Design studio as a co-op?
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- ********
Could a co-op model work for a small design studio / group of people designing? Do any of you know of any design studios that work this way?
(the www.co-oponline.net.au post made me think of this... it seems that this studio is co-op only in name?)
- Kiggen0
Pentagram is kind of a Co-op...
- ********0
I think a major problem would be effort vs skill vs ego vs reward.. not sure how that problem would be resolved?
- this information is out there, don't try and re-think the wheel, just do some research.NONEIS
- mistermik0
works for me.
- Scotch_Roman0
I'm just now joining one. It's brand new, so no work yet, but my friend who's started this has a person dedicated to new business development. Could be a great source of work... we'll see.
Hopefully the sweet logo I just designed for them will help :)
- how will you sort out the money / allocation of work though?********
- how will you sort out the money / allocation of work though?
- Geith0
I think if it's kept small between a group of people who know and have worked together, it could work. I've thought of doing this, but it's all in the logistics and chemistry, I suppose.
- stem0
I guess one way of doing it is for a group to get together, create a parent company - where all members have equal share. All new work comes to the parent company.
Then each member of the group (and part owners of the parent) subcontract their time/skills on a self-employed basis, at an agreed hourly rate. This way people get a time/effort related pay.
At the end of the financial year the profits re divided up equally as a "bonus".
Regarding how you'd factor in a salesman or an agent... I haven't worked that out yet, maybe this could come out of your profits or you could pay someone to do this if you set your self employed (take-home salary) lower than what the company charges?
- Dancer0
I work with an ex-designer turned marketeer who gathers work and distributes to freelancers. We charge her our going rate and she adds her %age on top before charging the client... is that what you mean?
- i think that's more of a traditional model of working.. a co-op is more of a 'all for one / one for all' attitude.. with equal profit for members********
- profit for members********
- i think that's more of a traditional model of working.. a co-op is more of a 'all for one / one for all' attitude.. with equal profit for members
- identity0
i dont know much about them - but doesnt the KDU work in this respect?
http://thekdu.com/
- redant0
My old boss wanted to create something like this where I would work under his company name, but somehow we'd all be independent. I just don't understand yet how that would work. I assume like stem said. I need to get back with him. I assume we would all share the profits, but he did not make his idea clear.
- stem0
It really difficult to have equal pay for all when all members have different roles/skills etc., that's why I think there has to be a two-tier approach to pay.
Everyone pulls a wage based on the hours/effort they put in (this also has to be set at a level of x hours to make sure everyone is "pulling their weight" and you have to do a minimum of hours to qualify for the "annual bonus" (which is the profits shared out equally).
- I guess everyone has to be shit-hot and put in equal effort .. there'd need to be a procedure to counter lack of effort********
- effort********
- I guess everyone has to be shit-hot and put in equal effort .. there'd need to be a procedure to counter lack of effort
- era4O40
We are.
- neue75_bold0
http://www.solar.nl/
more of a collective than co-op...- annoying site. Do NOT mess with my browser!redant
- I would never mess with you..neue75_bold
- well, maybe sexually.. ;)neue75_bold
- that was SOME website-size jolt on a 30" monitor!identity
- identity0
i think the problem with the communistic ideal of shared, equal profit for all involved in the co-op is that not everyone is putting in the same amount of work — typically.
I remember TRYING to do this with an illustrator friend of mine, but it didnt work out due to the amount of work he was doing V. the amount I was. Since we didnt have a "new business" person, all the work that came in was geared for/through him or myself. Invariably, the work leaned one way (illustration) or the other (design). After some bickering and realizing that there was no real solution to this we ended the "co-op"
Better luck to you though! :-)
- ukit0
What are you a socialist??
- Knuckleberry0
Thats what I ant to do but the money situation is irking me. I cant get my head around it just quite yet.
- ********0
designers and their hangers on would be too bitchy to work together in a co-op
- ********0
- evanmade0
Keep it small. And make sure you've hired an account manager. Find clients on retainers and don't be a service provider.. be an agency.
I think there are some big benefits IF you can structure it right.
- mistermik0
i set up and run http://embloc.co.uk/
its working rather well UK wide.5 Chaps.