Crowdsourcing/Schnoudsourcing

Another media buzz word or a new dynamic and collaborative creative process? Community-based design or creative exploitation of the desperate?

The subject was raised in a recent Radio 4 programme where the best example a protagonist could evangelise about was a Corporation getting a new logo 'done' for only $200 and chosen from a frighteningly large number of 'sourcedcrowd' participants. Sadly it was radio so there was no visual evidence of the device but I truly hope they got what they paid for. This is no way for corporations to think about brand identities, as mere logos knocked-off for them on the cheap - progress this is not.

The industry may have one or two expensive and embarrassing skeletons in its branding closet but not enough to reduce a skilled profession to mainstream free mega-pitching.

The concept is clearly not without value and works for some project types and for community and charitable organizations but I will need an awful lot of convincing that brand identity is one of them.

CLIENT WARNING:

Please be respectful of the discipline and craft of the qualified design professional, the relationship and depth of service they provide and value them for it.

CREATIVE WARNING:

Consider carefully what crowdsourcing is doing to your industry and if you do choose to 'crowdsource' your talents, please ensure the recipients are worthy and you are not being exploited by a thinly disguised 'fashionable' initiative by a 'rip-off' corporation.

The crowd has a reputation for following not innovating and brands need to innovate if they want to be followed by the crowd.

Proper Tweeting

The 'top birds' at the East Lothian Cage Bird Society 146th Annual Open Show.

Tweet that.

Coming up Roses in Manchester

A rosy evening of creative celebration awaits in the city of my early artistic education for the Roses Design Awards do. Flying in the face of austerity, the bibbed and tuckered will enjoy the warmest hospitality Piccadilly has to offer, launching traditionally with something French and bubbly, then indulged at the table with the North West's finest produce, specially selected and slaughtered for the occasion as gongs are distributed to the worthy and deserving by an aspiring young entertainer.

And why? Because it's worth it - a well deserved pat on the back never did anyone any harm.

Congratulations to all the winners and let great creative work triumph through constraint and adversity.

Here comes the judge...

I'm delighted to have been asked to join the judging panel for the 2010 Roses Design Awards. These awards celebrate creative excellence in design and architecture outside the M25. This could not be more appropriate for me as the judging takes place in Glasgow in July, four days after me breaking free from the grip of the 'London Orbital' and relocating to Scotland, (I might even get out of some unpacking).
I'm very much aware that there's great work out there and I'm keen to meet the rest of the judges, then knuckling down to some serious judgementalism and hopefully being wowed by some regional creative magic. The award ceremony will be held at the Manchester Ramada in October where we'll meet the deserving winners.