TO MEET · 04/17/2013
Makeshift Society
“We like to think of it more as a clubhouse than a coworking space,” Rena Tom says of Makeshift Society. “Community is at the heart of it and people make their own rules.”
The cozy space has plenty of desk space and quick wifi for getting down to work, but Makeshift also facilitates conversation and interaction. Visitors can easily sit down to type away at their computers all day, but can also strike up conversation with their desk mates or grab design books from the lending library when seeking inspiration.
“People can do work, talk to others, then get crazy notions,” Rena told us. Those crazy notions lead to the classes and panels held weekly in the space. They range from lectures to mixers to purely craft classes. Just a few weeks ago they hosted a class on modern floral arrangements with Studio Choo.
“Everyone works so seriously at their computers all day so it’s nice to do something different at night,” Rena explained, “People want to learn to do things with their hands again.”
They can take the tradition route and gather inspiration from one of the many design books on Makeshift’s shelves. Having space for a lending library was always part of Rena’s initial plan, but it evolved to be so much more.
To maintain a feeling of intimacy within the space, it’s divided into different sections—a brightly lit front workspace, a wooden conference room that they refer to as the “sauna,” and a lofted nap space.
At Makeshift, members and visitors end up having the perfect balance of work and play!
Rena is wearing the Begley in Cedar Tortoise.
Photos by Nick Fay