You make some valid points, and I agree there will always be a value to working directly with a good graphic designer with demonstrated skills and a proven process. Many companies could not use the "crowdsourcing" route, because they can't make decisions without a small army and 20 rounds of revisions :). As you rightly pointed out, often it takes a lot of research and painstaking efforts to get the job done right. So even though crowd sourcing has its place, there is still no substitute for the personal interaction and interpretation between the professional designer and his/her client.

You make some valid points, and I agree there will always be a value to working directly with a good graphic designer with demonstrated skills and a proven process. Many companies could not use the "crowdsourcing" route, because they can't make decisions without a small army and 20 rounds of revisions :). As you rightly pointed out, often it takes a lot of research and painstaking efforts to get the job done right. So even though crowd sourcing has its place, there is still no substitute for the personal interaction and interpretation between the professional designer and his/her client.

Because it is. The final result might look simple, but the process leading to that point is not instantaneous, believe it or not. There's research involved, and plenty of communication between the client & designer that help shape the final result. But then you mentioned…

"If I were actually a graphic designer,…"

which, of course, explains a lot.

Sites like crowdspring & 99design, IMO, cater to the low-end market. The clients are mostly small startups that don't want to spend a ton on design fees. The designers are mostly amateurs/hobbyists. So hey, you get what you paid for.

I'm not too threatened by sites like this. I'd rather develop long-term working relationships with clients, rather than trying my luck doing projects after projects. Also, as the "crowd" matures, I believe they'll leave after figuring out that this model is simply not sustainable for them in the long run.

My 2 cents.

Because it is. The final result might look simple, but the process leading to that point is not instantaneous, believe it or not. There's research involved, and plenty of communication between the client & designer that help shape the final result. But then you mentioned…

"If I were actually a graphic designer,…"

which, of course, explains a lot.

Sites like crowdspring & 99design, IMO, cater to the low-end market. The clients are mostly small startups that don't want to spend a ton on design fees. The designers are mostly amateurs/hobbyists. So hey, you get what you paid for.

I'm not too threatened by sites like this. I'd rather develop long-term working relationships with clients, rather than trying my luck doing projects after projects. Also, as the "crowd" matures, I believe they'll leave after figuring out that this model is simply not sustainable for them in the long run.

My 2 cents.