I have heard a lot of talk against "spec work", but they all miss basic point: the so called "third world" perspective. I encourage all forms of debate, it's healthy. But I would want them keep this in mind: designers from obscure developing countries are benefiting immensely through sites like crowdSPRING! I can say this because I am one of those designers...

Spec work is a huge issue for my business....definately an interesting question to delve into.

I'm always looking for ways to improve spec work, making it more efficient, and always cost effective. I'm looking forward to further discussion. Henry Nisbet

As a designer, I find this to be a very important issue to explore as theinternet marketplace moves forward.

This is a topic of high interest

Hey everyone,

Thanks for voting for my panel. I am Mike Samson and I'm the co-Founder of crowdSPRING.

crowdSPRING is a community-powered marketplace for creative services. Whether a buyer needa a new logo, website, marketing materials or other creative content, they simply post what they need, when they need it and how much they'd like to pay. Once posted, contributors from around the world will work on the project and the buyer will begin to receive actual work - not bids or proposals - to review. And, as the submissions come in, they can review, sort, rate, give feedback and collaborate with contributors until they find "the one".

This business model puts us at the center of the spec work controversy and we are always ready to debate the issue. I hope you'll help us get the chance to do that at SXSW.

Social creativity? Does it help to bring piece to the world? It probably does in the long run. Does it help to understand citizens of all over the world without political base or religious prejudice, speaking in different languages, and brought up in different cultural environment? It definitely does, and this topic and the movement is the newest way to reach and touch many, to help and express a lot, to make a statement and to spark an interest among millions. In this concept: It takes a world to create and to fulfill the fantasy or needs of one! Amazing!

This is an important issue and one that needs to be explored--talented people the world over now have a wonderful venue.

Time and time again people and industries have resisted change. However, it is very difficult to stop a flood of millions of talented people who are looking for new ways to exchange ideas and to showcase their creativity. This is an important topic because once again we find ourselves at a cross-roads, and once again there is resistance. However, as has been proven in every prior example, the industry WILL change. It is important we understand the impact to everyone. Just like professional photographers who ultimately moved their business to iStockphoto, designers must understand that the creative design industry today is not like it was ten years ago. There is more competition, there are low barriers to entry, and there is great talent around the world.

Polarizing creative takes food out of the mouths of Americans.

Read that again.

Think about what you do every day. Now think about people asking for it for free with the "possibility" of maybe being paid.

What's more, going overseas for "the flood of millions of talented people who are looking for new ways to exchange ideas" will only hurt response. These people don't have agency training or development and in the end, the companies who purchase from these polarizing websites will fail.

This isn't the first such service in this vertical. Others have failed, too.

There are plenty of small shops in your neighborhood that could benefit from your business buying local.

I hope this panel makes it. This is a hot button, and I think Austin – one of the most local-business-oriented cities around – will enjoy the debate.

Social Creativity and quicker ways to ideas, the space has changed the way we do business and Mike's got a great take on it.

crowdSpring is spearheading a new paradigm of working and collaborating in this new interconnected age. This model looks to be breaking a lot of old molds in the process. Being able to hear Mike talk about new findings and insights in this new creative approach will be greatly intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking. Definitely would love to hear and learn more about from the man in the trenches.

Great!

Very insightful....the ideas were amazing.

Listening to people cheerfully try to defend this old-as-dirt practice as "spearheading a new paradigm" would be completely disheartening. There is no way I could sit through this talk.

I hope there are constructive panels in the same slot or I'll be out getting barbeque.

I am so living this every day, good topic.