**Bogus banner/logo design 'contests'**
 

Re: Deception, fraud and improprieties surrounding several banner/logo design 'contests' lately on GFY.

Say it isn't so.

Sad, but true.

Just a heads-up - but lately there have been several of us designers and graphic artists chatting privately about fraud design contests where prizes are either promised and not awarded, or handed to dubious winners under questionable circumstances.

It should go without saying that bogus design contests are unprofessional and tantamount to theft - plain and simple.

I will not finger-point nor will I name names here, however. You know who you are...and so do some of us who spend considerable time and effort submitting graphic entries.

This is not a sour grapes or crybaby thread about specific incidents or individuals - so if that's the best constructive input you can think of replying with...spare us your shallow opinions.

Instead, this is a call to all GFY mods and admins to help us monitor and eliminate the practice of fraudulent design contests on GFY. Not only do they waste the time and effort of designers...but it discourages potential designers from participating. The practice also contributes to a negative experience and bad reflection on the forum as a whole.

That said - my best advice to fellow designers is to be wary of the identity of those who start contests. Save yourself potential frustration and futility - try a keyword search and do a little digging on the forum before devoting time to working on a contest entry. Ask other designers if you have doubts about the integrity or honesty of the contest starter. I'm sure there's a few of us who keep mental notes on a few of the 'bad apples' and would be more than happy to pass along whatever knowledge we have.

Ok!

Egomancer

I completely agree. I don't think that most people understand just how much time, energy, etc. goes into creating a design. According to the GFY Rules: "only top advertisers can run contests"; I'm guessing that if they are going to look the other way on this rule, they should at least keep a close eye on the ones that are started by non-advertisers. :2 cents:

Time and energy? Come on. I have a sprockets button on my computer, just like George Jetson. When someone ask me to do anything I push the Sprockets button and it magically happens. Don't you designer types have one of those buttons?

Mine's broken and I'm still waiting for the repairman to come by and push the Fix Sprockets button :Oh crap

Mine keeps poppin' up a "Try your luck again" error message. :(

GFY should do what Sitepoint did and start charging for "Design Contests"

That will filter out 95% of scammers.

You all must be Rich , if you have a Sprockets button :Oh crap

I disagree on this. Everyone should know by now the contests on GFY are risky. Your chances of winning are slim to none.

So either don't submit to them or do and accept the low odds and use it positively to showcase your design talents. I've seen a lot of designers get new clients not by winning contests, but just by participiting with great submissions.

Its also a good way to keep your skills sharp and to pickup design tricks from other designers.

Only do contests run by reputable people

I agree 100%!!

I think all designers understand that you are taking a chance when entering a contest, that chance is you may not win and you have spent time and effort coming up with a design. But a contest should end with a winner! You take that chance knowing someone will win.

The Mods need to BAN these people who do not pay their prizes! It is theft, no matter how you look at it and it is being done on their board! they will ban someone for spamming or threatening someone, why not for theft??

:2 cents: :2 cents:

A few good points KRL. And I agree chances of winning are sometimes slim.

But when its a bogus contest from the start, those chances become none...and that's what should be addressed.

Sure, its good practice to keep our design skills tuned, and sometimes leads to client contacts - but at the same time scammers are getting valuable designs for free (or next-to-nothing).

And if something isn't done or said - that only encourages them to continue trying to get away with it.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

True, but their should still be someting done about the people who do not pay their prize, the mods should ban them.

:thumbsup

rules state that only paid advertisers can do contests, isn't that right?

If they take a design, for sure. Not arguing about that.

But if there is a contest where it states clearly only a winner if a design is picked then no, I don't think they should be banned.

That's what it says - but I don't think its enforced.

contest

n 1: an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants [syn: competition]

So by the definition of "contest" - there must be a winner. If not, then its not a contest...and shouldn't be promoted or advertised as such.

Some people post the same contest on multiple boards though.

True that.

But it doesn't circumvent the definition of contest.

I've yet to see a contest starter post a message at the end of a contest to the effect, "We selected Joe Schmo's design over on ThatOtherSite.com and awarded him the prize."