We're workin' on it, how about you?
In addition to placing a creative director on all crowdsourced projects we've added a pool of money to reward great work. We know it doesn't solve everything, but we see it as a good second step. (In the first day we already identified one designer that has at least gotten a piece of the money pie.)
For clients with limited budgets we just haven't found a better solution. No professional design shop we've talked with is willing to take on the small projects at rates these clients can afford (typically less than $2,000 for a complete design solution.) And in this rough economy we are hearing from designers that our solution, while not perfect, certainly helps them prioritize work. They know they'll get good feedback, and if the idea has promise they'll have help refining it and positioning it for the client. Any designer that spends substantial time working with the director is guaranteed a payday, even if it is a small one.
Add in the fact that designers that work with us on crowdsourcing projects can pick up side gigs from us (thanks izzitgraphics!) and are under consideration for permanent positions, and we think we're doing a pretty damn good job of making crowdsourcing work. Our most recent crowdsourced project resulted in the designer getting paid for two different logos and a brochure for different clients.
As Stokefire prepares to open offices in New York and the UK we think that getting exposed to top freelancers in each area is one of the keys to a smooth launch. If you think we're wrong, or that we could be doing it better... tell us so - and tell us what we can do to make it work.
Alright, I think I'm done with the soapbox. Here's the project description on crowdSPRING -
and a link should you want to participate:
Public creative brief
What's Special About This Project?
We're glad you asked!
1) In addition to the $1,000 'award' for the client-selected design, we
are also providing a SECONDARY POOL OF FUNDS ($350)* out of which we
will provide payment to designers whose work is exemplary but not
ultimately selected by the client. There will be a maximum of seven
designers sharing this secondary pool of money, meaning that they will
receive a minimum of $50 each.**
2) You will be working with a creative director on the project, and not
with the client directly. The creative director has led multiple
crowdsourced projects and has had great feedback from designers. He
leaves constructive feedback and guidance where possible. ***
3) All people interested in participating will be approved.
4) All submitted ideas and public comments will be shared amongst
participants so everyone can benefit from the guidance and feedback.
And about the project specifically:
Imagine if you looked back on your corporate career and identified all
the most talented people you'd worked with. Now imagine that you asked
them to drop what they were doing and start a company with you that
showcased everyone's best abilities. Now... imagine if they said yes.
THAT is what this project is about. We need a graphic identity for a
technology consulting firm comprised of the very best tech consultants
in the business. We know the basic style we are looking for and the
goals for the organization and design.
Join the project to learn more.
* - Though we are paying money to the designers we are NOT buying the
rights to the designs other than the one 'award' given through
crowdSPRING.
** - We know that crowdsourcing has its drawbacks and are working to
identify and fix them. We believe that good work should be recognized
and this secondary pool is our second effort to do so. (Our first
effort was the addition of a creative director to remove the arbitrary
decision-making process most clients used.) We will pay these funds
directly to designers in US Dollars via check, so if you are selected
you will need to provide us with the information required to make
payment (name & address.) crowdSPRING was not able to facilitate
payment for us, so we have to do it on our side. If you like what we
are doing here we humbly suggest that you blog about it, tweet about
it, send notes to crowdSPRING, or tell us at www.stokefire.com/blog .
If you don't like what we are doing you can share that, too. We know
this isn't the perfect solution, but we think it's a start... How about
you?
*** - Submitting multiple concepts will result in LESS feedback from
the creative director, not more. Designers that submit more than three
concepts will only have the most promising concepts analyzed. We want
quality, not quantity. And with one creative director working with
dozens of designers things can get bogged down quickly.
