Need some critiq for a design

[Cixxy]

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/49374703/

please see above^

any thing you can point out or think i can add to the piece is very appreciated , thank you!

Here is my submission for Smash the Drum design contest.

I find drums to be a very important piece to delivering bass and rhythm to songs, so I have made the wavy lines to demonstrate that harmony.

The concept behind the whole piece was to create a scene where a band is playing music and the focus is on the drums.

Illustrator~ about 5 hours~

TripleJ Comp details here - http://abc.net.au/triplej/events/smashthedrum

BTW MY FIRST POST HERE, SUP EVERYONE!~

[MyST]

Sounds like spec work, no?

[Cixxy]

Spec work? whats that?

you can see the other entries here

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/events/smashthedrum/gallery.htm

[MyST]

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

If you're serious about graphic design, you need to check this place out?

[Cixxy]

i see. does that mean working for free?

well my teacher told all the people in our class to attempt entering the competition.

triple J's fairly famous in aus too, i'm sure they won't violate any copyright laws.. or such..

[Ned]

They've already violated the integrity of our industry, Cixxy. It's not copyright laws that are violated by spec work, it's the Designers!!

If you have for example, 100 entrants to this "logo contest", and each designer has spent the time and effort (worth from a few hundred dollars just for your time, to up to tens of thousands of dollars for complete compensation for all concept and development from a trained designer), and only 1 designer is compensated for the work, what have the other 99 just done? That's right, they've spent thousands of dollars in creative resources, working for free, for NOTHING!!

If somebody were looking to have a house built, would they hire 20 contractractors to build them a house, then choose the best one, to pay them? No, they would ask for references and see samples of houses the contractor has ALREADY built, then hire and PAY one contractor based on that reputation. That is the same way we work in graphic design. That is what our portfolio is for, so clients can choose a designer based on what they see and like of the designer's past work. All our work has an inherent copyright to the originator, which allows us to display it for portfolio purposes, unless we sign off a specific non-disclosure agreement.

[morea]

check out these links for more information on spec work and why it is frowned on by professionals within the industry. And do read over the information MyST linked above.

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=188523&postcount=7

[Cixxy]

i see ty for the explanations. its very interesting and i admit i learnt something.

okay but on the article it also says We're not looking for a new logo or slogans. Just some fun visual reinterpretations.

do you think maybe they will use the submissions -.-;;

[Drazan]

Another thing about contests and spec work cubmissions - many times after the "winner" gets the prize - the operators still are able to use any or all submission any which way they choose without any compensation. Also in the fine print I've seen "contest entrants grant all and exclusive rights to the submission". That means that contest entrants can't even use the design or elements of the design for other paid work.

If it is a contest where you feel that you'll be compensated just for entry and that you still retain all rights to your work and grant only one time usage rights to display said work for competition, then perhaps yes. This type of contest is where your artwork is displayed among your peers in equal fanfair. Perhaps the contest is juried by those more experienced in the graphic world. One may be chosen as the "winner" but all are still the artists own work to do with as the artist choses.

That is the great divide between spec work and true artistic competition.

Unfortunately there are many professors who think that such contest where as the students work for real clients give the students applicable life experience. I don't beleive in that theory as it is still thinly disguised spec work.

"fun visual reinterpretations" may just be a free plan for exposure, but as stated in the terms - you can't even display the artwork you create any other place or print and distribute as in a portfolio or example of work. Also the Promotor gains complete ownership of all entries.

Think real hard on what you want to put your energies into. Something that you just give away, that you'll have "maybe" a chance to get a ticket to a convention, and that you can't display or show to a potential client ---- or do you want to put your energies into an original portfolio piece that you can show to potential clients gaining a much better foothold in your future.

The other thing about spending your time on contests like this - the more time you spend the more fustrated you'll get with the falseness of no reward for the time and engergies you expend in your work.

And welcome to the forum. This is truly a great resource of design from the real world.

=)
Jade

[tZ]

Your focal point is in the center so I would recommend rethinking that.

In addition, I'm getting the sense of a band playing the drums. It appears to me as drumsticks floating arbituarly in mid air.

Also, when I think of drums- loud comes to mind. However, nohting really reflects that logic in your design.

Lastly, you bang the drums. However, nothing reflects the concept of being hit besides the comical illustrative representation acting as your focal point.

So perhaps instead focus on the key attributes of playing drums and introduce them into the design rather then just showing use a drum.

Just showing a drum is very boring in my opinion and I'm sure thousands of other participents will do the same. If you want a chance of winning stand out- zig when others zag.

[Jriddim]

If you want a chance of winning stand out- zig when others zag.


Exactly. well said as always tz