Digital 52 5️⃣0️⃣ - Building a design consultancy around community and positive impact, and using coworking as a means to reach their purpose: The story of ATOLYE.
Today’s story will take you to Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city. What’s there? A community that has been using coworking as a way to bond and grow their collective knowledge: ATOLYE.
Community Curation - Facilitating Collaboration
You can read the story of ATOLYE on page 36 of “Around The World in 250 Coworking Spaces”.
While most of the stories you’ve come across so far around here were primarily companies which primarily businesses were to be a coworking space, today, things will be slightly different. You will soon learn how a design consultancy company has used coworking and its model to shape its community and ‘glue’ it around a collective purpose, centered around positive impact. And the truly fascinating thing is that while coworking has never been the primary business of ATOLYE, it has supported their journey and their growth in many ways. As this is the introduction to today’s story, we do not aim to spoil all of it right away. Instead, we invite you to discover bits and pieces of what makes ATOLYE a fascinating company and community to get to know!
➡️ A little refresher
Who’s behind the featured space?
Meet Kerem Alper (left) and Engin Ayaz (right), the Founders of ATOLYE.
The duo met during their early teens but did not plan to go into a joint venture until after they both took a gap year after graduating from college to travel together. The seeds for ATÖLYE had been planted during their 9-month long trip spanning a number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere where they embarked on adventures in nature and encounters at far ends of the world in South America and Southern Africa.
➡️ Key Figures
- Opening year: 2013
- Size when they started: 1 space in Istanbul
- Size today: 2 spaces, 1 in Istanbul and 1 in Dubai
➡️ A little tour around ATOLYE
➡️ Behind-the-scenes
Things you didn't read in aw250cs.
“The word “atölye” derives from the French word “atelier” from the 19th century, which stands for a workshop or a private studio, and originates from the Old French word astelle, meaning ‘splinter of wood,’ reminiscent of a carpenter’s space. This brings to mind an image of a carpenter using his tools, revealing sparks, radiance, and creative energy in the process. At the heart of ATÖLYE lies precisely this image of a spark, both in physical and a metaphorical way. Constantly engaged in productive processes, we seek to release the creative spark that is implied through the etymology of our name.”
“We are so proud of being a part of kyu collective. kyu is a collective of strategically curated companies whose purpose is to be a source of creativity that propels the economy and society forward. kyu’s member companies include the global design firm IDEO; Kepler, the data-driven media services provider; Sid Lee, the multi-disciplinary creative brand-building agency; and SYPartners, the transformation consultancy, among others. ATÖLYE’s operating and management model for curating and engaging a diverse creative community, when combined with kyu’s capacity to provide scale, will create a significantly more powerful and impactful offer in many markets that have previously been served in a more limited way by traditional network outposts.”
"Our understanding of community has developed through its natural growth over the past decade."
Melissa Clissold, Communications Lead at ATOLYE
➡️ ATOLYE Today
What is new at ATOLYE today? That’s the exact question we’ve asked Melissa Clissold, the Communications Lead for ATOLYE. While the book grew in awareness over the last 2 years, so did ATOLYE! As always, what fascinates us with ATOLYE is the constant team dedication and focus to support their extended community in achieving a more positive impact through their collective efforts and work.
💫 New openings, B. Corp, Team growth and more.
As you are about to discover, ATOLYE has grown and is continuing to grow in different ways. While its growth takes a few shapes, those all support ATOLYE’s mission towards a greater positive impact in the world.
If you have read past editions of Digital 52, you might have come across B. Corp-certified spaces before. If not, check out this story and discover how ATOLYE got its own B. Corp certification below!
💬 I’d like to start by asking you: What’s new at ATOLYE since September 2021?
A lot has changed since September 2021. One change is we have a larger team overall. Around that time, there were maybe around 20 people, and now we're 50-60 people. We also adopted a hybrid model. Back then, we had one hub in Istanbul, but now we have a new hub in Dubai, and we will be opening up in Amsterdam as well soon, although the timeline is not yet clear. We've moved to a hybrid model post-pandemic, with some people working remotely and others in the physical spaces.
Another significant change is our community model; it used to be a paid membership, but now it's free and curated. We aim to curate our community for those willing to engage, collaborate, and work together, not just on ATOLYE projects but also on shared design practices and portfolios focusing on sustainability, and learning through our ATOLYE Academy, community lab, and architecture. These 4 portfolios intersect because that's our core idea.
Additionally, we have a new co-CEO, Bengii, and Engin, while Kerem has transitioned to Neol as founder and CEO. He remains on the board, but this is a new change.
Looking ahead, we're emphasizing the community-powered future of ATOLYE and how we can utilize the power of community for positive change in the world, with a focus on people, the planet, and societal issues. We've also become a B Corp, which is a significant shift for us.
💬 ATOLYE is much more than a coworking space, can you explain to us what you guys are overall?
This is a great question, and it's one we're still trying to tackle and solve. Hopefully, in the next few months, we'll have a more solid answer. Personally, I describe us as a design consultancy, which is also how we present ourselves on our website. We're a strategic design and innovation consultancy. However, what sets us apart from most consultancies is that we operate as a community-powered organization. We're not just a space for freelancers; we're a place where our community can use the space if they choose to. The core idea is that we work together to collaborate on projects. While our team consists of around 50 people, many of our community members also participate in high-level projects with prestigious clients.
And one final point, as an organization, we have the intention to collectively address the world's most urgent issues by harnessing design, creativity, and collaboration.
💬 You opened a space in Dubai, Let me ask first: why Dubai? What was there for you guys?
We actually began the community before launching the space in Dubai. We received an invitation from the Dubai Future Foundation to contribute to realizing the UAE's creative economy vision by establishing a hub for creative talent in Dubai's Emirates Towers, situated in the vicinity of numerous government offices.
We often see individuals from diverse sectors in Dubai walking through the space.
This decision was strategic, and driven by the demand for consulting services and offerings.
Initially, our primary focus was on the academy and architecture, with sustainability gradually becoming a more prominent part of our offerings.
Additionally, I believe that being a part of the kuy collective, which has offices in some places in the US, Japan, Asia, and some in Africa, but relatively few in the Middle East outside of Istanbul. We play a role in bridging connections for companies part of kyu collective and having a hub in Dubai there serves this purpose.
💬 Everything you do revolves around community. Where does that come from? How do you guys educate yourself about the topic?
Great questions. Hearing Engin and Kerem, the founders of ATOLYE, discuss our early days, one of Engin's most widely read articles on our Medium and Insights page is called “Build Community, Space will Comeand ” you’ll realize it evolved organically.
After Engin and Kerem reunited following a year of travel and their graduation from Stanford d.school, they returned to Turkey with a shared desire to collaborate with like-minded individuals. They initially started in various locations, gradually growing from two people to five, then to ten, ultimately realizing the need for a dedicated workspace. This shared purpose laid the foundation for the community itself.
Our understanding of community has developed through its natural growth over the past decade.
We've witnessed people come and go, observed shifts in models, and engaged with a wealth of community literature. We've attended events, read books, and collaborated with exceptional community designers and builders, both within our ecosystem and beyond.
💬 ATOLYE is part of the Kyu Collective, can you explain to us what that is and what it adds to your overall mission and vision to be part of such a collective?
The purpose of the kyu Collective is to serve as a source of creativity that drives both the economy and society forward. This aligns well with ATOLYE’s mission of being a force for good in the world as a B Corp, leveraging creativity and design. Currently, there are approximately 20 companies within the kyu Collective. When we initially joined, we were among the first 10. Some of the companies involved include SY Partners, Kepler, BeWorks, and C2. You can see the full list here. Each company has its own niche, and ours is focused on community-powered design.
One of the reasons we were interested is because we had created an extensive community map or ecosystem map of all the people we were collaborating with, outlining their skills and superpowers, and exploring potential collaborations.
Being part of such a large collective with around 2,500 to 3,000 people connected via Slack means you're just a message away from gaining insights from a wide range of perspectives.
For instance, I reached out to the kyu Collective when I wanted to start a Jedi circle within ATOLYE, focusing on justice, equity, diversity. This led to organic growth and the formation of our own mini micro-community within the kyu Collective. Additionally, we created another micro-community for climate and carbon offsetting. Various micro-communities within the kuy Collective have emerged either organically or through someone expressing interest. The most recent addition is a micro-community dedicated to AI. The ability to connect with such a talented and diverse pool of people is invaluable.
➡️ Reflections on building ATOLYE
💬 If you could do one thing differently in the journey of ATOLYE what would it be?
I believe this might be different for everyone within ATOLYE, and that's an intriguing aspect because our community has seen many people come and go. Some have been with us since the very beginning. One thing we've contemplated is the idea of fostering a stronger sense of community around our clients or interconnecting the communities we've already established.
After all, in addition to our internal ATOLYE community, we've also developed other communities. For instance, we've created the Teachers Network within ATOLYE, and we've initiated Imece, a social innovation platform.
Furthermore, we've mobilized communities, as I mentioned earlier, in response to crises like earthquakes and wildfires. Exploring ways to connect these different communities, as well as our clients' communities, maybe an area worth focusing on in the future.
💬 What has been your biggest learning so far growing ATOLYE?
My personal lesson? Okay, this is good.
My most significant learning experience so far has been about growth. I've learned that if you're curious about something, don't hesitate to reach out and send a message to inquire. I mean, not into the void, but you get the idea. Don't be afraid to ask people about it because there's always at least one person who shares your interest and is willing to connect and maybe even introduce you to others. You never know where that connection might lead. Just like the example I mentioned earlier when we didn't have a circle at ATOLYE, it came into existence because I reached out to the Collective. Justin, a member from Kepler who had been doing it for two years, decided to initiate a micro-community. So, my personal advice is to be unafraid to ask questions, especially about things you don't understand.
💬 What would be your best advice to someone thinking about opening a coworking space?
My first piece of advice is to consider the experience and needs of the people in your coworking space. Create environments that facilitate organic interaction and prioritize accessibility as an integral part of your planning process, not as an afterthought.
Sustainability, green design, and universal design should be fundamental considerations for any coworking space moving forward. Consider how your space aligns with the local and natural ecosystems and ensure that it's accessible to everyone.
Additionally, I would suggest making ample room for relaxation and reflection. While coworking spaces often emphasize collaboration and productivity, it's equally important to provide spaces for slowing down, fostering calmness, and even meditation, creating a more natural and holistic atmosphere.
Lastly, focus on the primary purpose of your coworking space. Are you primarily a community-driven space like ours, with coworking as an extension, or is your primary focus on profitability? Define your core focus and align your efforts accordingly.
💬 If you could chat with coworking operators now, what would you like to ask them?
💬 And if you could chat with members of coworking spaces?
I would like to ask two questions:
- What has been your greatest need in this space?
- Can you identify the single most significant factor that has transformed your experience of working here?
💬 Last but not least, where would you want to bring ATOLYE next?
Looking ahead, we aim to elevate our community-powered model and approach. We want to communicate to the world why community-powered design is essential for transforming the world and creating a place where everything thrives in harmony with nature and ecosystems. Our focus is on a regenerative future, a future powered by communities working together to regenerate and harmonize with the world.