Co-working

From factory floor industrial era, to watercooler, cubicle times. The evolution of work and therefore the workspace continues.

Meet co-working, it’s been brewing around the world for a while, and is quickly catching on around Australia at this moment.

Inspire 9 in Melbourne, Co-worka in Sydney and The Hub in Melbourne (offshoot of coworking granddaddy The Hub Amsterdam).

About a collaborative space encouraging ‘co-working’, these new workplaces offer desk and facility rental to individuals working on absolutely anything. Struggling startups, one man agencies, one woman consultancies. The core drive being that when these individuals come together, cross-pollination happens, innovation happens and the world is a better, thriving place.

With these kinds of ideals, co-working spaces often play host to innovative events, Pecha Kuchas, Barcamps, Hacker Spaces. As co-working spaces tend to attract the young creative freelancer, it’s no wonder that the events are usually more along the design-inclined.

The Hub Amsterdam, mentioned above, plays host to over 30 locations worldwide, you’ve got a whole lot of independent co-working spaces in startup-tech-innovation hub San Francisco, and the trend is even buzzing up in China where a space called Xindanwei leads the pack.

So next time you’re not feeling the casual Friday at your office, perhaps think about what it would be like to command a desk at a coworking space wearing whatever you please each day. Surrounded by individuals working on their own initiatives and driven by cross-pollination. Go co-working!