Comments for NO!SPEC

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Grace27su

Grace27su — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:53:29 +0000

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Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Mj

Mj — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:51:47 +0000

You know, between the amateurs doing work for free or next to nothing and sites like iStock offering pre-fab design, I’m amazed any of us can make a living any more. Businesses are becoming conditioned to devalue what we do.

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Mj

Mj — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:51:25 +0000

You know, between the amateurs doing work for free or next to nothing and sites like iStock overing pre-fab design, I’m amazed any of us can make a living any more. Businesses are becoming conditioned to devalue what we do.

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Michael Henry

Michael Henry — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:07:20 +0000

Lets get something straight, the idea that a talented and skilled person would design before being “actively” commissioned by the buyer is a personal problem. I would NEVER do it ( I have provided spec work in the past, its a loss-loss sum game). These speculative design mill sites like 99 Design and Crowdspring have their detractors and I am one of them. But not for the same reason as most.

My problem with these type of services is not the downward pricing pressure and denigrating quality of work, I believe some form of this is actual good for the industry. Students need paying projects and there are times when new work procurement is harder than just designing for fun. So I can’t question the motivates of a willing adult and how they choose to spend their time. Good designers will get better and define their niche and expertise further. Poor designers will be caught in this hand to mouth cycle.

The main issue with these services are the lack of support for the environment. For example, if $99 renders 40, 50, maybe 60 different designs then 100’s maybe 1000’s of computer hours have just been wasted. The carbon footprint for design time has just become an issue.

So for every duplicitous chance at winning a logo design contest – what’s the real cost? Is it one less minute, hour, day, week, month, or year on this planet earth. If these services would also calculate the carbon footprint of a project and sell tokens to the art buyers, then I am a fan of the design industries innovation. Maybe not.

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by David

David — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:26:30 +0000

Because there’s always an idiot that’s willing to work for pennies and undercut the whole community! Loyalty, trust and quality have fallen by the wayside these days!

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Kit·blog

Kit·blog — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:38:22 +0000

Spec work, free pitch, design contest…

I noticed these days a significant effort in the promotion of a Romanian-based international design contest for a package design project in which the client asks for spec work. As a rent-paying,……

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Kit·blog

Kit·blog — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:48:31 +0000

On design contests…

And why the term “design whore” is too elegant Following the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games identity scandal, Canadians banned spec work. And they banned it good: As a result of the situation……

Comment on iStock + Logos = ? by Nathan Sarlow

Nathan Sarlow — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:38:50 +0000

I can’t agree more, this is a low act from iStock to get a piece of the ‘Spec Pie’. Although I agree with the sentiment of Mr Donut, there will always be amateur designers who are willing to submit work for a few bucks, so I can’t see it (or any crowdsourcing) going away, HOWEVER if the overall quality of crowdsourcing stays low I see little problem with it, because it’s hitting a different market to pro logo design.

Unfortunately it will surely take away the bottom-rung clients who would have previously paid a say a hundred bucks to an amateur (or hobbyist) designer.

I don’t see iStock affecting the middle or top end of the market, but i’d say around 40% of designers get significant amounts of work from the bottom end of the market.

Comment on Logo Design Love: SpecWatch on Design Contests by Joni Mueller

Joni Mueller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:22:25 +0000

@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.

Comment on Interviewing Debbie Millman: President of the National AIGA by Church Marketing Sucks

Church Marketing Sucks — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:32:15 +0000

An Open Letter to Rick Warren about Spec Work…

Dear Rick Warren, We saw your recent contest to design the cover of your next book for the chance to win $5,000. It sounds like a pretty sweet deal. A designer could win some major acclaim, an awesome piece in their portfolio and a nice wad of cash. Un…