If You Can Crowdsource A Logo Design, You Can Crowdsource A Job Assignment, Right?

I just read a blog in MediaPost about the “Roar of Crowdsourcing,” where Thom Forbes recalls how GAP unveiled its new logo, only to fold it back up and return to its decades-old original design.

“Crowd wisdom” ruled, with a GAP spokesperson writing, “We’ve learned just how much energy there is around our brand, and after much thought, we’ve decided to go back to our iconic blue box logo.”

But GAP didn’t close the door completely.

On its Facebook page, the retailer extends this generous invitation: “We know this logo created a lot of buzz and we’re thrilled to see passionate debates unfolding! So much so that we’re asking you to share your designs. We love our version, but we’d like to see other ideas.”

That’s right. “We’d like to see other ideas."

Excuse me, GAP, but do you have a budget in mind?

No wonder we’re seeing more companies ask for free advice on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

They know they can get it.

One marketing employee with a large manufacturer recently posted a request for product designs on his LinkedIn page, saying it would “help a lot” with his upcoming management meeting.

He must have given a stellar presentation.

All he had to do was assemble the answers.

Finding The Christmas Spirit.

Christmas is where you find it.

And Harlequin Cat found it here.

Hope your holidays are filled with quiet moments.

Peace.

A Man's Home Is His Sandcastle.

For four days, people from around the world strolled a shimmering white beach to view sand sculptures at the Siesta Key Crystal Classic in Sarasota, FL.

On the show’s second morning, a small crowd formed around a castle of fairy-tale proportions. An older man – tanned and wearing designer swim trunks, a gold necklace and polarized Oakleys -- peered up at the castle’s winding stairs.

Next to him, a young girl contemplated scrunching her big toe into the moat.

And just a foot away, a homeless man with caked, matted hair wondered what was going on inside the sculpted fortress. His imagination squeezed into one of the tiny windows and floated over to where his mind’s eye lingered – near a massive oak table covered with a white cloth and gold coins.

Lighted iron candlesticks revealed a sumptuous banquet.

Gleaming pewter goblets reflected faces -- of a king or a knight, a jester or troubadour?

Suddenly, a blast of trumpets. The homeless man covered his ears and dropped to his knees.

Shaking, he looked up at the sky, only to see a silvery plane bound for Milwaukee.

So much for reverie.

But for a moment, he was a prince, a prince who had a home.