Before we get straight into the topic, let me state how Wikipedia is defining what ‘crowfunding’ is: the collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. And that refers to any kind of activity and displine.
I am subscribed to a couple of platforms and every single day now I get popping in new projects in my inbox. I have supported Pia Jane Bijkerk’s last book through Pozible and was happy to see she’d made it. You decide the amount of money you want to spend and receive in return that product the entrepreneur is trying to get into production (there is a pricing scale for diff. product and services you can opt for). If you don’t receive the amount you have pledged for your project in a certain time, the project is not going on. In the case of Kickstarter, if the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal, all backers’ credit cards are charged when time expires. If the project falls short, no one is charged. Zero risk. Easy, right?
So, the internet is becoming a platform that supports talents in an unusual way and I love it! But why is it becoming a trend?
1. Well, consumers love to shop a product when it is still at concept stage and they get first hand all information about the newest product, most innovative projects and design. By pre-purchasing, they are having the feeling of being really early.
2. Another observations why this is going to be an important trend is, as a consumer (and I can tell you from my experience) it makes you really feel good when you realize you have been part of a crowd funded project because it is all about helping out and make things happen. So, there is a strong emotional part too.
3. It is a way to get your product produced and you could even make it into larger retail chains which is under “normal” circumstances a quite difficult goal to reach. So crowdfunding platforms can become a new trade show for buyers of larger companies without having to travel to the event.
Here go some examples of successfully funded projects:
Pledged with a 1.500USD goal, funded at the moment with 1.505 USD and , still 24 days to go.
They are planning to develop and test a traditional tableau vivant during The Lab, which will be presented as part of the Underbelly Arts festival 2013 (Australia). Tableau Vivant is a French term which means living picture and became popular as a movement in the late 19th C and early 20th C. This project is a further exploration for the collaborative artists into the spectacle and the spectacular around the dining table. The large temporal sets to date consider excess, pop culture, and the use of food as a “triumph of the table” or “feast for the eyes”.
Philographics: Big ideas in simple shapes
Pledged with a 15.000USD goal, funded already with 42.611USD, still 17 days to go. A huge success so far!
Philographics is all about explaining big ideas in simple shapes. Genis Carreras started the project 2 years ago with the intention to merge the world of philosophy and graphic design, and it has since received some internet popularity. In the beginning it was a set of 24 posters, explaining philosophical theories like Dualism, Free Will, Existentialism or Idealism using only shapes and colour. But so many important ‘isms’ were left out that he decided to add more designs to the collection.
FlipBooKit: Mechanical Flipbook Art and Kit
Pledged with a 5.000USD goal and funded with 137.567USD.
Flipbookit.net is from kinetic artists, Mark Rosen and Wendy Marvel. They create moving art that tells stories and tickles our sense of nostalgia. In late 2011, their series of motorized flipbooks based on the motion studies of Edweard Muybridge began touring with galleries, art shows and at special events internationally. The gallery-versions of their original mechanical flip-book artworks are expensive and are only available in limited editions. But the public response became so overwhelming that Wendy and Mark decided to bring in a pro. For directing the production version of the Mechanical-Flip-Book-Maker-Kit, they teamed up with friend, inventor and manufacturing designer Steven Goldstein. Steve holds over 12 patents, was a Disney imagineer, and has guided many products from concept through production into distribution.
Have you recently found a project you liked (or have supported)?
Lo siento, chic@s, cuando hay mucho texto, dejo el artículo sólo en inglés. Ójala, más adelante haya un traductor que se ocupe :-)
7 Responses
Hi Gudy!
Very interesting topic. Great projects!
Here in Finland we have mesenaatti.me – Finnish crowdfunding platform. It’s great innovation this crowdfunding. I have supported old movie theatre even though it is not part of meenaatti you can find it here: http://axateatteri.tumblr.com/
But in nutshell: The AXA venue, originally a cinematic theatre from 1938 to 1984, has since been kindly minded by a religious group. Now, the theatre is up for grabs and the plan? To turn it into an alternative theatre and cultural venue .
So we are living interesting times when ordinary people can vote with their money. You are right it’s a trend. Great trend! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, yes, interesting times, they even start calling it ‘pretail’ meaning before the product gets to retail you can already purchase it. I like the Axa story and would support those kind of projects too. It’s not always about product but social and cultural events too and that makes the whole movement even more interesting!
Love this post, Gudy! I am very passionate about crowdfunding and have supported a couple of projects so far. I think it’s one of the best examples for the positive changes the internet can bring. It shows that people are willing to take steps in order to support ideas they like. I’d even go as far as to say that it’s the beginning of a new era of consuming and producing, together with many other platforms which promote sharing instead of buying, for example.
I’ve wanted to do a post about corwdfunded projects for a long time – now you were quicker;) I’ll still do it, probably. A trend needs people who spread the word – and I’sm pretty sure those super-successful projects like the ones you shared wouldn’t have been half as successful without bloggers who spread the word.
Lena, pls do this post, it’s good to spread the word and see your take on it too. The more we write about it, the better, there are still so many people out there who have never heard a single word about crowdfunding.
I’ve heard about it but not found any projects to support. Maybe it’s time I ought to start looking :) Good for creative entrepreneurs, not so good for my wallet!
Hi Deepa, the good thing is you are purchasing already when sponsering and you decide with the funded amount the kind of product and/service you get in return.
Such a great trend! And I love the idea of crowdfunding. I have supported some art projects here in Denmark and supplies for some craftmanships in Africa. So nice to hear what other people are supporting. It’s really a wonderful tendency to give people a chance to support and follow different projects and bring something to life that might not would be brought to life without the sharing online.
Thank you Gudy for sharing your fundings and have a great week :-)