iStockphoto is already a familiar name to many in media and design for its low-priced stock photography, illustrations and multimedia files. Now the Canadian company is planning to expand its offerings with a line of user-generated corporate logos as well.
Late last month Alberta-based iStockphoto announced that it will soon begin providing logos that clients can download and use to brand their business or organization. The site's existing contributors can create and upload logos for sale on the site, as can professional designers, many of whom likely already have unused logo designs left over from past jobs. Logos will be sold as fully editable .eps files—a training manual for contributors is coming soon—and they will be exclusive to iStockphoto. They will be sold only once to prevent duplicate use, and so will be priced higher than other items on the site—ranging from 100 to 750 credits each, the company says. iStock is currently seeking feedback on the possibility of its acting as intermediary between artist and client for one round of changes to a purchased logo so as to allow the designer to help insert the client company's name into the logo design. iStock will pay a base royalty rate of 50 percent per logo design for the first 6 months, and designers will be able to upload an unlimited number of logos during that time. As an incentive to upload early, it's also offering a USD 5 bonus for creators of the first 10,000 logo designs to be approved by January 1, 2010, with another USD 5 if it reaches 10,000 approved logos by that time.
Much like IncSpring, which we covered about a year ago, iStockphoto's logo line promises to give creators a way to monetize unused ideas and designs while providing businesses and organizations with an affordable option for their own branding. Yet another win-win for all involved—and another triumph for the crowds! ;-) (Related: Crowdsourced graphic design.)
Website: www.istockphoto.com
Contact: help@istockphoto.com
Spotted by: David Licona
Sounds a lot like logotournament.com, which allows people all over the world to compete for creating you a customized logo. I'm not sure an off-the-shelf logo from iStockPhoto can compete with a customized logo.
I hope they do better tha IncSpring, whose site is down... Are they still around?
Those who promote and use these services don't have a real understanding of what a logo can and should do for a company. Professional designers work closely with companies to determine their unique brand equities, understand their businesses, markets, consumers and competition. They create logos that encapsulate the essence of the company, not just ones that looks nice on their website. I suppose if a company is willing to consider their product or service a commodity this way of "buying" a logo probably works just fine. But a good logo is not a commodity and should not be "purchased" like one. And designers that can sell unused logos to anyone who comes along probably haven't really created anything special for the original client either. Sad turn of events for everyone involved.
Judy, I agree with you. Yes, the success of a company's brand, a logo alone, does not make. And I also ask, in regards to the commodity factor, "Where's the passion?" Passion is what drives success and creates a differential among the competition. Those that take the easy and cheaper road to brand their product or company? Well, a famous quote comes to mind: "I took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference." (Thank you R.F.)
:) Jeanne
Judy Paolini and Jeanne Lavoie both speak my mind.
In the game they are playing, everybody is devalued, and the biggest losers are those who buy the supposed "logos".
A logo is not a commodity -- a nice picture. It's a solution to a marketing problem or challenge. And it's not the image, but what the image represents.
And for designers to release these bargain price what-to-call-them ... "tacky" would be a polite word.
@Cal - IncSpring is doing great, but we rebranded several months back the Brandstack (http://brandstack.com).
Obviously there is a big market for logos, even if they aren't unique or protectable.
I'm amazed that logos are so in demand, when Wordmarks are really the best solution for most businesses.
-- Axle Davuds