The rise of platformed creativity in Asia and how it’s connecting creators to consumers

Platformed creativity. Creative commerce. The maker movement. These words could very well become mainstream vernacular in the near future, not just in the West, but also in Asia.

Several digital trends are converging to make that happen. E-commerce and smartphone adoption are on the rise, and tastes in Asia are becoming more sophisticated. More consumers are demanding not just for cheap but also well-designed goods. Businesses are starting to recognize the need for effective branding, and are willing to hire designers to spruce up their image.

Just as important is the fact that creative professionals are warming up to the idea of using the Internet as an avenue to grow their businesses. E-commerce platforms, created by startups that sense a growing need for better tools, have become more sophisticated, social, and user-friendly.

Call it the rise of platformed creativity. Think of a flea market where upstart fashion designers go to sell their creations. Or an indie art gallery in a colonial shophouse. Now migrate all of these online. That’s platformed creativity at its core — aggregating creative products online, and then selling it to an audience. Read more

DesignCrowd launches in Asia; lets companies run their own design contests

DesignCrowd, a website from Australia that crowdsources design work, has now launched in Singapore, India, and Philippines. This means that companies from these markets can now outsource their work to DesignCrowd.

The website is also seeking designers from the region to come on board. Alec Lynch, CEO and founder of DesignCrowd, cites India and Philippines as “goldmines” for talented designers. The company estimates that as many as one million designers in both countries are willing to come online. Read more