Like much else in publishing, crowdfunding books is all about hope, faith and money.
As the disclaimer on the homepage of a crowdfunding site makes clear, in surprisingly blunt prose: ‘Backing isn’t buying. You’re supporting ambitious creative work.’ Almost anything can be crowdfunded – charities, legal campaigns that call governments to account, movies, performances, software, vinyl box sets, board games – and there are a huge number of online platforms that make it possible for people to support the organisation of their choice by pledging money, including ArtistShare, Patreon, GoFundMe and CrowdJustice. In return, supporters receive anything from a bookmark to a limited-edition print; from an exquisite design monograph to the intangible sensation of helping a deserving cause. Design book publishing is dominated by Kickstarter, though Indiegogo is preferred by some publishers, and Unbound and Volume are books-only platforms