Crowdsourcing is a term that was coined in 2005 and it is defined as the division of labor. In relative terms for freelancers, it is an opportunity to make money, and from the client's perspective, it is an opportunity to save money. Crowdsourcing sites offer jobs requested by clients, and freelancers vie for the chance to take the project on. The client can then choose to hire one or more freelancer to fulfill his requirements. From the point of view of the client, it means they don't have to employ designers and developers, and they can get the best designs most suited to their business at a fair price.
From the point of view of the freelancer, they get paid quickly, and the better the freelancer performs, the higher rates he can charge. The freelancer does not necessarily need years of experience to gain projects, and participating in crowdsourcing will expand and enhance a new freelancer's portfolio. So as it would seem that there are no losers with crowdsourcing, we are bringing you the best sites to sign up with and compete for work.
Crowdsourcing Sites
DesignContest
DesignContest is a crowdsourcing online platform you can access any time you need a professional design. All you have to do is to fill the brief, then the DesignContest team will take care of the rest. Once the design is provided, you just need to review and claim changes. Designers add their artworks and the client picks the winner.
Benefits:
Low fees, higher prizes for the winner
Free consultations via chat, phone or email
100% money back guarantee
75+ designs for 1 contest
Opportunity to hire a designer in 1-on-1 project
Responsive interface
Here you pay in your local currency
For partners there is an efficient affiliate program. Joining as a designer can be achieved through the 'Designers Join Us' link in the footer.
Zillion Designs
Zillion Designs, formerly MycroBurst, offer a range of designs, including logos, web page templates, stationery and more.
Their process is via an easy 5-step route:
Select a service
Name a price
Write a creative brief
Give feedback
Pick a winning design
This site seems to lean more towards the client, it is not immediately obvious how to sign up as a designer – you need to visit the FAQs for Designers page.
Choosa
Choosa is a design crowdsourcing website founded in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Choosa offers a similar service to most other crowdsourcing site in 3 steps:
Post Your Design Contest: Use the online design brief to describe what you need and how much you wish to pay.
Provide Feedback to Designers: As designers submit concepts, you are encouraged to supply feedback to achieve your exact requirements
Choose Your Favorite Design: Once the contest deadline is reached, the client selects the winning entry, pays the designer and will then receive the design and copyright to the original artwork.
99designs
This Spanish site is one of the longest-standing crowdsourcing sites. They offer set packages for contests, ranging from $249 to $999.
Build a designer brief using the online form
Choose a design package: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum
Launch your contest that will be visible to 976,000+ designers
Give feedback when the designers submit their concepts
Pick the winner
There is a link to 'Become a designer' in the footer of this site – no searching for the link here.
Microlancer
This Envato Studio site works a little differently to the others in this article. With this plan you choose a designer to work with. You also have to pay up front here, and Envato hold your payment until the job is completed.
Find the Talent You Need: Compare prices, portfolios, community recommendations and more to select the best designer for your project.
Supply Your Brief: Provide a job brief for the designer to review – this is where you have to make payment to Envato.
Manage Your Job Online: Share files and feedback through Envato's job management tools.
Approve Job: Once you are happy with the work, you need to approve the job and you will receive the files and the designer will receive payment.
Conclusion
As with all buying and selling sites, the crowdsourcing site that meets your requirements in the best way possible for you. In this round-up we have selected a few such sites than bring slight differences in their service - which may just be the tipping point for your project requirements.
As a designer, it is also necessary to find the crowdsourcing site that you will best benefit from. Hopefully these sites are at least worth the time to take a look.
Do you use crowdsourcing sites for either outsourcing your projects or parts of them, or as a designer? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.