I thought i would add my 2cents to this showdown you guys are having.
From other contests that i've see, (and i think a few people already pointed this out), the contestants are usually given one niche, and all the same content...choosen by the officials.
The officials should choose the niche, and the content. On a certain day, everyone in the contest can download the zip file to the contains the content...say, 20 different sets in the zip file.
No contestant knows the niche, or whats inside the zip file until that day.... this avoids pre planning.
Once they get the content, and the niche, then they design.
This makes the content totally even as eveyone uses the same content and niche.
A contest like thisis meant to show the creativity of each person, and how they use the content that were given. Thus, this IS what this contest is about from what iv'e read. I personally would love to see how 15 different designers choose to design with all the same content.
When your able to be given content from providers, and choose your own niche, it really makes no sense in my opinion. You guys have talked about having the voting without showing results because it's "sways" peoples judgement.
Well, what about different niche's? It does the same thing. If a contestant did a teen niche, and another one choose a mature niche, people are most likey going to "sway" towards there favorite niches...thus making the voting uneven.
A true contest is this:
On a certain day choosen by the officials, you go to webpage that is given out to each contestant. This is where the contestants find out the niche they will be designing, and download a zip file which contains the content that the officials choosen...(for that niche obviously).
A week later, the designs are do and people vote. If there's any ties, the official make the final vote, or hold a second contest for the people who tied.
Anyway, just
