A jovoto client favorite, Alexandru Voinescu (aka Voinealex) has won 34 times, received 11 licenses and earned €35K+ (that’s an average of €1160 per month since he joined jovoto!). Here are his secrets for designing projects that big-name clients love and license.

When a colleague mentioned jovoto’s Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Crowdstorm, Alex wasn’t interested. He told himself, “I’m not a creative designer, why would I participate?”

Alex forgot about jovoto until he left his job in Romania and needed income.  A few days into participating in jovoto Crowdstorms, he was hooked.

Retrospectively he admits, “I probably have always been creative, I just didn’t realize it.”

Now one of jovoto’s top-performing and most prolific Creatives, Alex has submitted over 163 ideas and has relationships with several big-name clients. While in Berlin after a presentation with jovoto client, Festool, he dropped by our office. We were curious about how this self-proclaimed “not creative” surprised himself and became the jovoto legend that he is today.

Creativity Solves Problems for Big-Name Clients

Is there a difference between creativity and problem solving? Alex doesn’t think so — and this makes him successful on an impressive range of jovoto challenges.

At first, Alex only participated in conceptual projects. But soon he applied his theoretical strategy to design problems.  The results received overwhelming positive feedback from big-name clients.  One of Alex’s favorite challenges was for the Festool Crowdstorm. Responding to the client’s need for a new kitchen fitting system, Alex developed the “LineTracer.” His concept was a future sawing power tool that aimed to increase efficiency and precision. Since then, Alex’s product design ideas have been licensed several times by Festool. Given his developing relationship with Germany’s leading tool manufacturer, he has had the opportunity to present his ideas at their headquarters.

Alex claims that his awards and success are due to his ability to view design as a problem-solving challenge. The jovoto community has always been impressed with his ability to succeed on such a diversity of projects, but he is also clearly a client-focused talent. Over one-third of his 34 awards have been client favorites and he has been licensed 11 times.  

Alex shares his secrets with four tips for solving jovoto creative challenges.

4 Reminders for Solving Creative Challenges

1.Identify your client’s core problem

Alex says that the concept phase of a Crowdstorm excites him most, “Solving problems is my thing.” Though not extremely technical, he is adept at noticing the core problem.  Without a clear sense of a client’s objective, it’s impossible to find a suitable solution.  

2. Research beyond the basics

Though the brief is an essential part of understanding a creative task, Alex knows you have to dig deeper.  Once you have a sense of your client’s problem, make sure you fully understand their history and build a strong concept with their context in mind. Without a fleshed out concept that adequately responds to the client’s company culture and needs, a well-presented idea will not be enough. A successful submission usually pushes a client forward toward their objective while still making them feel comfortable.

3. Recognize your weaknesses and collaborate

Alex urges creatives to recognize their strengths and weaknesses. With these in mind, it is easy to tap into the deep pool of talented jovoto Creatives for support. Some of Alex’s most appreciated projects were collaborations. Beyond earning client awards, Alex has also won the jovoto Collaboration Award for knowing that responding to a client’s problem might require additional skills in besides one’s own talents. This is essential for jovoto success.  

4. Take responsibility for your own creativity

At the end of the day, Alex believes, “Creativity lives inside you, it is your duty to bring it out.”  Use your resources but trust yourself.  If you can identify the client’s core problem — you have what it takes.

“I have two folders on my desktop: fun and work.  jovoto is in the work folder…but sometimes I click on “fun” by accident.”

Join jovoto

jovoto is an open innovation platform where creatives, designers and innovators work together to solve design challenges for top global brands. It’s brainstorming at internet scale and we call this process Crowdstorming. Anyone can participate, get involved in projects, and earn fair cash prizes. Do you want to follow in Alex footsteps? – Join jovoto today to get access to our professional community of creatives worldwide.