OpenSpace

To better accommodate our PC user members in an increasingly Mac-biased world, we’ve added a second PC-compatible monitor! Now PC users won’t have to share that one solitary white monitor. Be sure to check out the new addition- it’s so sleek and shiny (in keeping with the OpenSpace aesthetic, of course)!

Your requests have been heard! Decaf coffee is back! All the warmth and goodness of coffee, without the jitters, just in time for colder weather.

The end of August marks the first full month of our new business hours. After doing a little research, we realized very few Occasional members were utilizing the space after 6pm. And with the introduction of 24×7 access for Unlimited Members, we decided it was time to change our hours: we are now open 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Thanks everyone for helping to make it a smooth transition!

For those who were unable to attend Monday’s event, the vote is in: Effectuation is one hot topic!

OpenSpace hosted a vibrant group of over 50 individuals during our first talk on Effectual Entrepreneur Programs. Lead by our very own Ian Ayers, the evening session focused on Effectuation: Learning the Decision Framework of Expert Entrepreneurs, based on research done by Darden Business School’s Dr. Sarasvathy.

This interactive group discussion – with the help of 6 entrepreneurial-minded audience members – was energizing. One by one, they pitched their business ideas to the crowd with ideas, suggestions, real-time feedback confirming that co-creation works! It truly was Effectuation in action!

If you missed out on this awesome event, rest assured that there’s more to come! We’re working on establishing an ongoing schedule of Effectuation talks at OpenSpace.

If you missed last night’s NBC29 news story on OpenSpace, click here to see the video!

Get some insight into our newest OpenSpace team members – Erin Miller & Joseph Holm.

Erin says…

• in an ideal world, I would have a dog. But as it is, I just have a house plant named Bob the Bromeliad.
• my pet peeve is waiting at stop lights. (we say, um, who’s impatient?)
• I’m most likely to be excessively indecisive on the cereal aisle.
• I’m least likely to ever cheer for UNC or Virginia Tech. (we’re sure that one will get some response)

Joseph says…

• I recently went to Greece and proposed to Tahni on the island of Santorini. (we’re guessing she said yes)
• I LOVE Texas BBQ.
• my pet peeve is “LOL.” (we got a chuckle out of that)
• completely random trivia – I had never been outside of Texas for more than 2 weeks at a time before moving to Charlottesville.

Come say ‘Hi’ at the Hello Desk!

Make Up Your Mind!

Break on through to the other side!  (OpenSpace, that is)

The feature story of last week’s issue of C-ville Weekly took readers “Inside Charlottesville’s Brainstorming Revolution.”   Boy, were we flattered (and honored) to be included in such a great article.  It commemorates the entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative cultures that both support and thrive at OpenSpace.  The article also describes us as being central to Charlottesville’s large Creative Class, those who “are changing the way our city’s brain works,” and who have landed us a spot amongst the top 20 brainiest American cities.   Wow.

And, it doesn’t stop there: Jeff Gunther, the brains behind everything OpenSpace, was featured on the cover!   Many thanks to local photographer Sarah Cramer for capturing such awesome photos of Jeff in the space.  If you didn’t know already, now you do: Jeff designed almost every architectural element of the space, from the hanging Random Lights (see image, left) to the signature green color scheme.  Pretty awesome!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to read the article soon. It won’t fail to impress.  http://tinyurl.com/665h2mm

Remember that time we celebrated OpenSpace’s birthday? Here’s a photo of some of the folks who joined us for the festivities. A big THANK YOU to Billy Hunt for making this great photo fun to take!

Yes, it’s ugly. In fact, it’s Charlottesville’s Ugliest* Office! Congratulations to Simeon Fitch and the Bens at Mustard Seed Software, LLC for winning one month of membership at OpenSpace and a new iPad! In their own words …

SAVE US FROM OURSELVES!

Three guys, one basement,
Hot & sweaty coders.
Coffee stains & dust bunnies,
Awkward body odors.

Late nights fixing bugs,
Caffeinated shaking.
Foreign matter between keys,
Carpel tunnel aching.

Dog hair, food wrappers,
Sticky keyboard madness.
Dim lights & camped desks,
Startup business sadness.

GET ME OUT OF THIS PLACE!
Get me into some OpenSpace!

*Ugly is a subjective determination, and in this case labeled such at the sole discretion of the OpenSpace judging committee. Yes, we saw hoarders, plenty of mold, 80s pastel décor and bearded ladies in the submissions, and it was a tough call.

As we suspected, many of you are grinding it out every day in some VERY ugly offices. So, if you need a break, stop by – there is OpenSpace for you.

Steve Jobs is quoted as saying:

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

Does this cube look familiar? Is this really working? Probably not.

If your workspace looks even remotely like this, you are a prime candidate to enter Charlottesville’s Ugliest Office Contest. We are looking for dim basement offices, make-shift bedroom offices, car trunk offices, unattractive corner offices. Dismal, dimly lit, outdated, disco beads, paper piles, filing cabinets next to litter boxes, velvet curtains, posters…you name it we want to see it!

It’s easy to enter. Just go to www.getopenspace.com/uglyoffice for details.

The prizes are a FREE iPad! Hello to that!

And a FREE month at OpenSpace for you and 4 colleagues!

Contest started June 1 and ends June 30.