Toronto-based writer and organizer Dave Meslin recently wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald discussing his views on the powers of crowdsourcing.
Crowdsourching, which involves seeking knowledge and opinions from the general public, "flips hierarchy on its head, transforming ordinary people into active participants in the creation of culture, art, and even public policy. It creates a role for you and I to play in fields that used to be exclusive to a small few," he says.
Meslin is no stranger to crowdsourcing. In one example outlined in his piece, Meslin discusses how governments often put out calls for public opinion, but these are frequently overshadowed or easily missed due to the public's own busy lives and oversaturated media clutter, and, worse, to the poor designs, legal jargon, and tiny fonts common with these notices.
He wondered what could make these notices stand out more and decided to crowdsource his answer and put a "call for submissions" out on his blog encouraging graphic designers to create a "better, bolder and brighter public notice."
"The results were spectacular. The submissions were captivating and bold, easy to read and included encouraging phrases like 'Your voice matters' or 'We want to hear from you.' It was inspiring to see what was possible," Meslin writes.
Meslin was in Sydney, Australia speaking on the topic at a public discussion. The state of New South Wales is actively seeking to take advantage of crowdsourcing. "With a focus on public engagement and the creation of a Community Participation Charter, the government is making a clear commitment to crowdsourcing innovation and empowering citizens to find their voice, and to use it," Meslin writes.
Read the full article
here.
Original source: The Sydney Morning Herald