Sunday, July 18, 2010

Designer collections?

This post is meant mostly for our designers, but others do feel free to contribute. We’re toying with the idea of cards recruited not from the contest mechanic, but through one of the following models:-

1. Paying a designer a set fee for a collection of 10 cards, for which after they will continue to collect royalties.

2. Recruiting non-contest cards with a significantly higher Royalty scheme (say US$0.30) per card.

3. Some other brilliant business model that we haven’t thought of yet.

What do you think? Really would appreciate your feedback here…

16 comments:

Chelsey Austin said...

I think that would be a great idea!

mdavidct said...

that idea like a lot, i stop send cards for the contest because i feel the concept fall apart. but this ia a great idea.

chak said...

guys... which one would you prefer...

commissioned work (which would mean we only approach a few designers)

Or non-contest mechanic with higher royalty scheme?

Unknown said...

Those ideas are great.

But as a freelance designer, I myself prefer the first one. Because you (Foldees) could involve a lot in the process to achieve the design you're really looking for. So far thru contest, in my opinion, the designers are just guessing based on the theme. Which sometimes the result does not really match with Foldees' target market.

Just my 2 cents anyway ^^

Chelsey Austin said...

lol sorry Chak I guess I wasn't specific, but I agree with Fran...

"But as a freelance designer, I myself prefer the first one. Because you (Foldees) could involve a lot in the process to achieve the design you're really looking for. So far thru contest, in my opinion, the designers are just guessing based on the theme. Which sometimes the result does not really match with Foldees' target market."

chak said...

hmmm...

Yes I do understand the "guesswork" bit. It's a difficult balance because the result of the freedom is also alot of designs we would never have thought of in the first place.

Perhaps it's a balance. Thanks for the feedback!

Unknown said...

The point is : Foldees need to be more specific and guide the designers to create something that have high selling point to the market. I'm sure you guys did market research and targeting before starting this business, didn't you?

So, contest or commission - or else, the point is : be more specific... ^^

chak said...

Frans: Yup... noted. Like I said earlier, we know what sells, but it's difficult to convey that and at the same time afford you guys the freedom to be creative.

At the end of the day, we don't want to lock designers down to what we want because then we'd just be like any other greeting card company with a roster of designers. We like surprises!

Right now, it's open theme and LOTS AND LOTS of feedback, but perhaps there's another way :)

Unknown said...

Yeah. But the main objective is to produce unique greeting cards that SELL, right? What's the purpose of design if it's useless or doesn't have selling point in this case. In my case, even my winner cards don't sell a lot. Sometimes it makes me feel like I don't deserve it (Don't ask me to return the prize, please ^^).

Maybe like this, Foldees gives theme, then the designers show ideas sketches first. Approved ideas and visual sketches can proceed to vectorizing stage. Everything is still comes from designers, you guys just help in decision.

Anonymous said...
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chak said...

sorry for the late reply Franz,

That's a GREAT IDEA!

Some designers have a natural feel for what sells... like salchipunk and milkberry, both of who's cards are constant top sellers.

But others even we're surprised when they don't sell as well. We also think that because we're focusing primarily on the Malaysian market, that's why some of the cards don't carry so well.

Well, we have interest from a few stateside distributors now so keep those fingers crossed!

kingdom90 said...

look like i miss a lot of wonderful part...

support~~ support~~~~brilliant idea, of course not only the chak's.
frans too...


Yeah. But the main objective is to produce unique greeting cards that SELL, right? What's the purpose of design if it's useless or doesn't have selling point in this case. In my case, even my winner cards don't sell a lot. Sometimes it makes me feel like I don't deserve it (Don't ask me to return the prize, please ^^).

Maybe like this, Foldees gives theme, then the designers show ideas sketches first. Approved ideas and visual sketches can proceed to vectorizing stage. Everything is still comes from designers, you guys just help in decision.


looking forward...hehehe

chak said...

on the contest side, we're thinking of a peer approval system... i.e. upload for comments first, then you can modify your design, and then only submit for the official contest. Sorta what threadless is doing now.

Unknown said...

Hi Chaky, maybe you want to consider forming a group of Foldees' designers on Deviantart or Facebook?

emilayusof said...

chak, i so agree with #2!

chak said...

hahaha... late to the party. but oh so welcome, kak emila.

Actually, most of the designers favour #1.

how's things with you?