And when the “so called” prize for these logo contests frequently runs between $200 to $500 for the most, the client is not served well in getting a logo that best serves their present and future needs. In other words, they get what they paid for, and that is frequently not much.

If I was spending all that money on the image of my company, I’d want a designer to spend more then just a few hours working on my business brand. To get a custom logo that makes you unique in the field of all your competitors, I want to pay my designer enough money to spend the time to research those competitors; to raise my company to the top of the consumer list.

If the designers are spending that time to do the research, then they are not getting paid … pennies on the hours.

To the contest holders: You get what you pay for.

To the designers: don’t sell you business skills and education short.

To both: Give design the respect it deserves! Many times it can make or brake a new business.

[...] David Airey Logo design contests are bad for business The reality of logo design contests [...]

[...] http://www.logodesignlove.com/logo-design-contests [...]

[...] & identity. There is no need for me to go over the issue when it has been discussed thoroughly here, and here and here and a thousand other sites online. If you dont believe me – just google it! So [...]

[...] The reality of logo design contests, on Logo Design Love [...]

[...] in the guide, but it’s worth doing your own research first, too. I say this mainly because design contests are quite a contentious issue. Permalink|Comments RSS Feed – Post a comment|Trackback [...]

What kind of situation is similar to spec, but not? Curious to know, so by all means, reply here or send an email. Cheers.

Trish,

Thanks again for your very valid pointers.

It’s not a good practice, it depreciates what you do, some call that elitist but it’s not, there are so many comparables to other industries where spec work would never ever happen… like in a restaurant for instance.

Steve said that they so often end up picking crap designs, I have first hand experience with this, where I felt undercut and a bit hard-done by, but it was a momentary reaction. It wasn’t spec work as such, it was different, but it was a similar situation. The work they picked was not the best they were offered. You seem pretty active on anti-spec work David, which I commend you for, If you’re interested David I can fill you on my story more via email.

[...] community stand to lose. I don’t need to re-hash the arguments. They’ve been made here and here and here. Indeed, professional design associations universally decry the practice of spec work as [...]