Kickstarter has banned renderings and simulations of all new hardware and product design projects. The fundraising website wants all images to be photos and videos of physical prototypes.
The announcement, made on their blog, outlines that:
- Product simulations are prohibited. Projects cannot simulate events to demonstrate what a product might do in the future. Products can only be shown performing actions that they’re able to perform in their current state of development.
- Product renderings are prohibited. Product images must be photos of the prototype as it currently exists.
Offering multiple quantities of a reward (i.e. sample product as a thank you) has also been banned. Revamping stricter guidelines for submissions is an attempt to reinforce the Kickstarter mission of connecting creators and audience, not to provide a retail experience. Fancy digital renderings and offering multiple quantities in advance of actual production, Kickstarter feels, over-promise and lead to disappointment for backers.
This could be a bit of a dilemma for Kickstarter and their potential designers. Producing renderings and other visualizations are a huge part of how designers develop products. So the new policies will definitely affect the number of projects submitted, especially those projects that were hoping to get funding to produce prototypes.
What do SmartPlanet readers think? Is the push for prototypes a good or bad thing for Kickstarter, creators, and would-be funders?
Via: Core77, Kickstarter Blog
Image: Trostle Flickr
