CrowdSourcing 101 – It’s Like Brainstorming Online!
I recently decided I wanted a new logo for my site here at ProFromGo dot com. I didn’t have anything specific in mind and I was drawing blanks trying to come up with any sort of new concept for the logo.
I’d been hearing loads of good things about a company called 99 Designs and decided to give “crowdsourcing” a try. There are plenty of sites out there like 99 Designs but this one seems to bring all the best qualities of outsourcing and networking into one place.
The actual experience of having my new logo created was like no other project I’ve ever outsourced before. Typically, on sites like Elance or ScriptLance, you post your project and designers bid a reasonable price for which they feel they can complete that particular project.
For example, had I attempted to have a new logo created on one of the more traditional outsourcing sites like Elance I would have posted a description of the project… Basically stating I needed a new logo, and suggesting some color schemes or concepts I like. Loads of designers would then bid dollar amounts that they feel would be suitable to create my new logo. I could then choose a designer based on either lowest bid, or a based on their portfolios and recent work.
On the Elance-like sites, once you pick a designer, that’s it! You’re stuck with that designer and if you’re not happy with the logo they come up with then you continue to work with that particular designer until they get it right.
Goodbye Outsourcing, Hello Crowdsourcing
Now let’s look at how this same project progresses via a “Crowdsourcing” approach…
I posted the same description on 99 Designs (sidenote: on 99 Designs it’s called a “contest” because you pick a winner at the end). Dozens of designers actually created real logos according to my project description and posted their designs for me to consider.
I rated the designs on a scale of 1-5 stars as they were being submitted. Other designers could see the star ratings I’d given previous submissions and the contest started to direct me down the path toward my new logo, which I couldn’t have envisioned a few days earlier.
Once I had about a dozen different designs submitted, I invited my Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and email subscribers all to come vote & rate on the designs right on the 99 Designs site. All of their votes were tracked and tallied and I of course reviewed the comments and ratings left by my friends.
At the end of the contest I couldn’t make up my mind so I kind of thought, “Gee, maybe the winning design just isn’t here.” I extened the contest a few more days and got dozens more submissions!
In the end I had over 101 logo concepts submitted for my opinion!
After extending the contest 72 hours I had found a clear cut winner which I really really liked. It was simple yet elegant. It got the point across.
I awarded the pre-determined cash prize to the winning designer and he handed me over the copyright to his designs.
Nice, clean, smooth, and even fun…
You can use crowdsourcing not just for logo design but also for any other graphic design work, in addition to web design, custom WordPress themes, and much more.
Crowdsourcing is a very fun and cost-effective way to get talented people all over the world to bend over backwards trying their very best to please you!
And now, drum roll please… the new PFG logo:
I also got a little extra for my money when the designer tossed in an additional logo specifically for the PFG Insiders:
I couldn’t have been more pleased with my first attempt at Crowdsourcing. It was fun and I’m very happy with the end results.
If you’ve tried Crowdsourcing before and have any insights or comments to share feel encouraged to do so…
If you have any other specific questions about Crowdsourcing you can post them in the comments as well and I’ll do my best to get you answers.
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4 comments
@Chris Vendilli Thanks for blogging my logo design concept It was fun yet well organized contest your such a great CH.
superDUPERJAMES
I’m Glad It was fun and your very happy with the end results.^^
Interesting write-up. Personally, I am quite on the fence regarding the use of a crowdsourcing site for a logo design. It is still a touchy issue for most designers who said that crowdsourcing is a no-no for obtaining a logo design. I have tried crowdsourcing before and I know the risks involved but it comes within the territory. But there are other no-frills logo design websites online such as http://www.logobee.com, http://www.logodesignstation.com, logoyes.com, etc. which are actually great in getting a professional logo design at a fraction of the price and minus the risks of crowdsourcing (plagiarism is one of them). Seeing that there are no consultation services, the price is significantly lower than that of conventional design firms. For instance, I have tried http://www.logodesignstation.com and the experience was indeed a positive one. I managed to get my business logo design at an affordable price and the turnaround time was great as well. Highly recommended. Although crowdsourcing for logo designs could be a bane for some, many find it to be a viable alternative to get a fast logo on the cheap. For instance, some of my friends went for 99designs to get a logo design for their small business as budget-wise it is the only possible option for them. I believe it all boils down to the individual’s take on how much should a logo that will be representing his/her company actually worth.
Great points Langley. Thanks for sharing those additional resources. My experience with 99 Designs was a good one and I will likely recommend it to others in the future who are trying to get lots of good ideas on a budget.