Logo design on the cheap
Let’s face it, custom logos can be expensive. I know, because I have been involved in numerous branding projects and logos can be extremely challenging, hence the big price tag. Having worked with Calgary and Vancouver graphic designers, I can safely say that most small start-up businesses would be shocked to know what a great logo costs. Freelance designers are a great option and will charge less, however you are working with one person vs. a team of people that can come at the project from different points of view. This is fine if their style is what you are looking for and sets the stage for an ongoing relationship with someone that you can trust and knows your brand.
Starting a new business can also be expensive and I understand the need to tighten budgets, so when I discovered this site Crowd Spring, I was thrilled. The site offers “name your price” designs services and uses a new trend called crowd sourcing. Crowd sourcing is when people from all over the globe come to together to solve a problem. In this case, designers from all over the world contribute logo concepts for you, based on your creative brief. You rank each logo and provide feedback so that ALL the designers can create more logos that are more inline with your tastes. At the end of the process, you select the winner, whom receives the project fee.
Before recommending this site to my clients, I decided to try it myself because I was in need of a new logo. I was pleased with the number of options (over 200) and the final logo choices and couldn’t argue with the price because I set it myself.
After a successful trial run, I recommended this site to 2 other organizations, Family Fun Calgary and Entrepreneurial Moms. Both were pleased with the outcome.
“I would definitely recommend them and I have many times. The cost was definitely reasonable compared to what graphic artists normally charge for logo design work.” Melissa Vroon, Family Fun Calgary
Though the site offers low cost design, it is not without it’s drawbacks. Part of the fees you pay at an ad agency or design studio include writing a succinct creative brief and reviewing all of the logos, providing constructive feedback to the designers, directing them and pushing them and presenting only the best options for review. This process is very timing consuming, but if you have more time than money it is worth it.
Melissa offers the following advise “If you just pay the money and sit back and wait you may not get as many options or logo ideas but if you work with the designers and provide feedback as to what changes you would like to see you can get a better value and better logo.”
Before you start the process of a new logo, please read my article on branding. If you decide to use the Crowd Spring site but need a little help, Glow offers consultation on writing the creative brief and can also support you in providing feedback and choosing the final logo, or we can handle the entire process for you.
To find out more about Crowd Spring, click here.
If you’d prefer to work with a qualified freelance graphic designer, please contact us for more information on pre-screened candidates.
Sign-up for the Glow Marketing E-Report, free tips and trends on marketing to Moms.
Add comment March 23rd, 2009
