aquent site redesign-spec work
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- cannonball0
I propose this: everyone who got shafted in the canceled contest gets to think of ways that Aquent can make it up to the design community. It's a contest that those who submitted get to brainstorm on... Think: ways Aquent can re-engage with their talent pool in a meaningful way.
- This will piss off the copy writersmtgentry
- What copywriters?cannonball
- roundabout0
Bloody hell this is a sad situation, I never thought I would see a company like Aquent go down this road. It's an insult to are industry?
- jevad0
"There might have been a right way to do this thing, but we didn't do it the right way."
'MIGHT' have?! No mights about it - there is a clear right and wrong way to approach something like this and they though - wrongly - that being cheap and stupid about it was good enough!
The most unprofessional approach to something like this by a company purporting to support the freelance community that I have EVER seen.
- The response posted on that blog makes me SO MAD. More 'whoops we got busted'...jevad
- ...than 'oh shit...we fucked up...we're really sorry.'jevad
- Oh, shit, we fucked up, we're really sorry. MattAquentminister
- cannonball0
So what happens to the fools that submitted their designs? I guess nothing.
- we ridicule them!!!PonyBoy
- cannonball, your submission was shite ok?!!?
;)Dancer - haha i didnt submit, but im sure it would have turned out pisspoor.cannonball
- PonyBoy0
lol@$500... must be nice to consistently steal from poor students who know no better...
:(... fuckers
- cast0
to be honest i have'nt read this thread [hvnt got that much time]
but can we assume that http://99designs.com is a right off website ?
- uncle_helv0
I guess $500 buys you a lot of shit attempts at a homepage!
- ukit0
Gotta say, I'm encouraged by how people here asserted themselves over this. If we don't fight to protect our own interests, who will?
Anyway, yeah, it was an interesting thread.
- Peter0
Not my style to kick people while they're down.
But the service I recieved from Aquent were...subpar.
Anyways, still appreciate their salary- and marketsurveys.
- Who am I kidding. I am actually wearing my steelplated pointy kickingshoes already...Peter
- and I'm feelin' it, PeterHAquentminister
- calculator0
damage already done
- Dancer0
From their site:
http://blogs.aquent.com/thetalen…
SorryI'm sorry we freaked out a bunch of people in the design community by running a contest to redo our homepage. There might have been a right way to do this thing, but we didn't do it the right way.
The discussion that unfolded on QBN and elsewhere brought out a lot of strong feelings and raised a number of issues. I'm still sorting through them, but the one that's gotten to me is this:
While some people don't like us and never did ("i've always hated Aquent" was one profanity-free way of putting it), there are a number of people who view us as a company that "gets it" and, at least to a certain extent, as a partner who is on the side of designers and the profession. These folks were more than let down by this contest - they were hurt by it. In their eyes, as they wrote, it was a "slap in the face."
To those people in particular, I apologize.
A wise man once said, "People care more about bad feelings than they do about bad outcomes." I believe that the discussion this has generated, and our response to it, will ultimately have a positive effect on the "outcome" front.
I'm hoping that this apology is a step in the right direction on the feelings front.
- Dancer0
This gets my vote for "Most Interesting post of the year". I missed it all but have spent the last hour reading it all.
Everyone has made some very valid points, if not repeating each other quite a bit. I never saw this as an "experiment" how is it experimental, it can only be damaging... He makes out that this is also a contest... well why didn't Aquent post this "contest" on their own site and post ads in the design press with a worthwhile prize – instead of plugging 99designs.
Matt created an interesting discussion and I applaud him for coming on here to defend it. I fear Aquent are licking their wounds and now trying limit the damage this may have done.
I hope that freelance designers pull themselves from their books in protest of Aquent's behaviour.
- jevad0
ps 100!
- jevad0
Absolutely disgusted by this. Pulling the 'contest' was the right move - but you are going to have to do some serious damage control, and a lot of work to re-instill the community's trust.
- ignaciogggg0
I did this awesome design for Aquent, I want to win this! the website looks awesome! What you think?
http://99designs.com/contests/99…
- GammaRay0
Matt, would love to see a case study written up once you guys hire out a real firm or freelancer to do the job the right way...if written the right way it could really make Aquent look good...
"We tried an experiment...what works better, design contests or the talented, tested, honored designers on staff for Aquent?...read on to find out..." etc, etc.
- I think you're on to something, GammaRay. I'm still sorting out the lessons learned. MattAquentminister
- MrDinky0
Aquent's equity is the designers on the roll call who works its clients.
1. why not hire someone with in Aquent's list?
2. as information proliferation increases, the clients will go to these contest routes rather than hiring Aquent.i think i am too late now
- sintaxera0
Matt, I really do think you made the right decision on this one. A lot of us obviously do not view these contests in the same light that you do, but I feel safe assuming that Aquent had no ill intent by starting the contest. It was a good move to confront the angry mob head on and not shy away from the criticism, and an even better move to cancel the contest. Thanks for listening to the community and ultimately making the right choice.
I could go on and on, but I think I'll just let it end here....
- dog_opus0
You guys definitely made the right choice. Design is truly dead if we allow it to be robbed of the integrity, character, and respect that so many worked hard to bring to it.