Jun
23
Design Contests Are Stupid
Filed Under DIY (Do It Yourself), Business, Websites
I just won a design contest a few weeks ago. Here's the usual pitch for these contests. Somebody a new logo/site/banner created for their fledgling business, and offers a prize between $50 to a few grand? Some offer nothing but the "glory" of designing the winning entry. The theory is; if enough entries are submitted, one should be a winner. The winning entry has to guess correctly what you want. Instead of paying someone to create a quality product, you just hope someone can read your mind. I just entered another contest, but 10 minutes into this, I realized this is a total waste of time.
I'm not going through endless variations, to guess what someone wants. Because there is no point in spending 20hrs working for free, just to loose the contest because I couldn't guess correctly. It should be gauged by a far more complicated litmus test including usability, application and market reach. It is the execution of an idea, a concept.
Realizing this, I spent another 10 minutes on my contest entry, and sent it in as is. If I win and they want to modify it, I'll be happy too. But, If I had a dime for every time I heard: "Make an example for me, and if I like it, I'll pay for it", I'd be rich. My answer is "No". I've got a resume, with tons of print, web, and illustrations. If you hire someone to paint your house, you don't ask them to paint part of your house first, before you hire them.
It's impractical to work for free. All this fancy software and computers to do this wonderful stuff costs many thousands of dollars. Conversely, I never ask clients for "free stuff" because that isn't professional. In other professional fields, its accepted practice to select a service based on your needs and budget. Quality design is the iteration of input from the client and designer. You are buying a designer who's capable of executing the back-and-forth changes with proficiency.
At the risk of sounding snotty, the "chance" of winning $50 only buys so much time and effort. Sorry, but it's a dollars and cents equation. Design contests are not a professional way to develop your business. Order design projects by contacting Jeff Knooren at http://www.compugasm.com, or call 1-760-975-1422.
Jeff Knooren has been a professional software and website developer for over 8 years. Working in leadership roles for political candidates, b-list musicians, and fortune 1000 companies.
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3 Responses to “Design Contests Are Stupid”
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Saw the “Family Bones” #5 with your art on the back cover. Very cool!
Thanks, I wrote out a script to finish the story, but I will never get around to drawing the rest of it.
For the record I wasn’t bad-mouthing your contest in this post, incase you get that impression. It was another contest for a T-Shirt. They were just fishing free logos.
BTW, is there a way you could take/get a picture of the issue?
“If you hire someone to paint your house, you don’t ask them to paint part of your house first, before you hire them.”
LOL
Very good points in this post.
I’m also an aspiring graphic designer/web designer. Recently, I saw a string of hilarious angry responses to this craig’s list post in which the employer wanted to pay 10/hr for an experienced graphic designer.