Unemployed make their own work, form a collaborative

In Oregon, which last month had the largest jobless rate increase from a year ago in the country, a group of laid-off designers isn't taking the bad news sitting down.

The six out-of-work designers from Portland formed an architectural collaborative. Although it doesn't have the health care, benefits, high salaries and big jobs that their previous employers offered, it is a working group. And in this recession, working is a plus.

Being light on overhead, the group, calling themselves Cohesion, meets in restaurants, borrowed conference rooms or a member's refinished basement, according to a story by Richard Read of The Oregonian. No more corporate offices for them. Now it's working from home.