Last Friday I attended a meeting about co-working here in Des Moines. I was encouraged that things seem to really be shaping up for a new, exciting space where creative, independent professionals can coexist and collaborate in an open office environment. Daniel Shipton and his wife Abbie hosted the event to formally introduce their forthcoming space, Impromptu Studio in Des Moines, and to gather feedback from interested individuals.

Overall, I enjoyed hearing about progress, looking at some photos and video of the top location choices, listening to feedback from the others in attendance and just getting a feel for the types of people interested in such a space. Apparently this sort of thing is really gaining in popularity in more metropolitan cities around the country, and it’s encouraging to see something like this taking shape in our area.

After downsizing and transforming my previous business (which had a couple of employees) I have been working solo in an office suite for the past year — as a result, I have felt very isolated and lacked the camaraderie and inspiration found in a typical office environment. So I am really hoping this turns out to be the kind of work space I have been looking for!

It’s all happening quickly too — it appears they will begin renting out space somewhere in the downtown Des Moines area beginning in July. I plan to be among the first tenants, and hope to see more people getting on board as well. Maybe you?

If you’re a creative professional (designers, developers, writers, etc.) and tired of working amongst the distractions and isolation at home, or looking for a more professional and collaborative space than a coffee shop can provide, I encourage you to check out their offerings at http://impromptustudio.com/

Thanks to Dan and Abbie for taking the initiative to bring such a great opportunity to Des Moines!

P.S. The meeting was held at East Village Books. If you haven’t been to EVB yet, I encourage you to check them out! I was impressed! It’s a very nice book store with a very local flair. Plus, they can provide a venue for small meetings and events (and they even have free parking!)