2009
by Peter LaMotte
As a creative agency powered by crowdsourcing with over two years of experience, GeniusRocket has always understood that crowdsourcing is a process of evolution.
Today we are announcing the launch of GRSelect, a new approach to crowdsourcing creative content that evolves away from a simple contest and instead harnesses the power of top quality professional artists.
GRSelect will set itself apart by allowing clients to receive the highest quality of crowdsourced content by bringing them into the production process. The new model answers the most common requests of the creative crowdsourcing world; higher awards, more feedback, and less risk. No artist that participates in a GRSelect project will go uncompensated for his or her efforts. At the same time, clients will now be active collaborators in the creative process.
To learn more about this next leap forward in creative crowdsourcing read the full brief below.
We have always believed that crowdsourcing is a process of evolution. GeniusRocket not only looks, but operates very differently than it did almost two years ago. Our understanding of what motivates the artists and what the client is looking for has also changed dramatically in that time. We have always tried to offer higher monetary awards than any other crowdsourcing site, which is why our starting award is far above similar sites out there. For the client we have always offered individualized service rather than the automated systems powering most crowdsourcing sites. This means that no project has ever been launched on our site without someone from the GeniusRocket team having first discussed it with the client directly. The result has been a high level of satisfaction from the client as well as an increased level of participation during each RFB.
However, we believe that there is still plenty of room to improve upon creative crowdsourcing. We plan to address the three biggest requests of the creative community; higher awards, more feedback, and less risk, while addressing the request of the client; more polished creative content. For the last six months we have been working on an offering that will push the crowdsourcing world into its next stage. Many members of the community have been giving us direct feedback as we crafted this offering along with feedback from past clients, large and small. So we are very excited to announce the launch of GeniusRocket Select.
GeniusRocket Select, or GRSelect as you will see it referred to more often, is a service aimed primarily at larger companies and brands. The price point is higher than the GeniusRocket.com service, and the process, while based in crowdsourcing, is considerably different from how projects are currently run on the site.
The three most important differences between GRSelect and other crowdsourcing sites (including GeniusRocket.com) is that artists will be required to apply in order to participate in each project. Applicants will be vetted based upon their past work and their submitted proposal. Second, GRSelect projects will work across iterative rounds allowing the artists to receive feedback directly from the client prior to production or final submission. Finally, while not everyone will be accepted to participate in a project, everyone that does make into a project will earn awards based upon their efforts.
Let me walk you through how it works.
Project Announcement
Each GRSelect project will be announced on the GeniusRocket website. The announcement will give details just as any typical GeniusRocket project does. The client, the type of creative output, background, and the timeline will all be included in the announcement. However, the project overview will also give a breakdown of awards for each round of the project.
Application
Artists will be given one week to submit their proposal. The proposal is meant to be a explanation of your concept in less than 200 words. However in order for your proposal to be considered your GeniusRocket profile MUST be fully completed (including name, phone number, portfolio or reel link, and an up-to-date email address). Artists can also request to be connected with others of specific skill sets in order to form collaborative teams.
That’s it... all we want at this stage is an updated profile and a genius idea.
Review and Selection
With assistance from the client, GeniusRocket will select the project participants across the course of one week. We will contact you directly to let you know if you have been, or have not been selected into the project.
Storyboard Round
Artists who are selected to participate in the project will be required to produce storyboards within one week of end of the selection round. These storyboards will be presented to the client for review. We highly recommend that if you are not able to produce quality storyboards that you work with either another member of the GeniusRocket community, or hire someone to produce the boards. At this point the client will decide which concepts will move forward to production. For those that move forward you will be provided with details as to how the concept must be changed or adapted to meet the client’s needs.
Those who are not invited to move forward into the production round, will be awarded a monetary sum (intended to be no less than $500) and will retain the copyright of their concept. If the client choses to move forward with your idea within the next 12 months they are required to use your team for production and compensate you according to the framework of the GRSelect project.
Production
If your team is invited to move forward into production you will be given a minimum of two weeks to produce your concept. At the end of the two week period the content will be uploaded to the GeniusRocket site and reviewed by the client. Once again the client will review the submission and give detailed feedback on each submission. At this point the client will decide which concepts will move forward to final editing.
Those who are not invited to move forward into the final editing round will be awarded a monetary sum (intended to be no less than $2,000). The client also has the option to ask for another round of edits. In which case a larger monetary award will be offered for those who have provided edits and are not selected to move ahead to the final submissions.
Final Submission
Final submissions will be required one week after the feedback is provided by the client. At this point in the process if you provide the final edits you will be entitled to the selection award. Awards will be no less than $10,000 and will most likely be in the range of $15,000 and above. The client must agree that you have provided the edits which they requested at the conclusion of the last round. All submissions will then be transferred to the ownership of the client.
While GRSelect may seem more complicated than GeniusRocket.com we see them as serving two distinctly different roles. As we always have, projects will continue to run on GeniusRocket.com. Those RFBs will have smaller awards compared to GRSelect, but will be open to everyone. RFBs continue to be a great place to build your portfolio, prove your ability, and earn awards. If you don't have a portfolio or a reel, GeniusRocket.com is a great way to develop content. We want to see artists who are just starting out graduate to GRSelect and earn the large awards.
"Is GRSelect only open to video projects?"
Currently, GRSelect is only open to video projects. We are in the proving stage and the good news is that reception to the idea over the past few months has been amazing. We are finalizing a handful of Fortune 500 clients that will hopefully launch across the next few months.
Our job today is simply to introduce you to GRSelect. We encourage you to update your profiles, and keep an eye out for the first GRSelect project in upcoming weeks.
Feel free to reach out to us directly with any feedback.
Thank You, Peter
Peter is an industry expert at GeniusRocket, focused on the dynamics of online media and community driven content. As EVP of Marketing and Operations he oversees day-to-day activities of the company.
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Comments (5) | Post a comment
I think this is a great improvement in your service and process. Looking forward to participating.
This is a great idea--I hope companies see the value in this!
I think this is the best option for crowdsourcing as a freelance designer. Majority of those who participate in crowdsourcing are not full-time artists, and it can be insulting to those who are to not have their work recognized (ego aside, of course — I'm talking finances). As a designer, working on projects on GeniusRocket (or other similar sites) is secondary, simply because of the risks associated with not being chosen. In the real design world, you have to sell yourself and your design, but with only a handful of other people as your competition. Most design firms won't even waste their time if there are more firms competing for the work than you can count on one hand. Having a separate community where there is a certain level of refinement and higher expectations for a set fee is exactly what is necessary for the crowdsourcing community. Having participated and won RFBs on GeniusRocket, I know that having some sort of monetary assurance will draw me into more projects simply because I know it won't be a wasted effort.
This sounds great, I can't wait for the first GRselect project to come!
Hey, I'm killing time while rendering...and I can say that this experience has been really interesting! I knew nothing of Genius Rocket or GRSelect a month ago. I'm currently in the 'Rough Cut Round' on a GR Select project.
I tend to shy away from competitions/unpaid just because there's such a low rate of return--especially online competitions where the submission numbers can be very high. The only exception is the 48 HFP where me and my film/animation friends come together for some fun in the sun. We tend to make ridiculous films with alot of special effects. This is a really great way to structure larger projects. It gives the client options, without overwhelming them, and gives alot of designers/non-firms a chance to show their stuff.
Thanks!
Mel