Hey designers are those "contests" really worth your time?
 

I just don't think it's fair to ask a whole bunch of talented designers to make some nice stuff that takes them a while to do, and maybe choose one winner.

It seems a little bit like they are being taken advantage of. I mean sometimes they get tons and tons of nice logos submitted that take the designer a while to do, and what's stopping some of these companies from simply "right click save as" and using the other logos later ?

I think it would be more fair to have people post a URL to their samples and then make a decision. Don't ask them to do free work imho :2 cents:

It works ok, then you get to see who does the best and thats who you pay sounds fair to me

Nope, they're not.

The contests do not force anyone to enter. People choose to. :2 cents:

I go through the contest entries and look which designers are worth hiring in the future by bookmarking their portfolios.

Its no big deal for me...

Joining contest and designing logos is hobby thing for me...


It takes my stress out.. :) :) :)



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No, hence the reason I don't really enter them. I'd rather spend the time on paying customers, there's always more than enough of those :)

it's their choice to have a go or not.

Who Cares.

almost every time i enter the contest, no matter i win or not, i get at least one new customer. Especially if it's something toons related

that's one of the reasons to enter

It's worth it when you at least win some contests too. I don't enter contests as long galleryseek does. He simply does a better job :)

Well that's good news. I didn't realize that, but it's a good point. I guess it does make it worth it. I really think most of the work I see on those contests is excellent. :thumbsup

commercial advertisers often spend months developing ad campaigns for potential customers just to try and get an account. they spend thousands of dollars out of their own pocket to develop designs and logos that the customer may or may not purchase.

ofcourse if they get the contract it is well worth it.

designers that are worth a damn ought to realize that some of their time will be lost, contests are a good way to get your product out there.

there are several designers that already have a reputation for outstanding work and probably wont waste their time on a contest (they may participate but they arent doing the work because they need the prize money to feed their kids)

If you are worried about this or do not know the contest starter well enough, then simply put a watermark or copyright on your entry.

I have won some and lost some, i feel it is worth it.

:2 cents:

I am not a designer but know a few.. and the overall opinion is that a solid repuation and referrals work more than any contest. So who cares if someone can make one solid logo - its consistency over a period of time that makes them the best.

contests are made by those who have no imagination and want someone else to make up their mind. then bitch at them because the design cant read minds.

The contests bring them more work.

Its worry free advertising/spamming

they post their work, others like it, click their sig and place an order. at the very least its another design to add to their portfolio, all the while competing for prize money. i'd say its worth it.

Contests are not worth wasting time in case a designer has a good portfolio. It's a good way for beginners to show their skills taking part in contests.

It can be utilized as a means for some good free advertising however for the established designers word of mouth is way more important than some pocket change contest. :2 cents:

Monitarily...no, not at all....they might as well be free with only select clientel being able to start a contest...


However; if you do a great job on a contest it might lead to 5-10 jobs for your company so it actually is. But just not in the "traditional" sense

I've picked up quite a few designers arround here according to what they do in contests... and I gotta say, with quite a few of them, they were doing their job a lot better in thoses contest threads then they do with paying clients.

I've got a couple good ones thought

Contests usually pay more than normally. So its a contest.. you might make more than usually or make nothing at all.

And of course, it gets your name out there, everyone sees your designs and knows what you are capable of.

I do the odd one but mostly no I do them for fun and If I have the time I like the irony.
When someone ask for a marketing contest instead of design Ill enter.

I join contests once in a while to keep me in the scenario.. Some of my clients saw my work thru these contests.. So, winning a contest or not is a good thing.. That's just my :2 cents: :)