Design
Teams, What Are They?
For the paper
crafting industry, a design team is a group of creators and artists that are
contracted to create projects using a crafting company’s products. Companies
use design teams to help with the promotion and sales of their products. Products
can be stamps, dies, design paper, ink, tools, embellishments, etc.
What are
the advantages of being on a design team?
Many crafters
would say getting free stuff is the best part of it as new products are usually
provided gratis and far in advance of release so they have ample time to time
to work on their projects. In addition,
design team members are also usually offered a sizable discount on the company’s
products during their design team term. Some companies also offer monetary compensation
and/or affiliate credit for sales generated.
I have been on
several design teams and I love the challenge of working with products I didn’t
choose! I always have ideas for the things I buy but being sent something I may
or may not love challenges me to think outside of my own ideas and work on design
and technique and I end up loving everything!
What are
the responsibilities of being on a design team?
Responsibilities
will vary by design team and should be outlined at the start. Typically, you
will be asked to create projects using what is sent to you. The number of
projects needed, how the project is to be presented, (mailed in, YouTube video,
shares on social media, etc.) the due date, and what, if any, other brands/products
you will be allowed to use with what was sent to you. For example, if you are
creating for a paper company that doesn’t sell anything but paper then you
should be able to use other company stamps and dies to complete your project.
If you are using stamps from one company, you might only be able to use dies
and other products from that same company. All of these details will be
communicated to you by the company once you have been accepted by a design
team.
Keep in mind
that a design team term can vary from being open-ended to being 6 months or a
year.
How do I
get on a design team?
Design team
calls are done throughout the year. You can check company websites or check for
design team calls on Facebook. You can also reach out directly to express your
interest. Be sure to have examples of your work ready to submit with any
application or inquiry and consider why you want to be on that company’s design
team. They will surely ask this in the application process.
Design Teams
not affiliated with a company
The paper
crafting community has created challenges to inspire one another. There are crafty
challenge groups on Facebook and crafty challenge blogs, as well as challenges
and collabs on YouTube and Instagram. I ran a crafty goals collab for about 4
years on YouTube and I have been on the Show Us Your Sheetload Collab YouTube team
since 2020. There are blogs with design teams, as well. The responsibilities
for each type of non-company affiliated team will vary but the perceived stress
is less due to the fact that you are doing it for the fun and fellowship of
crafters. Some companies do provide products to challenge blogs and their design
teams but it is considered a more relaxed assignment than company-affiliated design
work.
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