MeetUp

MeetUp2024-01-28T17:55:53+00:00

Intrigued by the notion of designing for life, people come to a MeetUp for two main reasons. They might be working on a live project, thesis, course, or book, and use the week to move it forward. Or else they want to transform their working life completely and use their time here to figure out how.

The MeetUp is for designers of all kinds, ecologists, curators, team leaders, professors, postgrad students, researchers, artists, and writers.

What happens at a Thackara MeetUp?

The week combines me-time, you-time, and we-time.

In one-to-ones with me, I’ll cast fresh eyes on your project, plan, or thesis. I might suggest new ways to frame the questions you arrive with. Otherwise: Ask me Anything.

In group discussions – in our courtyard, on walks, or whilst river swimming – you’ll interact with the people from diverse backgrounds you’ll spend time with here.

You’ll have plenty of quiet and private time – in the house, at the river, or in nature. Also important: you get to shop at the market, cook in our summer kitchen, and breathe the clean air of the Cévennes.

What kinds of project did people bring to a Meetup?

  • Finishing a book on design futures (UK)

  • Rural tech hub (Italy)
  • River daylighting (Mexico)
  • Seeking exit from academic research (UK)
  • Foresight work among converging crises (Canada)
  • Career counselling in creative industries (USA)
  • Edible forest garden (Canada)
  • Knowledge sharing for art teachers (UK)
  • Launching a fashion podcast (Japan)
  • Pivoting out of the consulting industry (USA)
  • Future of a fifteenth century castle (Romania)
  • Energy transitions in Africa(Germany)
  • Book about ecoliteracy (USA)
  • Design thesis on mending as connecting (UK)
  • Rural hub in a former brick factory (Portugal)
  • Village revitalisation (Italy)
  • Relational design masters (Wales)
  • Rural social innovation (Poland)
  • Municipal urban farms (China)
  • Ecotourism and wellbeing (USA)
  • School in a forest (Ireland)
  • Sustainable mobility lab (Pakistan)
  • Design firm leadership transition (NL)
  • Ecodesign and water (NL, US, France)

What kinds of project did people bring to a Meetup?

  • Finishing a book on design futures (UK)
  • Rural tech hub (Italy)
  • River daylighting (Mexico)
  • Seeking exit from academic research (UK)
  • Foresight work among converging crises (Canada)
  • Career counselling in creative industries (USA)
  • Edible forest garden (Canada)
  • Knowledge sharing for art teachers (UK)
  • Launching a fashion podcast (Japan)
  • Pivoting out of the consulting industry (USA)
  • Future of a fifteenth century castle (Romania)
  • Energy transitions in Africa(Germany)
  • Book about ecoliteracy (USA)
  • Design thesis on mending as connecting (UK)
  • Rural hub in a former brick factory (Portugal)
  • Village revitalisation (Italy)
  • Relational design masters (Wales)
  • Rural social innovation (Poland)
  • Municipal urban farms (China)
  • Ecotourism and wellbeing (USA)
  • School in a forest (Ireland)
  • Sustainable mobility lab (Pakistan)
  • Ecodesign and water (NL, US, France)
  • Design firm leadership transition (NL)

How to apply

Our meet-up is limited to six or seven people, so we have to select participants. Fill out the application form and write a 100 word project statement that tells us: who you are; what you’re working on; and what you want to achieve during your stay.

Alternatively you can also send an email to:
meeting [at] thackara [dot] com

After receiving your application we aim to inform you within a week if it’s been accepted. Successful applicants will be directed to an Eventbrite web page where you sign up and pay. Your spot is secured after payment.

This was my second Thackara meetup and it was magnificent; a great way to meet people, relax, swim in the glorious river and move projects on to the next step. Thank you – I hope to come back!
Jenny, UK

Such a treat to meet one of your favorites… then spend a week in retreat. Thank you for the Meetup – the conversation, such loving guidance and deep listening. One of my favorite weeks.

Elias, Mexico

What a joyous week of indulging by doing the project closest to my heart, with support and company and a beautiful environment.

Ann, UK
Such a wonderful week. I got to reflect on a lot, help set priorities and direction in my project, as well as have a lot interested, organic conversations with people that give me a lot of new perspectives to draw on. Plus good food, wine, swimming and lots of laughs!
Rich, Barcelona

Spending time with John and the other meetuppers, in nature and on my own, enabled me to develop a more cohesive definition of my personal-professional practice and goals. I’m forever grateful for this opportunity.

Arely , Mexico/Miami

the perfect place to hide out and finish writing
that thesis, project proposal, or book

Gill, UK

Thanks to not only the Thackara team but also amazing talents from diverse backgrounds who all were absolutely lovely, I had a very productive week. It was the  right balance of fun & work in a gorgeous environment, and it contributed to my creativity.

Go, UK, Japan
I was working on my first book and it was amazingly helpful to have the space (both mentally and physically) to concentrate on this whilst getting constructive input and advice from JT
and other participants.
Anne, Germany / UK

For me, the meet-up was truly life-changing; brilliant content, group company, accommodation, food and the waterfalls were to die for! John gave me the boost I needed and input from the group kickstarted a project so dear to my heart — thank you John!

Jenny, UK

Your house is an absolute dream! I felt so welcomed and comfortable. You allowed us our own paces, and gave us access to some beautiful places around town. The mixture of one-to-ones and group conversations provided an effective framework to help push my design practice forward. I’m coming away feeling refreshed, excited to work, and with a whole new set of amazing friends!

George, UK

What they said

Such a treat to meet one of your favorites… then spend a week in retreat. Thank you John and Kristi for the Meetup – the conversation, such loving guidance and deep listening. One of my favorite weeks.

Elias, Mexico

This was my second Thackara meetup and it was magnificent;
a great way to meet people, relax, swim in the glorious river and move projects on to the next step.
Thank you – I hope to come back!

Jenny, UK

What a joyous week of indulging by doing the project closest to my heart, with support and company and a beautiful environment.

Ann, UK

Photos

Pricing

included:
daily time with John Thackara, two kitchens (1 dishwasher), two fridges, washing machine, pantry basics, three bathrooms, 5 toilets, a friendly dog, your own key to the house, bedding, linens, beach towels, wifi on fiber… etc.

The Meetup is for individuals but if you’re a couple that works together we can of course adapt. Just get in touch if you have different requirements or proposals.

We offer one Scholarship at 500€. If this is you please add a paragraph in your application text to tell us why this ticket applies to you.

Individual

Individual

7 nights

We can’t promise a private room
but we will try

€800

Duo

Professional duo

7 nights

For those professionals who share a bed
(Price is for 2)

€1300

Scholarship

Scholarship

7 nights

We offer 1 spot at a special price. Please explain in your application text why this
applies to you

€500

Faq

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?2023-07-14T08:52:57+00:00

CONTACT

or send an email to meeting [@] thackara [dot] com

What are my transport options for getting to and from the event?2023-10-31T13:09:36+00:00
  • You can find a complete transportation page here
  • From Nimes or Montpellier Airport, there are buses going to Ganges (journey is about a hour). They are reliable and comfortable, but not frequent. If you decide to go for public transport, it’s best to email us at (meeting [@] thackara [dot] com) so we can guide you through it. (from Montpellier Occitanie: Ligne 608 direction Le Vigan. Nimes Gare Routiere: Ligne 140 direction Le Vigan)
  • From Marseille Airport get on a train to Nimes or Montpellier and there take a bus, or rent a car and drive 2 hours to get to us, or ask us to be picked up in Nimes or Montpellier.
  • At the airports you’ll find car rentals. We recommend to reserve a rental in advance (for example at rentalcars).
  • In Montpellier you can use public transport to the tram/bus hub at the edge of the city, the hub is called “Occitanie”. There you can hop on bus 608 (takes about a generous hour).
  • We can arrange to have someone pick you up. (4 passengers max, you can share the ride/cost if the arrival of an other MeetUpper can be ‘synchronised’).
    The prices are: Nimes (airport or station) 50€ | Montpellier (airport) 40€ | Montpellier tram hub ‘Occitanie’ 30€
  • parking: plenty of free street parking around (but not on the doorstep since we’re in a pedestrian street)

an extensive transportation page you can find here

What’s the refund policy?2023-07-14T08:47:03+00:00

Sorry, no refunds.
(but we are not monsters so if there’s a really good reason, we can discuss it)

Can we come as a group?2023-07-14T08:51:57+00:00

The MeetUp and the Retreat are for individuals, but we are happy to host a single group coming to an Offsite. (contact us)

All work and no play?2022-09-27T16:33:28+00:00

It would be a shame not to take time to explore the beautiful surroundings, go for a swim or a walk, or have a drink at one of the local bars. We even have a bike-rental around the corner (electric and regular bikes).

Do we live in with you?2023-07-14T08:49:53+00:00

No. No need to worry. All spaces are independent of our part of the house. John and Kristi live on the first floor, the rest of the spaces are on the ground floor or on the second floor. There is a communal front door to the house, and a central staircase with doors to the other spaces.

You can come and go as you please.

Can the family come along?2023-07-14T08:48:58+00:00

I’m sorry but they can’t. But, we can point you to other rooms or apartments for rent in the area (i.e. there’s a lovely airbnb 20 meters from the house). Just drop us an email if you need our help.

On this subject, I hope you understand we can’t welcome your friends who want to come for a visit. Naturally we can make an exception, but do ask us beforehand.

Food, drink etc.2022-09-28T14:23:19+00:00

We are not heavy on service, we provide a comfortable space in an historical building and quality time with each other and with John – but we don’t cook for you. There are two kitchens at your disposal. And there are various affordable restaurants nearby.

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-intollerant2023-07-14T08:47:42+00:00

The good news is that since there are kitchens in the house, you will not starve. Our organic shop is well stocked, our food market is great, but eating out might be a challenge for you.

More and more restaurants offer a vegetarian choice. Vegan dishes are rare in local restaurants however. Gluten-free only recently appeared on the shelves in the supermarkets and hasn’t inspired the local restaurant business yet.
(we are flexitarians ourselves)

Go to Top