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14 Comments to “Great Graphic Ideas: crowdSPRING”

1. September 28th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
   Cath Lawson said

   Hi Liz - Thanks for sharing. I’ve bookmarked them. Like you, I thought talented folk would be discouraged by having to submit work on spec.

   But I can see how it works for them. Even if they don’t get chosen, their designs are getting seem by lots of people. It’s a great idea.

2. September 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
   Andrew Flusche said

   Hey Liz! I’m still undecided about spec creative sites like this. I’ve talked to a few designers about it, and they don’t like the model. It really seems to devalue design work.

   I can see that entry-level designers might like it to get some paying work, have their designs critiqued, build a portfolio, etc. But I’m curious if any experienced designers actually approve of this model.

   There are ways that some people are devaluing legal work. So I’m trying to be sensitive to similar trends in other professional fields.

3. September 28th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
   ME Liz Strauss said

   Hi Cath and Andrew,
   I had the same response, but go in and look around. Seriously, people can participate without putting work in on spec. I found some great designers there that I’d have never found any other way.

   The forums are what sold me.

   Preconceived notions aside . . .

   Really.

   Liz

4. September 29th, 2008 at 9:30 am
   Ross Kimbarovsky said

   Hi Liz,

   Thanks so much for writing about crowdSPRING - and thank you for the kind words. Before we launched, we spent nearly a year researching and talking to buyers of creative services, and designers, around the world. We worked hard to develop protections and policies that would create a level playing field for all and protect transactions on crowdSPRING. In only 120 days, we’ve had buyers from over 30 countries post nearly 900 projects. Over 6,700 creatives (a huge number of them are professional designers who do this for a living) from 130+ countries work on crowdSPRING. And as you’ve noticed, we spend a great deal of time in our blog (http://blog.crowdspring.com) and in our forums (http://forums.crowdspring.com) talking with our great community, sharing educational resources, and debating many issues that impact designers. We think we’ve provided a great way for businesses to buy creative services, and a great opportunity for creatives from around the world to find new clients.

   Best,

   Ross Kimbarovsky
   co-Founder
   http://www.crowdspring.com

5. September 29th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
   Amy Derby said

   No disrespect to the designers who submit their work on spec (it’s their choice after all), but I can’t get over finding this model a bit disturbing. I’ve seen a similar ‘everyone do the work and we’ll pick the one we like best’ model in Helium’s Marketplace, and I don’t like that either. I think it promotes an overall attitude to “buyers” that a freelancer isn’t really a professional at all but rather a garage musician auditioning for a gig. I suppose I should just shut up and be happy that I’ve paved a career for myself where I don’t have to audition to make my living, but I’ve never been very good at keeping my mouth shut.

6. September 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
   ME Liz Strauss said

   Hi Amy,
   Like I said, go look at the model. Not fair to decide what something is before you look.

7. September 29th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
   Amy Derby said

   Liz, I looked. A lot. I promise.

   It looks like someone posts what they want and a bunch of designers make their design, then the poster picks the one (or ones) they like best. Am I wrong? Maybe I missed something?

8. September 29th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
   Ross Kimbarovsky said

   Amy, you’re generally correct. A buyer posts a creative project (such as logo, website, marketing materials, illustration, etc.), sets a price and timeframe. Creatives from around the world submit actual designs (not merely bids and proposals). At the moment, we’re averaging 76 entries per logo project, as an example. The buyer is able to provide feedback, iterate the designs, and score and at the end of the project, picks the design they like best. crowdSPRING provides full project management tools, customized legal contracts for the purchase of intellectual property, takes care of paying the designers anywhere in the world, and provides a robust communication/notification system. We also give buyers a unique guarantee with no strings attached. If you don’t get at least 25 entries to your project, you’re entitled to a full refund, including our commission.

   Best,

   Ross Kimbarovsky
   co-Founder
   http://www.crowdspring.com

9. September 29th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
   Amy Derby said

   Hi Ross.

   It does look like a very good deal for the buyer. I don’t doubt that. The problem I have with it, from a freelancer’s standpoint, is that it could have a very negative effect on how freelance professions are perceived.

   Each time someone roles out a new model like this, it changes the expectations of employers/buyers/whatever you want to call them. I would hate to think that in 10 years (or 30) that my kids or grandkids would have to put hours of free labour into scoring a client, because that’s what employers will expect. Already I have friends around the world who think that breaking into freelancing means working without pay, or writing for $3/article. I’m not a designer, but from what I’ve read and from the folks I talk to, it’s just as insulting to them.

   I’m hoping a lot of these bidders are students using it as a learning experience. Otherwise it just seems sad to me. I really wish I could find a positive spin, but I just can’t see it.

10. September 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Amy,
    Did you look at the forums and the portfolios? Some great conversations going on there. Some designers have never participated in a project on spec but they help others.

11. September 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
    Amy Derby said

    Hi Liz. The blog and forum are cool. I’ll give you that.

12. September 30th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
    Ross Kimbarovsky said

    Hi Amy,

    I thought I posted a response last night but don’t see it.

    We do have many students and beginning designers, but also very experienced designers working on crowdSPRING. We’re very transparent about our model and each of them decides for themselves whether to participate in a project.

    As for pricing, let me push back. Before starting crowdSPRING, we researched other companies, including elance.com and guru.com. Those companies work on the traditional model (people typically bid on price) and you end up with $30 logo projects and $3 per article copywriting jobs. It’s really tough for many U.S. based designers to compete on those marketplaces. crowdSPRING focuses on the work, not price. People can’t undercut each other on the basis of price. Each person decides whether the amount of money offered is sufficient and decided how much effort to put forth. In our first 4 months, nearly 250 different designers have been paid a total of over $150,000 dollars (we pay 100% of the awards - we charge the commission to the buyer). Our average logo project is around $280 - significantly above what you’ll see on “traditional” marketplaces.

    Best,

    Ross Kimbarovsky
    co-Founder
    http://www.crowdspring.com

13. September 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
    Ross Kimbarovsky said

    Let me also suggest, if you have time, you take a look at last weeks discussion on the 37signals blog, Signal v. Noise. While you’ll see a pretty active debate there, you’ll also read posts from designers who work on crowddSPRING who’ll provide a nice perspective about why they work on crowdPSRING.

    Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/4pqnw3

    Best,

    Ross

14. September 30th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
    Amy Derby said

    Hi Ross,

    Thanks for the link to the debate. Least I can see now that I’m not alone in the way I feel. Also nice to see the other side of it.