Trial and error. Learning from a coworking space failure

tips from 3 years of coworking... went bad

TRIAL AND ERROR

lunedì 11 novembre 2013

22A|22
was a coworking and
design gallery that has
been active in Florence
from 2009 to 2012

we hosted workshops...

exhibitions...

temporary stores...

parties...

photoshootings...

concerts...

cinema shows...

but mainly it was
an alive coworking.

despite all this,
we had to shut.
What happened, then?

Well,
we’ve done mistakes:
Here’s what i’ve learnt from
errors committed before
starting...

At ﬁrst,
i just needed
a studio

Start with a clear project
don’ just stumble upon it

But couldn’t
afford it, just
then seeked
for partners

Team is crucial. Choose
wisely a motivated, diverse
but tight group to start with

We begun
dreaming big,
too big

Dream big, start small.
Or at least lean. Or go big
only if you are almost sure
you can afford to do that.

...while planning

We fell in love
with a place
but it was
a mess

Plan accurately
your initial expenses.
Handle restorations with
care, it’s hard to foresee
how much it will really cost

And it was
too expensive
to mantain

Don’t spend all the money
with initial expenses. It will
take time to reach your
project’s full potential

Enthusiasm
weighted far
more than its
cost

Enthusiasm, passion,
boldness are great things.
But give them robust roots
to grow efficiently

...while managing

The project
was split in 2
uncoherent
parts

Give an understandable
strong, solid, firm identity
to your project, and let
coworking power it

We’ve chosen
to become too
self-referential
and closed

Your place
won’t remain the coolest
place in town for a long
time. If you’ll play on
exclusiveness, you’ll lose.

Deﬁnitely too
many clueless
hipster parties

People joining a party
want to drink and have fun,
not necessarily to use your
desks. Beware the hipsters

...while taking care
of the community.

We left people
alone to solve
their problems

People have to feel
comfortable and cared.
You can’t ask coworkers to
bear problems and
inefficiencies.

The space
changed from
shared to
partitioned

Struggle for keeping
your community open and
dynamic. 2-3 empty desks
are better than a blocked,
closed community

We didn’t
involve people
in the activities

Help coworkers
to feel part of your project.
Let them help, propose,
participate, share, live it.
Your project is their project.

Nonetheless, there’s
a lot i’ve learnt
and a lot i’ve got:

friends,
mates,
experience,

and a new project
( with many new mistakes to do! )

Mattia Sullini
cowo Firenze 22A|22
cowo Firenze COMBO

thanks!

Trial and error. Learning from a coworking space failure

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