Why Coworking Spaces are Business Therapy for Designers Posted on: July 8, 2014 /
Categories: Current Events
When it comes to coworking spaces for graphic designers, even the downsides
are upsides. Isn't it wonderful when self-serving impulses turn out to actually boost productivity-
e.g., petting office dogs, taking longer lunch breaks, and indulging in second-breakfasts?
Such is the rationale behind coworking spaces: cooperative, pay-by-the-day workplace
options that are serving key roles in the business plans of freelance designers not just in
terms of office space, but in profitability, networking, and savvy advice.
What to Look for in a Design Space: Flexibility, Flexibility, Flexibility If there's one consistency in startups, it's inconsistency-to such a degree that coworking
doubles as the Goldilocks option for best cases and worst cases alike.
Raking in six times what you expected in your first year-or six times less? Outcomes on
either end are among the greatest reasons to consider coworking in lieu of restrictive
lease terms (or cubicles). Want to add another desk or cut your hours from five days a
week down to two? These are options far beyond the bounds of typical leasing, but the
bread-and-butter of coworking arrangements.
Add the fact that either way you're paying only for your share (and not for utilities during
hours you're not there-or, more accurately, for utilities at all), and the prospect for
apportioned budgeting only sweetens further.
Public Spaces, Paired Motives, and Other People's Clients The flexibility to match commitment to demand is nice; having a community through
which to increase demand, nicer.
Collaboration among coworking tenants is really a win, win, win situation; the odds of
finding a complementary freelancer (e.g., coder, writer, photographer) to pair with as a
designer are great, and both parties stand to benefit from the increase in reach, scope, and
input. Meanwhile, the client gains the convenience of having two vendors in one space-
plus any boons in cohesiveness and efficiency that arise from having three-way
communication.
The only potential downside, says Christina Hilliard of Richmond, VA design shop
Campfire and Co., is relinquishing your control over shared, open aesthetics-but that,
too, has an upside:
Designers have a tendency to want to have complete control over their space, which just
isn't really an option in a coworking situation. That said, our business grew much more
quickly because we are in such a public space. People are able to see our process and how
we work with one another and our clients, as opposed to us hiding out in our homes. 2
You Say Happy Hour, I Say Business Therapy Of course, networking within coworking spaces has its motives aside from just profit.
Many coworking outfits maintain active calendars of guest speakers, workshops, and
community mentoring sessions (with the latter occasionally masked as rooftop happy
hours).
Fraternizing with freelancers and entrepreneurs is a real advantage when running your
own business. The more time a designer can spend designing, and not managing finances
or unraveling legalese, the better-so it helps to have people nearby who've gone through
parallel struggles and taken great notes.
Our studio members have become our business support system, explains Hilliard's
graphic design partner Lauren Stewart. It's so helpful to have a group of people
experiencing the same things and sharing tips and tricks. They are there with you in your
challenges and can really celebrate in your triumphs.
Conference Rooms Versus Coffee Shops Finally, there's the prospect of enjoying not just space to work, but space to meet.
Accustomed to meeting your clients in coffee shops-and apologizing when there aren't
available seats? Sounds like a problem that coworking spaces can solve.
Plus, they usually provide coffee for free.
Matt Siegel covers the marriage of design, branding, and entrepreneurship for Graphic Stock
.
Christina Hilliard and Lauren Stewart are the cofounders of Campfire and Co., an
interior and graphic design studio based out of Richmond, Virginia's Marvin Lang
Building (which Lauren helped design).
Tags: designers, media, product, productivity, stock media, stock video, Video Blocks, VideoBlocks, web
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
16/07/2026
Glensound returns to IBC with a major new addition to its intelligent loudspeaker range, the Greater Divine Supernal studio monitor, alongside recent developmen...
16/07/2026
33 leading exhibitors are taking part in the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Pavilions and linked locations across IBC2026 (Amsterdam RAI, 11 14 September)...
16/07/2026
Hitomi Broadcast will introduce Spectra, a new HDR colour verification solution measured in picture, not using VPID, at IBC2026 (Hall 10, Stand A40). Expanding ...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Zixi, a leader in live video delivery and workflow orchestration, and Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) today announced a strategic new integration to deliver ...
16/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Capture Immersive Flight for New Cirrus App
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Leader in Personal Aviation taps URSA Cin...
16/07/2026
XenData Announces LTO Archive Appliances with both File and S3 Object Storage In...
16/07/2026
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is coming to GeForce NOW at launch, with the playable...
16/07/2026
Together the semi-finals had a combined reach of 1.98 million unique individuals...
15/07/2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a big deal for DAZN, which has distribution rights in three markets: Italy, Spain, and Japan. Each requires a different editorial app...
15/07/2026
As sports-media organizations manage rapidly growing content libraries and incre...
15/07/2026
HBS director of digital Johannes Franken talks SVG Europe through the operation built to serve FIFA World Cup 2026 rights holders remotely from Stratford, east ...
15/07/2026
IBC has unveiled the conference program for IBC2026, with this year's event ...
15/07/2026
Software-defined wideband RF platform supports 96-kHz monitoring, streamlined fr...
15/07/2026
New AI-powered module enables broadcasters and content owners to extract dialogu...
15/07/2026
Weeklong gathering at EBU headquarters will test new IPMX capabilities and expand certified product ecosystem...
15/07/2026
Force Tech has announced the appointment of Bryan Adams, CTS, as Vice President of Integration. Adams will oversee AV and broadcast integration project delivery...
15/07/2026
USA Sports has announced an exclusive English-language agreement with the Bundes...
15/07/2026
ITV Sport's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage has been produced from one of the m...
15/07/2026
Program will provide professional camera kits, training, and technical support to participating local newsrooms...
15/07/2026
San Francisco church becomes first U.S. deployment of the 2 M/E production switcher...
15/07/2026
Former ESPN and NFL Network executive to advise startup league on media, distribution, technology, and fan engagement...
15/07/2026
The Houston-based RSN is the live-game home of the Astros and Rockets...
15/07/2026
Launched alongside new FreqSoft installer
Designed to bridge the gap between hardware and software, Freqport's FreqInOut FO1 unit provides a simple way ...
15/07/2026
Save up to 55% on software until 23 July 2026
Expressive E have just launched their Summer Offer sale, with discounts of up to 55% now applied across their ...
15/07/2026
Real-time stem-separation tool updated
zplane have recently released a new and improved version of their real-time stem-separation plug-in which they say ma...
15/07/2026
A new benchmark in bass enhancement
Described as a new benchmark in bass enhancement , Baby Audio's latest release has been designed to augment the lo...
15/07/2026
DMC Production's AR 1 and AR 2 units reverse the conventional OB workflow, keeping all production-critical processing at the venue while operators work remo...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
GigaCloud, a leading Ukrainian cloud service provider, and Cubbit, the first geo-distributed cloud storage enabler, today announced a new Business Alliance Part...
15/07/2026
SMPTE, the global society for media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has announced the launch of the SMPTE 110th Anniversary Campaign, a fundraising...
15/07/2026
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, unveils the new StudioComm Model 762 Stereo Level Control, ...
15/07/2026
COW Jobs: Producer, Virtual Events - Hybrid, Full Time, Salaried
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Producer, Virtual Events (Hybrid | Full-time | ...
15/07/2026
Brazilian media organization builds nationwide CDN with Broadpeak's high-performance software for low-latency streaming and new content distribution service...
15/07/2026
DHD announces a new utility designed to increase the efficiency of its audio mixing systems during initial installation and subsequent configuration.
Anyone w...
15/07/2026
BCNEXXT Brings Next-Generation Vipe to IBC2026, Breaking the 1:1 Channel-to-Server Ratio New innovations liberate broadcasters from legacy playout infrastructur...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
General-purpose robots and autonomous machines are moving from research labs to ...
15/07/2026
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Screeners and press pack now available: Gomorrah: The Or...
Why Coworking Spaces are Business Therapy for Designers Posted on: July 8, 2014 / 
