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3rdspace
03-02-2005, 09:26 PM
So, I thought I would open the floor for a design contest only to be vito-ed by Morea. Fair enough, and in the interest of going by the rules of the board (which I hadn't seen) I duely removed the post. Didn't want to get anyones nose out of whack. But as this seems to be such a sensitive issue I wanted to give my .02s


I'm a designer in an in-house agency of a fortune 500 company -I agree with the ethics of paying a designer for design work.
BUT
We all need opportunities to do something fresh... this wasis a small project (I'd do it myself if I had time) that was meant to spark interest, not resentment.

I don't think it's necessarily unethical to run contests for this sort of thing... whether it be established designers lookng for a couple of hours to kill, or some new faces wanting a chance to get some work out there. We all need to start somewhere right?

I read all the articlesMorea posted in the original thread, and to be honest I think the design community has lost a sense of community, to get all self-rightious about contests and the like and be totally fixated on financial reimbursment for anyowrk that's done.

As an electronic music producer, I see and enter remix or compilation contests all the time, and so do other people - for the chance to get a track released on a qulity label etc, etc. No bitching about it being unethical, because it isn't. Maybe that because as a musicians we are truley artists, and we want to come together to promote this idea, and not always try to look out for our wallets. Not to mention the trust level involved with producers making their audio samples accesable over the net for all to download.

However nowseemingly designers are now no differnt to plumbers or electricians just providing a service, exempt of all artistic input at all these days. I think the designcommunity should get off it's high horse and embrace the chance to do something different, and not be so worried about being hard done by out of a couple of hundred bucks. If you're too busy getting paid to do design then don't enter andif you have the time to do it then what do you have to lose?? I became a designer because I wanted to get paid for doing something I love. I certainly didn't stop designing at times when work was slow... and I didn't have a problem helping friends out when they needed something layed out. The old idium 'you have to give to receive' is very true IMO.

Anyway, the reason I decided to post the work here as a compitition here rather than just go to rentacoder.com (and get bids in form all over the planet fromexcellent designerswho want the work and will do it for peanuts) is because on a community board like this, there should be a community feelwith agiving and taking, easy going mentallity. I was giving an opportunity that was there for the taking. Alas, this place seems to be more of a representation of corporate america than a community based around passionate artists.
Not intended to start some major mud slinging with this post, these are only my opinions. So what do you guys think?

morea
03-02-2005, 09:32 PM
well, I nicely told you what I think, and also provided some links about why designers don't like to do spec work... there is a difference between ACTUAL contests and SPEC WORK.

I am, however, not a moderator, so I am not the one who deleted your thread. I just warned you that it was against the forum rules so you had the opportunity to remove the post yourself before you found yourself banned.




[I]The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.</A>

uncle carbunkle
03-02-2005, 09:32 PM
i think you should approach allen about posting your contest in the classified section of the site, and anyone who wants to participate can do so.

::Don't call me Foreman, for I am your Boss::

3rdspace
03-02-2005, 09:38 PM
morea said...
well, I nicely told you what I think, and also provided some links about why designers don't like to do spec work... there is a difference between ACTUAL contests and SPEC WORK.

I am, however, not a moderator, so I am not the one who deleted your thread. I just warned you that it was against the forum rules so you had the opportunity to remove the post yourself before you found yourself banned.





Sure, an I apprecited you looking out. I duely took your friendly advice right... so thanks.
But I thought I would post anyway to get feedbacks as this is clearly an issue that people keep close to heart. Sorry for assuming you where a mod...

Neuro
03-02-2005, 09:38 PM
We feel VERY STRONGLY here about the unethical nature of contests. It has been discussed many times and because of the issues that arise from contest, the Admin of this forum made a simple request that they not be posted here. You should show some RESPECT and follow the rules posted by the Admin who owns and runs this site. Many of us on here make a living this way and because of the undercutting that goes on with contest and spec work we feel that we are then not given our fair payments. Many, many, many contests result in NO payment.

As far as the "Get off your high horse" comment.... Watch your step and please do not use PM's as a method of verbal abuse.







'Money, it turned out, was exactly like sex, you thought of nothing else if you didn't have it and thought of other things if you did.' - James Baldwin
(From CreativeLatitude.com's article 'The brewhaha of business budgeting' by Neil Tortorella)


** Personal Blog</font> (http://neuro-i-carmotur.blogspot.com)

** Business Blog</font> (http://catseyecreations.blogspot.com) - updated 2/25/2005</font>

Post Edited (Neuro i Carmotur) : 3/2/2005 5:41:00 PM GMT

morea
03-02-2005, 09:43 PM
allow me to point out the way that the last two contests on here were resolved:

www.graphicdesignforum.com/desktopdefault.aspx?f=8&amp;m=108895&amp;tabid=137 (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/desktopdefault.aspx?f=8&amp;m=108895&amp;tabid=137)

www.graphicdesignforum.com/desktopdefault.aspx?f=8&amp;m=109663&amp;tabid=137 (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/desktopdefault.aspx?f=8&amp;m=109663&amp;tabid=137)


^ that is why I warned you.





and personally, when I want to work for free, I volunteer my services to a non-profit agency whose cause I support... not to a fortune 500 company, who should know better.







The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.</A>

[i]Post Edited (morea) : 3/2/2005 5:48:06 PM GMT

3rdspace
03-02-2005, 09:49 PM
I didn't see the header on my PC screen at work so missed the request, (it's the only one I get internet access with, not on my Mac)
That being said, this was pointed out to me and I duely removed the post as I DO NOT mean to be disrespectlful. The last time I checked 'Getting off your high horse' isn't exactly verbal abuse, is it? Like I said didn't mean to offend so if it was construed as disrespectful, I duely appologize. I was under the impression it was ALWAYS better to send a PM if you have an issue to address with someone personally, rather than simply posting it for all to see.
Man, I must live under a big rock and really have no clue about life, right? looooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!

PrintDriver
03-02-2005, 09:58 PM
Thread is locked. Seems like it will get real ugly real quickly.

3rdSpace, we have a 'No Contests' rule for a reason. This forum is in it's 3rd year and Allen and the mods have come to the concensus that the contests to date have been thinly veiled requests for free work - or worse. We decided to take a stance on the topic rather than let them run.

Contests in the interest of being creative are one thing. Contests for doing your paying work are quite another.

If you have a job to post, put it in the classifieds.

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing