In a standard custom logo assignment, the average graphic designer develops six concepts for evaluation by the business owner client. Only one of those will be used, leaving five creative logos to be stored away—and probably never seen again. Enter IncSpring, a beta site that aims to help designers with ideas and business owners seeking same find each other for mutual gain.
Launched last month, Texas-based IncSpring is a virtual marketplace linking graphic designers and businesses interested in corporate logos, brands and corporate identities. Designers can upload brand concepts onto the site for the perusal of entrepreneurs, corporations and businesses without middlemen or agency fees; they also retain complete control over their pricing. Potential buyers, on the other hand, can search by industry, colour or name, evaluating and even assessing market reactions to the designs they see via IncSpring's social network, which lets users rate and provide public feedback on submitted ideas. Potential customers can also request minor changes to shape a particular design to their individual specifications. When a purchase is made, IncSpring charges a commission of 15 percent, the artist receives the rest and the buyer receives the brand in a ready-to-use digital format. As part of its site launch, IncSpring is currently holding a contest—with a deadline of Sept. 19—offering USD 2,000 in cash and other prizes for designers who submit ideas to the site. Membership on IncSpring is free.
In an industry where only a small proportion of ideas make it through to the finish, IncSpring will undoubtedly give designers a welcome way to capitalize at last on the many hours they put in, whether or not originally for a paying client. Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, gain access to a wealth of ideas that wouldn't ordinarily be available. It's a win-win for everyone involved and one to try out—particularly if you happen to be an enterprising Springwise reader on the brink of launching the next big thing! ;-) (Related: Crowdsourced graphic design.)
Website: www.incspring.com
Contact: feedback@incspring.com
Spotted by: Cecilia Biemann
A market place for unused digital assets is a great idea. But the prices are not realistic in a world of freelance elancers and prize winning 99designers.
I hope that quality will prevail at incspring so that prices that you mention stay adequate. Notice the difference in recycled logos and newly created brands with domain name and story behind them at incspring.com marketplace.
I think this is an awful idea that will just put designers hard work in plain view for people to either (a) outright steal; (b) lower the standards of design integrity; (c) undermine awareness of the importance of building a firm strategy, and then designing a brand mark that is the well-planned fruition of the company or product identity.
What sounds like a good idea can actually be a bad one. This is a great example. For those of us who develop branding and naming for a living, a lot of research and work goes into developing a logo and brand. Q&A sessions, research and examination of the competition make up just part of the process. This facilitates poor choices based on price and insufficient information.
these naysayers are going a little overboard. companies know what they want, its not the logofairy floats down from on high to tell them what their logo should be. if they see an image or name that speaks to them and work with the designer to perfect it, how can that be a bad thing?