops!

    as you may know, we're on our final week of raising funds for makeshift society brooklyn. during this homestretch, we would love to first thank you all for your gracious support - not only our supporters & backers, but our artists & designers who have created our incredible rewards. and of course all of you who have taken the time to blog, post on facebook, tweet, instagram, or simply tell a friend about our kickstarter, from all of us at makeshift, THANK YOU so much. because of you, we have raised 65% of our goal.

    with that being said, now more than ever we would like to ask for your help to get us to our goal of 30k. it's crunch time (7 days left!) over here at makeshift society, and we have one small favor to ask of you. your involvement has brought us this far, and we only ask that you can share one more post within the next 7 days to help spread the word that we are on our final push, and still as determined as ever. of course, we will repost whatever social media buzz that mentions @MakeshiftSocBK!
    and for you tweet-convenience, here is a shortlink to our kickstarter: http://kck.st/16tDExa

    thank you all so much again, know that this is happening because of you.

    endless thanks and high fives,
    gloria c. waters ● makeshift society intern

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  2. Good ideas. Actually great thinking. Thanks for your post. We are compare Co-working space. Thanks.

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