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Revision as of 21:18, 26 February 2010
| CrowdSpring | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Design |
| Founded | May, 2007 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Key people | Mike Samson, Co-Founder; Ross Kimbarovsky, Co-Founder; Pete Burgeson, Director of Marketing |
| Products | Custom Logo, Website, Marketing Materials, Illustration, General Design Work |
| Number of employees | 10 |
| Website | www.crowdspring.com |
Crowdspring (written "crowdSPRING") is a global marketplace for creative services. crowdSPRING was co-founded in May 2007 by Ross Kimbarovsky and Michael Samson. crowdSPRING launched its online marketplace publicly in May 2008. crowdSPRING is based in Chicago.
More than 46,000 graphic designers from over 170 countries work on crowdSPRING. Unlike traditional marketplaces, where buyers select from among bids and proposals, crowdSPRING uses an innovative business model - buyers select from among actual designs to the buyer's specification, submitted by multiple designers. Buyers average more than 80 designs per project.
crowdSPRING handles full project management, file transfer, payment, legal contracts, and communication (public and private). Designers can create profiles and create portfolios on the site. The crowdSPRING marketplace offers comprehensive feedback, statistics, ratings, and community forums. crowdSPRING offers all buyers a money back-guarantee that they will receive at least 25 entries to their projects, or a full refund.
Awards
2008 finalist for the Chicago Innovation Award, Wired (magazine) Small Biz of 2008, Business.com best people solution, the Illinois Technology Association 2009 Newcomer, one of five companies in the world nominated for a 2009 Webby Awards for Community, named an Official Honoree for the Services and Applications Category in the 13th Annual Webby Awards, and 2009 Stevie Awards for best product/service.
Criticism
The company and its business model have received some criticism because the marketplace works on a speculative model and challenges traditional ways of buying and selling graphic design services. This is the process of asking professionals to complete custom work for the chance of getting payment. crowdSPRING has embraced and actively participates in the debate about its spec work business model..
References
- Creative designs, ideas get chance to stand out at CrowdSpring
- Company snapshot Businessweek
- Crowdsourced Design: Is crowdSPRING the next iStockPhoto?
- review Information Week
- Christopher Steiner The Creativity of Crowds February 16, 2009 Forbes
- Rafe Needleman CrowdSpring leverages weasel economics June 12, 2008 CNet
- crowdSPRING Stat Bar
- How Does crowdSPRING Protect Intellectual Property
- crowdSPRING By The Numbers
- Spec work is evil Why I Hate CrowdSpring
- Why The crowdSpring Business Model is Harmful
- The NO!SPEC campaign vs. crowdSPRING,
- Is Spec Work Evil? The Online Creative Community Speaks