In a very old post about Logo Design Contests, Alec L. recently wrote:
"This is actually a really effective way to get your logo designed. When designers compete they work harder and create better designs."
Design contests are common. Some people love them. It's a way to flex your design muscles and maybe snag a prize or two or at least bragging rights. But when the contest is run by an organization seeking a way around actually paying for logo design I personally think it's not only a cheap (cheap as in miserly) way for a business to get a logo, it's also not very effective. Part of arriving at the right logo/identity is the interaction between the client and designer during the design process.
What do you think about Alec's assertion that running a contest is a good way for a business to get a logo? Would you or have you ever entered a design contest? What kind?
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Competitions for Logos
A logo is to be eye-catching in a blink – like ‘Nike’ – it must be simple, clean, and clear. It then can become quickly recognized and identified. A competition that attracts ‘artists’ and is judged by people who have an idea of the purpose of a logo can work. However the majority of these competitions have school classes entering, or a power group entering, and the judges turn out to be more politically motivated — so everything but the kitchen sink ends up in a ’soup-pot loco’ – may as well saved the energy and just continue writing the name instead. School teachers leading classes in these competitions seem to think everyone must be pleased and the judges opt for the little students enteries.
“Fun” competitions sponsored by graphic artist communities where participants have an opportunity to flex and stretch their skills and creativity for the benefit of their art …. sure, why not if I have the time?
Logo competitions and the likes, sponsored by prospective clients, are requests for spec work … no thanks.
As for Alex’s comment, “When designers compete they work harder and create better designs”, I work hard for my clients and they in turn demonstrate that they value my product, my effort, and relationship building through appropriate compensation.
Samantha
logo design competition for designers sharpens and creates excitement especially when well pronounced designers receive a shock of their lives from young designer.when you are siiting behind the computer designing you wll be fooling yourself that i have made the best but wait until we hang all the work thats when you get back to your machine inspired, remember a true artsist is the one who ispires and not the one who is inspired so get inspired but dont remain there work to inspire
I have to agree with the previous commenters – I spend a LOT of time working with my clients to develop a brand that they are pleased with BUT that also fits into their overall concept for their business. I think that design contests result in FANTABULOUS logos that are not functional for use by a regular business – not able to be placed on numerous mediums, not usable as a simple graphic representation and not integrated into the company’s overall brand.
I too have found that most logo competitions are not worth entering. The cheapo/miserly concept is first in line. A lot of people are looking for something for nothing. Second, prizes. LOL a certificate stating (in a childish art form) you are a winner. I do not create to get a name. I already have a name.
All the schooling I have seems almost worthless, as the pay is has been getting smaller and smaller, with more hours and even less benefits.
A logo is the essence of the company’s mission and requires interaction between the designer and the the company, with out interaction the co. will more than likely be changing, adding or redesigning their logo in the near future. (and you probably won’t be called on for the task).
Contests are only good if the co. wants a logo with very basic representation, and are too cheep (fixed price for the job, hence the prize money) and too lazy (yea OK they look at a bunch of pictures until one of them stikes them) to be bothered with the process of good design.
In the end your chances of having a long term business relation with the co. is slim…. You see when the contest is over and a winner declaired the prize money is awarded, the logo is released to the co. and they go on their merry way…without you.
I’ve personally witnessed two intradepartmental design contests and in both cases, I have seen this approach permanently poison an entire staff’s moral.
Simply put: just don’t do it.
Logo contest = cheap client = cheap end product.
A logo is the main part of a corporate/business identity and thus requires more work than just pure design. My workflow starts with researching the company/client himself, investigating his competitors and his market share. After that I have a bunch of questions to ask my client and only then I get my sketchpad and pencil.
If someone wants to hire me and wants to see what I’m capable of, they can go to my website and check my portfolio. After so many years in this business I can afford that. Newbies might find the need to succumb to the “…do something for us and if we like it we’ll hire you…” proposal, but if they resist and hold ground the will get much more prestigious and better payed jobs (something they can put on their portfolio and not hide from it).
If you have the time to enter fun logo contests, my personal opinion is that your time is better spent doing some pro-bonus work for any non-profit organization (thousands of them around doing some marvelous work for the needy and that could use your help).
This is the same issue raised by freelance sites for writers (and designers), where service providers are pitted against each other to provide the lowest bid. There’s little information about the client’s business and typically very little money paid for the service provided. If creatives are treated like commodities, clients will get commoditized work. It may look pretty on the surface but ultimately won’t accomplish the business needs.
If you are marketing based on cheap prices, there will always be someone who can underbid you. If you market based on unique perspectives and quality work, you’ll stand out.
No contest for logos is worth the time and effort I put into my work. Agreed it is a cheap shot at the arts.
Contests are not for people looking to save money, they are for people looking to get the best design they can. If you wanted to save money you would ask for quotes and choose the lowest (or use less petrol).
Conests suit large budgets better than small budgets. If the London Olympic Committee spent their £400,000 on a design contest, instead of using it on the Wolff Olins agency to get the logo they did, they’d have a briliant logo.
There’s nothing wrong with student designers – Nike’s logo was designed by a student.
I think saying design contests deliver poor designs is like saying a 100m race delivers a slower runner and if you talk to people that have used design contests you’ll see that they’re happy because it delivers a good product.
It’s only a matter of time before big brands turn to logo design contest sites like DesignBay.
(EDIT: Caught by the spam filter because of the number of links in the post – including an obvious plug for their own site). This is posted by the person who made the original comment that prompted the logo contest blog post so I’m approving it for posting)
A logo contest is a way that someone or company can get great design work for free. i know the winner of the suntimes news group logo contest. He was my co-worker and friend.
I worked for the sun times a few years back. They did a logo contest for their new name (sun times news group). We all got wrapped up in it. but in the end The Sun Times got a very beauitful expensive logo for no-thing. They gave him a ipod for it, thats all! Who does not have that already! No raise in hourly pay? No bonus? I was not surprized, but that SUCKED. If you want to see the logo i am refering to go to the newspaper site its at the top left corner.smaller than F***(STNG)
design 101 rule – DONT GIVE YOUR TALENT AWAY! It is a cheap shot at the arts!!!!
Competitions doesnt create the best for graphic designs (in most cases). 1. Not enough time 2. No appropriate briefing from Client. 3. Not prioritized by the designers. 4. Judging is based on criteria rather than the real impact. 5. Bad compensation. (unless the competition will Award a project for the winner) — last, I have been dissappointed to some competitions who were won by people close to the sponsor of the contest and the artwork isnt as proffesional as I expect it to be. WHere there were more criticisms than praises.
I love how non-creatives think that everything an artist or photographer or designer or musician does is for the pure “fun” of it. Hey, I need my house painted, maybe I can hold a contest and have each person paint a side. The person who does the best job wins a prize! Hooray!
What do you do Alec? For the sake of argument, I’ll guess you’re an accountant. I’m holding a contest to do my taxes. The successful entrant who saves me the most money wins and gets a reward which consists of a $20 coupon to Starbucks and a framable certificate!
I know most of you are complaining about logo contests, but they do have their place. For example, non-profit organizations can get a logo design for free, where as if they go and ask designers, most of them won’t give there talents away for free. Wikipedia’s Wiktionary has a Logo Contest going on right now. It’s a good way to get a logo for a free site. If you’re feeling charitable, maybe you can donate some time.
Another advantage of these contests are that inexperienced logo designers can get a chance to view good logos and bad logos. There are some of each at http://www.elogocontest.com, for example. They can also try their hand at making logos, make the mistakes an amature does, and learn from it. The company spends a little less on their logo and every contestant benefits from it.
This is a fact – if you don’t want to participate, you don’t have to. But why put them down just because you had a bad experience?