Logo Design Love: SpecWatch on Design Contests
Do you twitter?
If you don’t have a twitter account, then you are missing out on the latest spec happening in the design industry.
Logo Design Love: It’s interesting to see the recent appearance of Spec Watch, a venture that educates about the very real risks of design contest websites and “their so-called communities”.
Spec Watch has been cataloging unpaid and refunded projects, and those terminated due to copyright violation.
Right now Spec Watch is mainly targeting the design contests at Crowdspring and 99designs, but who knows how their campaign will evolve.
To see what all the fuss is about, follow Spec Watch (SpecWatch) on Twitter.
(Thanks David!)
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David Airey said,
June 25, 2009 @ 12:20 am
It’s pretty shocking what’s being uncovered. I thought things were bad, but it’s taking Spec Watch to determine just how bad.
Here’s hoping this makes designers steer well clear of wasting their time on spec websites.
no-spec said,
June 25, 2009 @ 12:27 am
Yes, and the new Spec Watch report just out – the raw numbers of 99Designs – http://tr.im/pGD7 – is shocking too.
I hope designers will listen…
eva said,
July 5, 2009 @ 2:18 am
please they should follow as well wilogo.com, multichannel server according to countries logs, and Logotournament.com. the last one is even more damaging the profession.
recently the NorthCarolina state organisation launch a competition on this website, regaridng a new event Creativity Inc. thank to their communication manager assistant melinda reta.
hope she is doing it through the order of her manager.
anyhow this is about the North Carolina State university that we are talking about, one of the major representative of education intitution of USA.
The cherry on the cake is the event is about creativity
isn’t it a paradox.
eva said,
July 5, 2009 @ 2:19 am
please they should follow as well wilogo.com, multichannel server according to countries logs, and Logotournament.com. the last one is even more damaging the profession.
recently the North Carolina State organisation launch a competition on this website, regarding a new event Creativity Inc. thank to their communication manager assistant melinda reta.
hope she is doing it through the order of her manager.
anyhow this is about the North Carolina State university that we are talking about, one of the major representative of education institution of USA.
see how the state is spending NC taxes
The cherry on the cake is the event is about creativity
isn’t it a paradox.
Spec Watch Logo Design said,
July 6, 2009 @ 1:34 am
The idea as well as design at the back of Spec Watch is completely brilliant.
Twitter it
shane said,
August 17, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
Wow, you guys are bunch of whiners… If I want to hold a contest… and some designers want to enter…. thats called freedom… and I understand and have read your reasons/whining, but it doesn’t make any sense.
What’s really happening here is that there are alot of really good designers and the number is growing, and in many ways due to the fact that the tools and education are so available now…. and what happens is, that you designers are a little less special now and it hurts your feelings or something.
If you’re smart, you’ll quit bitching and find new ways to offer value in what you do.
Oh, and I’m guessing the post will never make it on the site… You’re position is so weak on this that I’m sure your scared to have a debate about it and allow others the opportunity to voice any oposition to your views.
Good luck to you! I truly hope you find a way to move on and find a way to adapt to the new world where designers are a little less special….. it can be tough, I know.
David Airey said,
August 19, 2009 @ 12:22 am
Shane, if you knew what you were talking about you’d realise there’s already reams of debate on this topic on a host of other websites. I personally welcome the chat with Ross of CS and Jason of 99designs, but when they copy and paste from the same old script it becomes tiresome.
To read insightful debate (without the name-calling) visit Web Designer Depot:
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/07/interview-with-specwatch-the-naked-truth-about-design-contests/
Joni Mueller said,
September 21, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
@Shane: Designers are a little less special now because every kid thinks he can be one because he can fire up the latest (bootleg or otherwise) copy of Photoshop. There’s more to design than cranking out code or rudimentary graphics. There are a lot of factors that go into making not just good design, but great design. Design that is functional, usable and accessible. You aren’t likely to get that for the prices (prizes) these design “contests” offer and no amount of wishing will make it so. And entering these design contests does not a designer make. Even if I were just starting out, I’d prefer to spend my downtime marketing myself and honing my craft, not chasing my tail in a go-nowhere design contest where there are no winners.
And yes, it’s a free country, and no one can tell you what to do, so if you want to stick your hand over an open flame, well that’s certainly your prerogative. Far be it from me to discourage you. But if you want respect from the design community, you’ll savvy up and realize that design contents are for hobbyists, not professionals.