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I think the design "contests" are frowned upon by many in the design community, arguing that it's nothing more than "spec" work (and specifically sites like the

I think the design "contests" are frowned upon by many in the design community, arguing that it's nothing more than "spec" work (and specifically sites like the already mentioned 99designs and crowdspring). Some info on this can be found here: http://www.no-spec.com/ http://www.no-spec.com/ (edited to add this link, specifically about design contests: http://www.no-spec.com/articles/design-contests/ http://www.no-spec.com/articles/design-contests/) Personally, I would ask some colleagues (or folks here) for some recommendations on design firms.

wdewind 16y ago
As a designer I think we need to learn to cope better with stuff like 99 designs. Good designers don't really have a ton of trouble getting work in metro areas right now, and to disregard how much better something like 99 designs can be (CAN be) for many clients is ignorant. Let's not be the RIAA in the face of distributed change.
- ismarc 16y ago
  I think the problem is not with designers (or developers, or producers, sound engineers, etc.) it's that the companies that run the "contests" don't have a real budget, don't understand the work that goes into creating the work and want the "best bang for the buck" by just saying "give me something". Also, because design work is such a creative/customer specific product, most design "contests" are work that can't reasonably be used elsewhere, if the contest even allows you to retain full rights to the work. This is an effective devaluing of the work that's produced by people who are clueless about the real work/time involved. Compare the Netflix contest to any contest on 99designs.
  - wdewind 16y ago
    >the companies that run the "contests" don't have a real budget, don't understand the work that goes into creating the work and want the "best bang for the buck" by just saying "give me something" I hate this market, and as a designer I choose not to work with it. But it's there, and it should be served. Designers need to stop acting like 99designs takes food out of their mouths. It's just a different market. If you are really being hurt by 99 designs then you aren't a good designer.
    - lox 16y ago
      Absolutely, I look at it as creating a new segment of the market, much like crowdsourcing did for stock photography. 99designs main customers are small businesses that wouldn't otherwise have been able to justify what they view as a risky spend on design.
faramarz 16y ago
It's frowned upon by those who feel threatened (mostly because the institutions tell them to). but, really, the top-tier designers have no trouble finding work. In fact their body of work brings the client to them, rather than chasing work with spec offerings. That said, it's a grey area. I hate it sometimes.. but every now and then I find myself on those sites and it blows my mind to see $2k awarded for mediocre work. That motivates me to spend a few hours and compete for a project or two. It's certainty not sustainable to do it for a long period.
deleted 16y ago
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wdewind 16y ago

As a designer I think we need to learn to cope better with stuff like 99 designs. Good designers don't really have a ton of trouble getting work in metro areas right now, and to disregard how much better something like 99 designs can be (CAN be) for many clients is ignorant. Let's not be the RIAA in the face of distributed change.

ismarc 16y ago
I think the problem is not with designers (or developers, or producers, sound engineers, etc.) it's that the companies that run the "contests" don't have a real budget, don't understand the work that goes into creating the work and want the "best bang for the buck" by just saying "give me something". Also, because design work is such a creative/customer specific product, most design "contests" are work that can't reasonably be used elsewhere, if the contest even allows you to retain full rights to the work. This is an effective devaluing of the work that's produced by people who are clueless about the real work/time involved. Compare the Netflix contest to any contest on 99designs.
- wdewind 16y ago
  >the companies that run the "contests" don't have a real budget, don't understand the work that goes into creating the work and want the "best bang for the buck" by just saying "give me something" I hate this market, and as a designer I choose not to work with it. But it's there, and it should be served. Designers need to stop acting like 99designs takes food out of their mouths. It's just a different market. If you are really being hurt by 99 designs then you aren't a good designer.
  - lox 16y ago
    Absolutely, I look at it as creating a new segment of the market, much like crowdsourcing did for stock photography. 99designs main customers are small businesses that wouldn't otherwise have been able to justify what they view as a risky spend on design.

faramarz 16y ago

It's frowned upon by those who feel threatened (mostly because the institutions tell them to). but, really, the top-tier designers have no trouble finding work. In fact their body of work brings the client to them, rather than chasing work with spec offerings. That said, it's a grey area. I hate it sometimes.. but every now and then I find myself on those sites and it blows my mind to see $2k awarded for mediocre work. That motivates me to spend a few hours and compete for a project or two. It's certainty not sustainable to do it for a long period.

deleted 16y ago

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