Neighbourhood DESiGN Hubs — Where Ideas Take Form
Spaces where people unite & activate
DESiGN Hubs \ business incubator spaces are places where people deliberately & regularly gather together to work on their vision — a garage, a shed, a large table, a shop in town, an innovation space.
Each person could be working on a separate idea, but the beauty of it is that there is a collaborative feel to the space; support, enterprise, encouragement. Everyone has the option to reach out & draw on each others skills, gifts, talents & experiences. In a DESiGN Hub, their is a mutual feeling of momentum. One person is working on planning a startup, another developing web content, & people sitting around the room creating media, or whatever…
There is plenty of light in this environment; because people can sparkle ideas to life; there is a mutual drive to go well & parallel beliefs. When groups come together, they ignite something far greater: a shared creative space where imagination comes to life.
“I wrote this reflection for you, having spent a significant amount of time with Business Incubator Spaces in Dunedin New Zealand, had office space in the Uni of Otago Centre for Innovation, worked out of Hubs in Wellington & Auckland, & had the privilege of experiencing incredible spaces such as Vibewire in Sydney while travelling, here are some DESiGN Hub reflections…” Stevey Chernishov
DESiGN Hubs can have tinkering areas, fully functional businesses, startups, cafes & products — all developing at the same time. The key is to ‘find your tribe’ & agree to take an interest in how each idea is taking shape. The consistent connection between people really increases wellbeing. Unlike working from home, there is a kind of building together taking place; shared tools, with shared insight.
Creating in a DESiGN HUB is kind of like working in an office block, only each group who makes up the space has a business idea, service or product to offer.
So instead of the feeling that everyone there is working for someone, each feels that they are working with the those who surround them, while taking full responsibility for their progress & actions.
This moves the work environment beyond survival, operating machines & living with a mission, with meaning & momentum.
Birthing a Creative Hub
A DESiGN Hub is more than a workshop — it’s a collective laboratory for possibility. Usually the way that is works is that people rent spaces, or hot desks. Working from a shared space is intended to be cheaper than taking out a lease on an office, or building, & so while it takes the pressure off it also lights the fire of innovation among those gathered. Often times too, spaces like this make room for travellers, so they can come for a day or two, & may end up staying months in the area as a result, or ‘forever’…
In a DESiGN Hub, one person’s issue can be resolved quickly, because curiosity is contagious, more learning happens when there a bunch of you are walking in the ‘same kind of shoes’, with some who have made it further down the road. It’s one of the most encouraging places to be..
The beauty of neighbourhood DESiGN Hubs is accessibility. You don’t need to be an engineer or an artist to belong. You only need a desire to create something real. People share tools & knowledge, actively get together & present their ideas, & their is a mutual understanding that while everyone has their mission, there is always time to solve an issue or exchange expertise.
DESiGN Hubs are the ultimate space to prototype ideas, build & grow — they have a culture of collaboration that strengthens the fabric of the community.
Anyone can start a DESiGN Hub.
Living with Mission
Every great space begins with a mission — DESiGN Hubs are founded by people who have great organisational skills, the capacity to bring others together & a drive to see them go well. The founders of these spaces always have their own business/ideas/startups too, & so they see the value of the service, know the importance of creating an epic vibe, & are onsite actively involved in utilising the space.
FOUNDERS ASK: What does our neighbourhood need most right now?
Maybe it’s:
A repair hub that teaches people how to fix what they own.
A creative studio for young innovators to learn practical skills.
A local lab that develops eco-friendly tools for gardening or energy.
A shared workshop for building small-scale inventions & prototypes.
Whatever it is, the key is to define the opportunities, make space for these to thrive & offer it to those who fit into the niche. DESiGN Hubs give direction, focus & energy to all involved - but they take very little. They thrive when everyone understands what to contribute, & each person involved is motivated; taking responsibility for their mission & action to make it happen.
Living like this turns a seemingly random collection of people into a movement with purpose. A space with a mission makes the place shine. A vision shared can move beyond the journal it was written in & impact lives..
Creating a Space
Once the mission is clear, the space doesn’t have to be fancy — it just needs to be functional & welcoming. It could be a garage, an unused classroom, a church hall, or an empty retail unit transformed into a hub of innovation.
An abandoned office, or shop can become a DESiGN Hub the moment is is equipped with what’s available & the doors open: A few tools, a table, a whiteboard, solar panels on the roof & power outlets, an Internet connection & imagination. Boom! It’s on!!
As resources grow, so will capability — 3D printers, sewing machines, CNC routers, cutting stations, hot desks, etc.
But the most valuable resource will always be the people — those who show up with curiosity, generosity & the willingness to learn together. The true power of a DESiGN Hub is not in its tools, but in an atmosphere of possibility. The key is, you need to attract people who are ready to create; they must have the enthusiasm, mindset & resilience to overcome challenges & pursue what matters.
Activate: From Ideas to Action
A space without movement is just a room with potential. When starting & running a DESiGN Hub, it is key to have open days, mini build nights, repair cafés, youth workshops, senior citizen gatherings, or whatever you decide to do to attract your people.
We must believe that we have something of value to offer, & let go of insecurities or the feeling that the space may not be ‘good enough’. It doesn’t matter. The vision comes first, & atmosphere with it.
DESiGN Hubs need mentors, great communicators, engineers, scientific thinkers, artists, practical skills, & to share knowledge. To turn projects into services, each person needs the opportunity learn, be inspire & connect. Momentum is built through rhythm — regular gatherings that keep creativity flowing & collaboration thriving.
Each event, each prototype shown, each conversation adds to a growing sense of ‘we can do this’. There needs to be a culture of anticipation built, but this is most amazing when time pressure is removed & each innovator can persevere one step at a time without stressing over the outcome. From that belief, new enterprises, inventions, & friendships emerge.
The Power of Local Innovation
Neighbourhood DESiGN Hubs are the seeds of a new kind of economy — one based on creativity, sustainability & cooperation rather than consumption.
They help communities:
Repair instead of replace.
Produce locally instead of import endlessly.
Teach practical skills that reconnect people to their own capability.
Develop homegrown solutions for local challenges.
This is grassroots innovation — where people become producers again.
When we create locally, we strengthen our roots in the community, & build our capacity to reach beyond..
DESiGN Culture
A DESiGN Hub can be a key part of transforming dreams into reality.
Once isolated people can now easily collaborate, & feel the love. Hubs are the perfect place to overcome fear. As the bible says, “There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear”. It’s important to present the Hub’s values & offer vibrant, colourful, tuneful atmospheres.
Spaces like this become an incredible social network in physical form — where generations & skillsets blend into one shared purpose: to build a better tomorrow, starting now.
When people create side by side, barriers fall away.
Laughter replaces labels. The act of making becomes the art of belonging.
TIPS: To Activate the Movement
Wherever you are, whatever your resources, you can begin.
Find like-minded people.
Come together with purpose.
Define your mission.
Create a space.
Use what you have — tools, ideas, time & heart.
Be okay with imperfect; the key is just to take the steps.
Every great workshop, studio & invention centre begins with a single act of courage — someone saying, “Let’s do it.”
Flow, Build, Unite
With a vision the people will prosper. Without a vision the people will perish.
To make this succeed, the place needs to have a culture with set standards.
There must be a caring culture.
Humble beginnings are to be encouraged, DESiGN Hubs are not a space for people to show off; invention is not reserved for experts. DESiGN Hubs make space to think, to create, to fail, for reflecting, for food, gatherings, encouragement & to persevere.
Reality isn’t being made somewhere else. It’s not on Snapchat, or Instagram.
It’s being made right here, right now— in the moment, in our neighbourhoods, one idea, one tool, one heart at a time.