When a "contest" is not a contest

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

I'm not a big fan of designers participating in "contests" for client projects or creating "spec" work as a condition of getting a client project. Here's a couple resources that might help explain my position:

NO!SPEC (Which has the Craigslist post mentioned above as its homepage feature right now)

When a "contest" is not a contest

- J.

[El Peligroso]

A good point well made, I'm guessing therefor you aren't a fan of websites like logosauce

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

Originally Posted by El Peligroso

A good point well made, I'm guessing therefor you aren't a fan of websites like logosauce

Exactly - that's what led me to make this post. The time and effort a designer puts into such efforts could be put to better use promoting oneself to truly get paid what they are worth for their design efforts, without having to deal without all the B.S. and possibly being taken advantage of by the "clients" wanting something for nothing or very little.

- J.

[El Peligroso]

I quite liked the concept in the early days of logosauce when it was a bit more of a fun thing to spend a bit of spare time on and see what I and other people on here came up with for the same brief. However recently the competitions seemed to have snowballed and become just too much - loosing the fun element and becoming a bit too serious for the rewards on offer.

[onesummer]

to put in my two cents...I participate in the logosauce contests for the fact that I simply enjoy creating logos. yes, the little money is a bonus, but by no means the primary reason I do it. designing logos is just a side hobby for me; I'm employed full time as a web designer, and have so many other things going on in my life I'd rather be doing than spending time trying to actively find clients. So logosauce and other 'contest' and inspiration sites are a quick and easy way for me to use as an outlet for my logo hobby and they give me the bonus of possibly picking up a little extra cash. Believe me, if I wanted to pursue it as a career, I would not be trying to do it through contests sites like logosauce.

[El Peligroso]

Yeah, that's fair enough... I wasn't having a pop at people who submit designs on logosauce and wherever. As I said, I have used it before and appreciate it does give a place for people to submit designs and possibly get some feedback to help them develop themselves.

[onesummer]

woops, didn't mean for my post to sound defensive, I was only giving my point of view as to why I participate in such contests.


And Jeff, I read your article and agree with most of your points. What I'm noticing from alot of these contests are that the clients that hold them tend to be either nondesigners who are brand new to the business world and thus may not have the money to seriously hire a real identity firm, or freelancers themselves whose expertise is not in identity design but are in need of some kind of brand to help market whatever their business is actually in. I have noticed also that some of the contest holders are designers themselves who are using the contests to 'sub contract' the identity design work at a much lower cost for their OWN client, possibly even passing off the work as their own (since most say the winner releases all rights to the comp. holder) and probably charging their client more for the logo than the prize money they offer in the contest, which could easily be a debate on ethics, but we won't get into that subject here.

I guess I'm just saying I dont see an issue with such contest sites for those who are non professional designers just doing it as a hobby or to start out to develop themselves as El mentioned, nor for those who hold the contests when they dont have the funds to get it done professionally. But I agree, the whole system could and probably is, easily abused by some.

[D856C]

Sorry, but I have a radical third opinion. It's not exactly incompatible with either side of this discussion -- but might interest you.

Here's my post on the subject.

Sorry, but neither of the sides presented so far is very interesting. My take on this is 1) What is the design crux. 2) How do you design a 'contest' or other format which achieves something innovative or different.

In other words want change, design change. This beats the kneejerk "cut and paste" arguments from other forums. I'm sure Jeff Isn't interested in making this just a blue version of the green GDF he just came from.

[LeadMagnet]

I agree, i feel the same way about it. Having several designers 'competing' for a tiny amount of cash is terrible. Alot of people will get nothing for all their effort.

[lolly]

I've been told some of the "clients" on logosauce are getting even cocky and playing people off against each other by making out via email that they like your design meaning you'll jump through hoops for them doing revision after revision then not picking you if you don't do enough. Taking the p*ss really.