In the spirit of wikipedia where people from all over the world contribute to a product (i.e. an encyclodpedia), crowdsourcing has emerged where organizations outsource the need to solve a problem to the public. Are you working on the next product or service that will change the world but can’t get past the last formula or technical approach? Check out Innocentive.
At Innocentive, companies (who can choose to remain anonymous) post their challenges and anyone from around the world can submit answers. The people who provide potential answers, even though they are registered users, remain completely anonymous.
Solutions are evaluated on the merit of their idea. The submitter’s previous work, current research, educational background, recent published papers (or lack thereof) do not play a factor in winning as the answers are provided anonymously. It’s the democratization of innovation.
Chosen solutions may be offered monetary prizes, formal recognition and of course, bragging rights.
My current weekend project to solve: Dual Use – Off Grid – Illumination Device.
Source: NPR
No drop-shadows, no reflections, no cute button, no trendy colors, not even any gradients! The designers of the new CNN.com eschewed every trendy tool designers are using today. I have to say I was a little put off. How dare they not show-off their photoshop wizardry! I came around, however. What a novel approach, use type, good layouts, clean lines, and simple color scheme to give it a modernist look. I applaud the design team for going back to the basics, and creating something fresh and innovative.
ADDENDUM: They now have a huge banner ad at the top of the site that pushes the most important content below the fold on my Macbook (1440×900px). What a great way to trash a design.
Has to, has to, has to be a joke.
Doesn’t this feel a little like this? How well did it work the first time?
Real people (like your mom*) don’t buy things based on the number of bullet-pointed features found on the outside of the box. Apple knows that now. They learned it from the iPod.
* And don’t bother telling me that Helio isn’t selling their product to your mom. I know that. However, your mom (or, at least my mother in law) absolutely wants an iPhone.