CNN iReport

Where does the graphic designer who created a well known American non-profit's new logo live?

a. New York

b. Los Angeles

c. Chicago

d. Indonesia

Answer: d. Indonesia

Keep America Beautiful, Inc.,  the organization that in its words, "follows a practical approach that unites citizens, businesses and government to find solutions that advance our core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste and beautifying communities." is paying an Indonesian graphic designer $750 to create their new Keep America Beautiful logo.

http://www.crowdspring.com/projects/graphic_design/logo/keep_america_beautiful_logo_design_for_nonprofit__1

http://www.crowdspring.com/projects/graphic_design/logo/keep_america_beautiful_logo_design_for_nonprofit__1/details

Here are the facts.

Robert Wallace, Vice President of Communications for Keep America Beautiful, Inc. sponsored a logo contest via Crowdspring, LLC, a graphic design crowdsourcing website.

Crowdsourcing is described by Wiktionary as "delegating a task to a large diffuse group, usually without monetary compensation."

In this instance, there were 462 designs submitted and only 1 was chosen, meaning dozens of graphic designers received no compensation for their work.

The surely unintended irony is that the crowdsourced design chosen for the new Keep America Beautiful logo was created by an Indonesian designer who goes by the name Fabiola.

According to Wikipedia "The ethical, social, and economic implications of crowdsourcing are subject to wide debate. For example, author and media critic, Douglas Rushkoff, in an interview published in Wired News, expressed ambivalence about the term and its implications."

A Wikipedia article about the crowdsourcing website Crowdspring includes the following. "The company and its business model have received some criticisms for being spec work. This is the process of asking professionals to complete custom work for the chance of getting payment."