What should I do?

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  • jakeyj0

    don't let the hate mail get to you.

    you are offering a great reward.

    if people don't like the idea, then they don't have to do it.

    i agree you should set a submission ending date. post it, make it known, if people don't get their stuff in, too bad.

  • CALLES0

    maybe its cuz designers are afraid of the sun... and probably cant surf?

    rat labs?

  • Point50

    man, fwd me all the hate emails and I'll send them and autographed pic of me picking cucumbers the nude.

    that should shut em up.

    I hope...

  • jevad0

    ask yourself:

    WWSBD?

    What Would Scott Baio Do?

  • rikydot0

    The next post is a recent comment to goodfrank. From a concerned designer who is apparently speaking for all of you.....and me too I guess. hmm. It's really aggrevating that a person would write me this and not leave a return email to open up any kind of dialogue or debate. ...enjoy.

  • rikydot0

    Dear GoodFrank,
    I just received information regarding your organization’s logo design competition
    and frankly, I'm quite disappointed. This type of competition (and its structure) is
    unethical and ultimately unfair to the graphic design
    community.

    The competition expects designers to invest time and resources purely on
    speculation. Designing on spec is not the norm, nor is it an accepted practice in
    the graphic design industry.

    Graphic Designers are a valuable part of the communications, branding and marketing
    mix, trained in solving business communication problems. Your organization’s logo
    is its face before the public, the visual expression of its culture, mission and
    scope. Taking away the interaction between Client and Designer by creating a logo
    competition significantly reduces your chances of finding a suitable mark. It may be
    “pretty,” but without the research behind it, it’s bound to be off the target.
    So, in this highly competitive market, why would organizations such as yours feel
    justified in minimizing the designer's contribution?

    Creative competitions sidestep the importance of the client/designer relationship.
    Competitions and speculative projects are about winning the work. The collaboration
    within the client/designer relationship is about truly understanding the problem at
    hand and helping the client reach their goals.

    Beyond this, it may have serious legal consequences if the design or a similar
    design is already in use by another group. Again, without the background homework
    researched by a trained designer, you can’t be sure. Is your organization really
    prepared to take these risks when
    lawsuits are piling up faster than the national debt?

    Now lets turn around and look at it from a different angle, would your organization
    request the same of other professional service providers? Would it make sense to ask
    a group of attorneys to create your legal documents on speculation? Would you think
    to ask accountants to do your tax returns by the same method? A plumber? I seriously
    doubt it.

    The Graphic Artist Guild has set out professional guidelines for art competitions.
    Please take the time to read the information found by following the link below.
    Hopefully, it will shed some light on what your organization is asking of the design
    community. http://www.gag.org/resources/com…

    At the end of the day, choosing a designer or firm is about getting the right
    professional for the project. Requests for speculative work erode the relationship
    and ultimately are a substitute for a client doing their homework.

    Thank you,
    The greater professional design community

  • Beech0

    Thats a real long and boring e-mail to write to someone but I don't think it's all that hateful ... I think the author just wants to advise you on the problems spec work creates in the industry ... he just comes across as a bit of a sap.

    I think it really is just the way you communicate your "competition". I mean I doubt anyone complains about doing work for the semi-permanent book and you don't get anything for that (except glory :)

    I agree with some of the suggestions in this thread, designers, epecially junior designers who are most likely to go for a competition like this need to know that they aren't wasting their time or being disrespected.

    Other than that it's a great prize so I see no problem with it really.

  • forcetwelve0

    ahh what a wank.

    you're doing a good thing mate. winner gets a surfboard. its the same as any other design comp — you enter knowing that if you dont win you dont get anything, but you have fun and learn something in doing so.

    TIFI
    (tell im fuk im)

  • jevad0

    what a pompous, bunch of feckin arse email that was

  • dizzl0

    I think its ok.
    make it a fair competition.
    Make sure that all the rights to other entries except the winner stay with their designers.
    i hate those design competitions, where the winner gets maybe 3000 bucks, but all the rights go to the organizer. so they have plenty of maybe t-shirt , board or any other designs for just 3000 $.

  • agentfour0

    if the board could be sent internationally i would've entered for the fun of it. i see no problems. If you offered $100 as a prize or some crummy shit like that then i'd see why people would be pissed off. but a board is worth $500 + so dont worry about the hate. I think people just jump on the defensive straight away because theyre sick of those $100 cash prizes for a logo bullshit from companies who really can afford to hire a designer legit.

  • rikydot0

    Guess I just posted on the wrong forum.

  • Sven_sk0

    i have a problem with design contests that offer as the prize: $50, a tshirt withyour logo printed on it and a packet of crisps.

    i won't enter these design contests anymore bc they are a waste of time and i have better things to do
    UNLESS they were offering some sick prize that i really wanted or if it was for a REALLY good cause

    but my take on contests is this: they are usually run by companies or people that can afford to just hire a designer or couple designers outright but are either too cheap or too lazy to look at portfolio sites and books to find a good designer to hire,

    if your surfboard is the shit, people will do your contest and be excited about the possbility to win it.