Crowdsourcing design doesn't necessarily mean only crowdsourcing logos or business cards. Design encompasses a huge array of different mediums - and some of the words most recognisable brands have taken advantage of this in crowdsourced design contests. Not only have these brands taken the leap into running design contest, they've also achieved amazing results!
Checkout these big brands who have used design crowdsourcing to fantastic effect:
Google
The big G has been using crowdsourcing for a long time. However to highlight just how well their design crowdsourcing efforts go, we're showcasing their Doodle 4 Google contest 2013.
The Brief
Google was looking for school ages children (Kindergarten to 12) to create the Google artwork design for their home page. The theme for the contest was:
"If I Could Invent One Thing to Make the World a Better Place..."
The winner was featured on Google.com on June 9th, 2013. Checkout some of the entries from the contest below.
"If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place… It would be a cloud plow. It can get rid of clouds to make it sunny out so people can use solar energy. It also can push the clouds to areas that need rain."
"The Machine that I invented to make the world a better place is an ocean cleaner. It helps to clean the trash and pollution that people put into the ocean, and releases fresh and clean ocean water. So the animals that live in the ocean can be very happy, healthy, and strong."
"My invention to change the world is a Gas and Oil Organic Purifier, or G.O.O.P. It drives over oil spills and sucks up oil, then the oil is filtered out into fresh water."
"If I could invent one thing to change the world, I would invent a machine that would transform the bad into good. This could convert the whole spectrum starting from negative thoughts to horrible diseases into positive attributes. I believe this would make the world a much better place."
"Solar-powered robots that protect nature from harm would be my ideal invention to make this world a better place. With all the pollution affecting our world, robots would serve as caretakers and defenders of the earth, protecting our planet from environmental dangers."
Oracle
Oracle is one of the world's leading enterprise technology companies and to get it's feet wet in the crowdosurcing space launched the following design contest.
The Brief
Design the front cover of the Cloud edition of the Business 20/20 report. Participants submitted thought provoking, innovative and original artwork, that visualise how cloud based computing will radically transform businesses and the way people work.
Kleenex
Kleenex is the UK's leading tissue brand and got in on the act with a massive foray into design contest crowdsourcing.
The Brief
Kleenex invited packaging designers to create fashionable, unique and innovative packaging designs for a new tissue box. The chance to see them on-shelf as one of three boxes available to buy in the Autumn/Winter design refresh as up for grabs.
Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's, the iconic American whiskey brand wanted to promote it's new variant. What better way to do this than design crowdsourcing.
The Brief
Create an original poster design that introduces a lighter and sweeter version of Jack Daniel’s to young adults and show them that now they can enjoy “Jack” on their own terms.
Samsung and Universal Music - Kleek Music Streaming
Samsung and Universal Music Headphone decided to run a Design Crowdsourcing Challenge to Launch the Kleek Music Streaming Service.
The Brief
Designs should reference the amazing music content that The Kleek offers, while communicating the fresh young urban styling of brand. It’s sharp, it’s fresh, bold, bright and cutting edge, with a slick graphic style that’s all about wearing your swag with pride.
What do you think of the design crowdsourcing trend? Do you think these brands have hit the nail on the head with the designs? Are there any brands that you would like to see in the list? Let us know in the comments.
Written by Clancy Clarke on Friday, June 6, 2014
Clancy is the Organic Search manager at DesignCrowd. Clancy has over 7 years of online marketing experience and a passion for analytics. Get in touch via Google+.
