This paper represents the process of a still on-going applied action research, within a city affected by the socio-economic crisis. It focuses on the design of a new service model, through the exploration of collaborative spaces and the possible application of a complementary currency system. The role of design in finding a balance between excess and austerity, lies in the transformation of idle capacity of skilled professionals, who are without job opportunities. This could be achieved by giving shape to a service with its evidences as a framework to adapt to current conditions in peer-to-peer interactions. If a successful longterm and not only crisis-driven model could be designed, prototyped and globally replicated, based on the debt/credit system and knowledge economy, enormous benefits of access to products and services, then it could enhance economic efficiency and distribute social capital while promoting new forms of entrepreneurship.