Slashdot Mirror

Sorry, but not from me. The powers that run Slashdot probably have good intentions, but more often that not, these design contest are really just cheap ways to get work for nothing (or relatively little). Considering graphic artists are already chronically underappreciated and underpaid by clients, this really isn't fair.

But hey, don't let me discourage any of you aspiring artists out there ...;)

Btw: yes, this is a real concern: http://www.no-spec.com/ http://www.aiga.org/position-spec-work/

CAPTCHA: usable

http://no-spec.com/ [no-spec.com]

This is no different. M$'s "prize" is less than it would cost to PAY people to conduct the equivalent research. This kind of "contest" which is really "exploitation" should be considered an(other) unfair labour practice.

Acting as a middleman between business owners and graphic designers, the 99designs site hosts contests in which clients post their needs--website design, logos, print packages--and designers compete to fill them. Instead of bidding for the job, designers submit finished work tailored to the client specifications in the contest listing.

Anyone who is stupid enough to spend their valuable time crafting something like this for someone they've never met, without guarantee of payment, deserves to both waste their time and not be paid. Unfortunately, spec work hurts everyone involved. The client usually ends up getting something that really just isn't right, the designer usually doesn't get a job or any follow-up work, and by doing spec work, the value of that industry's services is diminished because new clients think they can just throw their criteria out there and get free results.

http://www.no-spec.com/ is a great resource that addresses the topic in detail from many different angles.

Just say NO to spec work!

The what?

http://www.no-spec.com/

This tells all.

http://no-spec.com/

The visit of this site is compulsory: http://www.no-spec.com/

This is as bad as all the design contests.

If anyone wants a lot of good reasons not to enter Sun's contest, I suggest reading the design site NO!SPEC. Just replace "Programming" for "Designing", "Designer" for "Programmer" etc. -- and realize the research, planning, time commitment, and post-project support for this "contest" is even worse than that for a logo or website design.

What a *#)#*#)@!{#*$)$(#)#&*#&^$&$)$) waste of time.

Looks like programmers can use to team up with the designers on this one. Start writing no-spec work rants and add them to the list at NO!SPEC.

They should find a person or team capable of this project, and get it done right, for the right money. What is the programmer going to live on during those hundreds of hours programming? Peanuts?

I think you will find the information in the link below pretty valuable. The fact that you are offering this contest is disgusting, and in the long-run contests like this do harm to the design industry as a whole. Congratulations, news about this contest is going to spread like wildfire, and many designers will look at Slashdot with negative implications:

http://www.no-spec.com/

Gee, next time I can't afford to get something done, I'll just label it a contest and have designers do it for free in hopes that they'll get a prize.

Please have a look at:

http://www.no-spec.com/

Design Contests Are Dangerous For Your Business
http://www.no-spec.com/?page_id=38

Please have a look at:

http://www.no-spec.com/

Design Contests Are Dangerous For Your Business
http://www.no-spec.com/?page_id=38

Please have a look at:

http://www.no-spec.com/

Design Contests Are Dangerous For Your Business
http://www.no-spec.com/?page_id=38

Please have a look at:

http://www.no-spec.com/

Design Contests Are Dangerous For Your Business
http://www.no-spec.com/?page_id=38

As a professional designer, I feel the need to share, from a certain perspective, that "spec" design work hurts both the designer and the client.

See what the folks at No-Spec.com have to say about specs, and design contests in particular: http://www.no-spec.com/?page_id=38

I would advocate that, instead, Taco hire an agency or designer that he likes to do the work.

As a professional designer, I feel the need to share, from a certain perspective, that "spec" design work hurts both the designer and the client.

See what the folks at No-Spec.com have to say about specs, and design contests in particular: http://www.no-spec.com/?page_id=38

I would advocate that, instead, Taco hire an agency or designer that he likes to do the work.