When first
opening a business, aspiring entrepreneurs tend to have limited resources and
funds. It is difficult to find quality
work for projects, like graphic design, for an affordable price. However, the Internet has spawned a method of
utilizing millions of freelance designers to submit designs for a fraction of
the cost. Crowdsourcing is quickly
becoming a popular option for finding the right talent, but there are a few
advantages and disadvantages to using this method, both for the businesses
looking for designers and for the designers themselves.
Businesses in need of a designer can turn to websites, like 99designs.com and crowdspring.com, to hold contests for designers around the world to submit their ideas. Entrepreneurs would then choose from a plethora of options and pick the winner that will end up being the final product. They can narrow down their results and make suggestions to promising candidates. Interacting with people worldwide can give the business more perspective by utilizing others’ opinions. Having a large selection is a huge advantage for businesses to find the perfect design; hundreds of options are available for choosing. However, too many options can also be a disadvantage if timing is an issue.
While working with a dedicated designer, it may take longer to translate ideas and create prototypes until the finished product is ready. However, as this method is targeted towards businesses looking for cheaper alternatives, it does not benefit the many artists that submit the designs. The only way to receive any funds from their work is if the designers actually win the contests they entered. While one designer will get paid for their time and effort, the rest of the entries will not receive compensation.
For businesses just starting out, I think crowdsourcing would be a productive option. With limited funds it would be easier and cheaper to allow designers to compete for their design rather than to hire an expensive design agency.
Businesses in need of a designer can turn to websites, like 99designs.com and crowdspring.com, to hold contests for designers around the world to submit their ideas. Entrepreneurs would then choose from a plethora of options and pick the winner that will end up being the final product. They can narrow down their results and make suggestions to promising candidates. Interacting with people worldwide can give the business more perspective by utilizing others’ opinions. Having a large selection is a huge advantage for businesses to find the perfect design; hundreds of options are available for choosing. However, too many options can also be a disadvantage if timing is an issue.
While working with a dedicated designer, it may take longer to translate ideas and create prototypes until the finished product is ready. However, as this method is targeted towards businesses looking for cheaper alternatives, it does not benefit the many artists that submit the designs. The only way to receive any funds from their work is if the designers actually win the contests they entered. While one designer will get paid for their time and effort, the rest of the entries will not receive compensation.
For businesses just starting out, I think crowdsourcing would be a productive option. With limited funds it would be easier and cheaper to allow designers to compete for their design rather than to hire an expensive design agency.
