Ever fancied yourself as the next Terence Conran or Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen? Imagine if IKEA bothered to ask you (yes, YOU, the customer), to suggest ideas for their next range of products. Nice concept?

Now you have stopped salivating, the reality might not be as far-fetched as you might think. Muji, the Asian version of IKEA (or the U.S. retailer Target), sells a range of household goods, and prides itself on its minimalist design and limited waste production.

Its unique selling point is that it removes itself from the idea of the company as a ‘brand’ therefore it almost puts itself on par with the consumers that are willing to invest, which leaves greater room for a clear dialogue. When Muji has formed several hundred confirmed orders, the product is then able to go into production.

According to the Financial Express:

“None of Muji’s 7,000 products, including beds, dishes, jackets and notebooks have a logo or are wrapped in distinctive packaging. The company operates 440 stores across the US, Europe and Asia.”

This is where the beauty of Crowdsourcing comes into play. Muji’s Crowdsourcing model allows customers an outlet to produce a better or alternative product. This keeps designs and ideas fresh, it satisfies the consumers as they are able to see their work showcased and most importantly, it reduces risk on both sides; the advertiser because they know the product is in demand, the consumer because they will hold faith in their own products

Intriguingly, Muji often gathers product ideas from a crowd of just over half a million people. The best designs are then put to vote for the members and the selected designs are then put into production by professional designers. This method creates a new type of relationship between consumer and advertiser- one that is mature and allows a two way bond of efficiency, dependence and reliability. This is a relationship that all advertisers need to strive for.