Ridiculously Priced Contests

[Flybylogo]

I haven't been on in a while, but i remember that the contests here used to have many professional entries. Contest holders are pushing designers to the limit by offering the complete minimum price. Don't forget its also a contest, so if $20 is offered for a logo design contest, and there is only one winner, that is completely ridiculous if you ask me. I understand that i can't tell you what to do, but designers are putting hours of their time on the line for $20 and end up not even winning the contest. So next time you decide to host a contest, please think of the time and effort designers put in and if you offer $20 for the design, don't expect many good entries. I think we need to make a change so that more designers are interested in working here, because it is becoming very amateur, I'm sure you will all agree with me.

Just thought i should say it before the contests become $5 per logo.

[NemesisQaine]

I haven't been here long but I must agree with you. I am still an amateur designer but i am progressing quickly. But I put A LOT of my time in and the most feedback i get is....."not what we're looking for" or "nice design". that's it. I personally think that more feedback would be great and also, more money for these contests. I agree that we do work hard for this and we should get paid more. "real" professional in an office somewhere get paid hundreds of dollars an HOUR to do the work we do.

[Flybylogo]

I haven't been here long but I must agree with you. I am still an amateur designer but i am progressing quickly. But I put A LOT of my time in and the most feedback i get is....."not what we're looking for" or "nice design". that's it. I personally think that more feedback would be great and also, more money for these contests. I agree that we do work hard for this and we should get paid more. "real" professional in an office somewhere get paid hundreds of dollars an HOUR to do the work we do.

Feedback is also a problem, I agree. I think many contest holders don't know what they want, so its up to us, but not for that price...

[CHSajid]

I haven't been here long but I must agree with you. I am still an amateur designer but i am progressing quickly. But I put A LOT of my time in and the most feedback i get is....."not what we're looking for" or "nice design". that's it. I personally think that more feedback would be great and also, more money for these contests. I agree that we do work hard for this and we should get paid more. "real" professional in an office somewhere get paid hundreds of dollars an HOUR to do the work we do.

Iv been designing for over 2 years now, at first i used to like entering contest but then i thought forget it then the other day i decided to enter contests which was worth $60 Logo, after that i couldn't find any latest contest running at that prize, i found one for $25 and i decided to enter it, i spent more than an hour i think and next thing i know "Not quite what I am looking for" , after that i thought forget it, i was stupid enough to enter an contest which is worth only $25, if it was at a higher prize i would have gave another go but its really not worth it at the end of the day.

Kind Regards.

[NemesisQaine]

Iv been designing for over 2 years now, at first i used to like entering contest but then i thought forget it then the other day i decided to enter contests which was worth $60 Logo, after that i couldn't find any latest contest running at that prize, i found one for $25 and i decided to enter it, i spent more than an hour i think and next thing i know "Not quite what I am looking for" , after that i thought forget it, i was stupid enough to enter an contest which is worth only $25, if it was at a higher prize i would have gave another go but its really not worth it at the end of the day.

Kind Regards.

I totally agree. I have one contest that i am entered in (my first one) that i have done over 10 different renditions based on the little feedback i have gotten. I have spend over a total of 24 hours on this ONE contest and the price?.... $10-40 CH's choice of payment. The only reason i kept changing it is to try to get better and learning all of this. And still, no viable feedback. It's "getting closer", "nice work" "thanks for entering". That is my type of crap.:mad:

[herenow]

It´s strange, because I really intended to open a thread like this. I agree with many of the arguments already brought up.

And Dear Moderators, please do us and yourself a favor, and make this a sticky thread, because there have already been too many contests that makes one want to throw up.

IMHO a fair value by professional standards for a 10$ logo is a piece of clipart with the name nailed to it.

I believe though the low pricing isn´t the main problem after all. If there´s only a budget of 10$ for a logo, it´s the way it is. I find the large number of abandoned contests much, much more serious.
The norm here seems to be that a contest holder doesn´t give a design briefing because he finds it pleasing to see people wasting their time. So, the first 10 designs are usually for the shitter, because the first 10 designers weren´t good enough at mindreading and if they´re lucky they receive a "Not what I have in mind" -comment.
Another stupidity is the "no deadline"-tactics which ensures that most designers will work for the trashcan.

I wouldn´t mention this if I didn´t have the impression that most contest holders are resellers, making much more money than the "winning designer" with practically no effort or risk at all.

One suggestions I have would be: Each designer entering an abandoned contest should at least be granted the opportunity to include his submissions in his portfolio.

[DonDaniel]

Try 99designs if you guys what high priced contests, they are very good though (the designers).

As for contests at DP, I honestly don't find them worth my time; only time I will enter them is when I am bored. The price is very low for the work you need to put in and as said, it isn't really worth it as at the end of the day you get little to no feedback.

[Flybylogo]

Try 99designs if you guys what high priced contests, they are very good though (the designers).

As for contests at DP, I honestly don't find them worth my time; only time I will enter them is when I am bored. The price is very low for the work you need to put in and as said, it isn't really worth it as at the end of the day you get little to no feedback.


Yeah, 99designs is great, just haven't had the time on there yet, I'll check it out soon.

[blazinrachel]

If they really want good entries for their contest then i think they should offer better prices...

[herenow]

Yeah, 99designs is great, just haven't had the time on there yet, I'll check it out soon.

For a good design, the price at 99designs is low as well, but, judging from my own experience, what makes all the difference is that you mostly have the ability to communicate with the final client directly. In brief, there is someone who cares if he or she gets a satisfying logo / design or not.

If you compare the design briefings at 99designs with the ones over here you´ll often come to the conclusion that the CHs here simply don´t care about design (or people for that matter).

[TightWad]

Try 99designs if you guys what high priced contests, they are very good though (the designers).

As for contests at DP, I honestly don't find them worth my time; only time I will enter them is when I am bored. The price is very low for the work you need to put in and as said, it isn't really worth it as at the end of the day you get little to no feedback.

99Designs isn't high priced designs - they aren't even in the middle. The same thing happens there, as it does here...(abandoned contests, designers
copying other designer concepts, etc).

The problem with the prize amounts, is simply there will always be someone
willing to do the job for that price..... and that is the problem.

For me, it isn't worth it to bother looking at anything below $15.00 and that is
only if I am bored and have no other projects on the go.

[venture_won]

Hi All:


I'm the guy who needs some design work but my budget is limited. Just think in the age of multiple blogs (auto-feed) what the cost would be (say 20 blogs @$60.00 a header). Do you think that a low budget consumer such as myself (remember 20 blogs) could afford 1200.00? THat's the great thing about this forum: Barter.

In any case people who create are generally driven. They get a great deal more out of a project than money (yes, money is a necessary "evil", it is used as a survival tool in our culture)

SO what's the trade off if there are $10.00 or even$5.00 contests.

1) First of all the start-up designer can develop a portfolio.
2) The professional (experienced, has an established design business) can do pro bono work or low cost work (like the contests) as a certain percentage of his/er business (good publicity).

Getting back to me as a consumer. I don't think I'm a stingy guy who is trying to take advantage of people who might need income. Ilook at my self as a person who has a budget I need to stick to and what is the most I can get for the work I need done.

Most people who start up an enterprise always get income that falls short of what they expect (unless they are a bank robber, jewel thief, won a cable company or they happen to be Bernie Madoff).

I had an idea about a website/blog which required an illustrator. The first thing I thought of was Digital Point Forum. I did a search for illustrators and discovered what they wanted as remuneration. I had to rethink because it would be too costly per illustration for a start-up enterprise on a shoe string budget..

Enough said. :)


"No matter where you go, there you are"

V_M

[DaveyBoy]

This is why I have all but stopped entering contests on DP, opting instead for 99designs where the contests are a lot more generous (most of the ones I enter are the price I would charge for the web designs I create away from the contest environment anyway).

I obviously appreciate that some contest holders have a low budget and, like anybody, they will try to get the most from their money and that's understandable, but I don't feel like it is respecting the designers' time at all. For example, if you are holding a $20 contest, and someone enters it you can bet they will probably have taken about 2-3 hours on their initial entry (the good designers anyway) and then maybe 15 mins per revision after that. They could be spending 4-6 hours on your logo for a chance to take home 20 bucks. That is way below the minimum wage in most countries. And they might not even get that.

Of course, the whole contest model is all about risk - you know when you enter there's a high chance you won't win a thing. This doesn't usually bother me because I mostly enter them for the enjoyment but I don't like feeling like i'm being ripped off, hence not going anywhere near the low priced contests. As someone said above though, there will always be people willing to work for those measly sums, so I can't ever see it stopping.

I would like DP to add a minimum prize rule though, at the moment it's $6 because $5 jobs have to go in the Freebies area, but I think they should consider raising it.

[rkquest]

I don't think the prize is the biggest problem here in the contest forum. If you don't like the prize amount, don't participate. The problem I have here at the contest forum is that probably 99% of contests I've participated on don't pick a winner! I don't care if I don't win. I just wanna see someone I competed with win so I know I participated in a real contest. But unfortunately after asking for so many revisions from participants, they'll just walk away. So my advice to designers here...

Don't participate in contests here offering big price amount. They most likely won't pick a winner.

[eCovers4uGfx]

I also stopped entering contests, time 'vs' outcome was pitiful, Since picking up a few large clients whom have stuck with me & make regular large orders I have no need to enter something where the CH is trying to get maximum for peanuts, tightarsed CH's is all they are.

This place has rapidly progressed on a downward spiral! sad but true!

[DaveyBoy]

It's on a downward spiral because a lot of designers have wised up to the fact that their work is worth a hell of a lot more than they were being awarded in the contests here, and many will have moved on to 99designs.com or elogocontest.com where their effort is more appreciated and more worthwhile.

[Th3 KiNg]

Some people expect a lot. I have even designed 2 banners for 5$. U can see my itrader for that. They just think that designers don't justput enough effort in designing. Even its a simple design, even then a lot of work is put into it. :(

[NemesisQaine]

I agree with most of the comments being made thus far. I personally am really frustrated because I have done OVERE 105 entries, and not a one of them even came close. The CH's that said they liked my designs, take off. I am nearly ready to give up on this forum all together.

[DaveyBoy]

That is just part of the risk I guess, you may NEVER win a contest even though you are a great designer. A lot of contest holders have no graphical ability or awareness so what they choose isn't always the best design in the contest. It's just how it works. You probably deserved to win a good amount of those 105 entries mate. It's like on 99designs, some people have entered over 600 contests and won 3 of them, it makes me wonder why these people keep entering!

[yakusokutebayo]

The problem I have here at the contest forum is that probably 99% of contests I've participated on don't pick a winner! I don't care if I don't win. I just wanna see someone I competed with win so I know I participated in a real contest.

I agree completely. And some CH even stole some designs silently after he abandoned the contest (a good reason why some CH don't disclose the URL of the site for the banner/logo).

The problem with the prize amounts, is simply there will always be someone willing to do the job for that price..... and that is the problem.

I think this is the main source of the problem, honestly. I'm not a designer (though i love to design sometimes), i just enter some contests here if i'm in need for a few bucks to either buy domain names, or pay for some services, etc etc. So i'm not really concerned about prize amounts.

..But even so, sometimes i'm seeing a CH asking too much, like a logo+a header+a mascot for only $25. That's ridiculous. But they'll keep doing it in the future because there are people who will enter the contest.

[jokomamamita]

Personally, I respect all your views as I believe, some of you are thinking from a real designer's point of view but for a university student like me who works part-time in a logistics firm, entering contests over here is merely a time pass for me as well as an instant way of filling my pocket with some bucks. In addition to that, this is even a platform for me in getting my skills enhanced, regardless if i win or didn't in that particular contest.

However, I do agree that some real/full-time designers would feel offended with the contest price offered as well as the lack of feedbacks given over here. To those concerned, 99designs would be the best place for you guys. =)

Cheers.

[Flybylogo]

Thanks for all your views, i agree with most of them.. But i think that low prices are leading to lack of interest from designers with capability, and sooner or later, dp will have to shut the contest section down..

[tarponkeith]

...I agree that we do work hard for this and we should get paid more. "real" professional in an office somewhere get paid hundreds of dollars an HOUR to do the work we do.

I viewed your "recent posts" and these are your two most recent submissions:

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww312/NemesisQaine/Contest%20Images/Pen-Design.jpg

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww312/NemesisQaine/Contest%20Images/Eds-Motors3.jpg

Do you honestly believe these should be worth more than $20?

You guys should know that the reason the contests are so low is because the quality of the submissions are horrible! Sure, there are some designers like cameoanderson and lefty, that pump out AMAZING designs that should go for a LOT more than they ask. But normally the submissions here are very low quality.

Right now I'm searching for a quality logo guy for 2 projects, and a PSD site designer for one. The problem isn't finding a designer, it's finding a GOOD designer. I'm willing to pay a few hundred for a good logo, a lot faster than I'm willing to pay $10 for a horrible one. If you guys look at my 99designs account, my last contest I paid $390 to the winner.

Work on your photoshop skills then start charging the big bucks.

Good luck...

[sarah_harvey]

Well to be honest some people that offer logo design isn't exactly up to par. When someone offers $25.00 for something, they don't expect genius designers to apply. Just average designers. Problem is there are tons of sites where you can custom make your own logo for $75 upwards and a person has a choice of a variety of designs, fonts etc.

So if someone wanted a logo to be damn good, they will offer more money. Simple as that. For the rest of the people who do not have the money or the time, will offer what they can afford. Not every website is used to make money you know. So why should someone offer to pay $100.00 for something that they can create themselves. I know some people can't. but I know I can design my own things so when I outsource I have a habit of knowing how long it will take me and therefore I am less inclined to offer a ridiculous amount when my site is just a hobby site.

Sometimes see it from other people's view as well. If you are really unhappy then just visit http://99designs.com/ and enter the contests there. These are for professionals only. So you would fit in there.

Or alternative visit www.sitepoint.com and pay $10.00 and get yourself listed and display your portfolio. If you are good enough you will get people that will use your services. Simple as that.

There are always alternatives, just look for them. If you are a good designer, you should already be making money and therefore there shouldn't be a problem with paying money to advertise your services.

Sure some people on DP are damn brilliant and then for every one extroardinary designer you get 20 average ones that either use copied content from other sites or even worse, find illegal sharing sites and get free ripped logos from there and just add the text. Nowadays, I personally won't pay much for a logo since if it is the case, I want to know that I wasn't royally screwed over. If I had a site where I profited from, I would use a proper designer and pay them their worth because in the end I would expect them to design something unique and not copyrighted. I'd probably get them to sign a simple contract as well to protect myself and that is how things should be done.

Plus I would do my research and expect the designer to have a website and portfolio. That is just my personal opinion.

:)

[barginboyrob]

guys if you donl't like the price how about don't enter the competition...!

and also, for example, the minumum wage in phillihpines is like £5 a day, so if you offer that as a prize and they enter, that is alright money

[a4hire]

Most of the prizes offered here are pretty cheap. I mean low! Most of the time I will now look for contests at 99 designs they have better prizes and some guaranteed contests too.
Sometimes I still come here and check for illustration, cartoon mascot kind of contests. Because I love to do that kind of work. And if I have nothing else to do then it is still worth it for me to check here.

[boxieblue]

very interesting discussion going on here!
well, let me first introduce myself. i am a newbie designer who is just looking to make some pocket-money during the vacations (yes i am a student). for someone like me, $20 for a contest is actually pretty good money (i don't live in the US, if that says anything ;) ). plus, the contests help me
1. practise my skills for real logos, and hopefully get feedback
2. help me build my portfolio, so i can one day do pro bono work

so looking at it that way, i am not too p*ssed off by the "low" prizes, unless they want vector stuff. $25 for a vector logo would be pretty low.

i can understand why the designers feel it is low, though. i have known designers charging more than $300 for one logo, and by that standards $20 is ...well...cheap! but then again, those are professionals. for newbies like me, $20 contests are probably the best way to start off. at least i have more chances of winning against other newbies than again professionals ;)


but the main problems for guys like me are:
1. many of the CH's just disappear. i keep waiting for them to announce a winner, but most of the time they either get a logo from somewhere else, or just design their own...at least that's what they claim.
2. most of the times there is little or no feedback. if i am not going to win, i would at least like to know how i could improve for future contests. a CH saying "nah...not my style" just doesn't cut it.


well, those were just my two pennies :)

[NemesisQaine]

You guys, I fail to understand why you are all targeting my designs. I just got into this business and am still learning all the features and how to do things. I don't feel that it's right to target me in this conversation. Not that it's anyone elses business but I have one several contest on another site and have made more money there, than ALL the contests that I have entered here. My earlier work, which is what those are, are not that great but I don't think it's fair to target me in this discussion. I am not the reason you are all mad!!!

[CHSajid]

You guys, I fail to understand why you are all targeting my designs. I just got into this business and am still learning all the features and how to do things. I don't feel that it's right to target me in this conversation. Not that it's anyone elses business but I have one several contest on another site and have made more money there, than ALL the contests that I have entered here. My earlier work, which is what those are, are not that great but I don't think it's fair to target me in this discussion. I am not the reason you are all mad!!!

Hi NemesisQaine,

I think they were just trying to explain you nothing els, i do agree with you every one starts like that and then they build on, i would say keep practicing on low prized contests and then once you think you have improved then submit your entry's to higher prized contest, hope you understand what im trying to say :), i hope to see you in the near future as good designer :D .

Kind Regards,
CHsajid.

[boxieblue]

yea i don't think nemesis's designs were being targetted....they were just used as an example to show that they aren't worth more than $20 (this, by the way, is NOT my personal opinion. i cannot even see any of the images since they are hosted on photobucket. so don't blame me.....)

my designs aren't worth more than $20 either, and i have no problems admitting this :D i already mentioned this is my previous post.....

i still see some contests worth $80+ so i don't think that's a prob.

in any case most of the CHs of $20 contests are fine with raster images since they need it for a website only. a pro designer can always head over to 99D or do freelance work :)

[Jasna88]

guys if you donl't like the price how about don't enter the competition...!

and also, for example, the minumum wage in phillihpines is like £5 a day, so if you offer that as a prize and they enter, that is alright money

Totally agree with u here (ok, I dont live in Philihpines, here is about £10). Im more that happy to get $5-$15 per logo/banner- im novice and i dont ecpect more. I hope that one day im going to be much better and start doing logos/banners for $20-$50 if not even more.

If some of u people here think their design is so good, better find some designing company to work for like my bf's friend, or find clients who are willing to pay hundreds $$$ for logo.

[i-TalkDesigns]

Hi all!

I have to say I understand your complaint, but this man here is right. I do have to add a couple more points to this as well.

_Professional Designers that are lucky to have a job should not be designing for 10$

_A free education has it's price for amatures that did not pay 40grand to learn what we know

_Disabled people that may no longer be in the work place, but still love to design and do what they used too, are so lucky to have web hosts such as these sites. To be able to carry on thier passion!

_Mothers that can afford to be at home because there husband is working his but off to provide for the family, may still do what they love while commiting to the social standerds of survival

- Another note,,,,,I love what I do and I am lucky to have found this site to help others that want something that they dont know how to do for them selves.

-Thus go away money grubbers...there are other places for you...Go to WORK IN THE REAL WORLD...IF YOU ARE SO REAL:cool:



Hi All:


I'm the guy who needs some design work but my budget is limited. Just think in the age of multiple blogs (auto-feed) what the cost would be (say 20 blogs @$60.00 a header). Do you think that a low budget consumer such as myself (remember 20 blogs) could afford 1200.00? THat's the great thing about this forum: Barter.

In any case people who create are generally driven. They get a great deal more out of a project than money (yes, money is a necessary "evil", it is used as a survival tool in our culture)

SO what's the trade off if there are $10.00 or even$5.00 contests.

1) First of all the start-up designer can develop a portfolio.
2) The professional (experienced, has an established design business) can do pro bono work or low cost work (like the contests) as a certain percentage of his/er business (good publicity).

Getting back to me as a consumer. I don't think I'm a stingy guy who is trying to take advantage of people who might need income. Ilook at my self as a person who has a budget I need to stick to and what is the most I can get for the work I need done.

Most people who start up an enterprise always get income that falls short of what they expect (unless they are a bank robber, jewel thief, won a cable company or they happen to be Bernie Madoff).

I had an idea about a website/blog which required an illustrator. The first thing I thought of was Digital Point Forum. I did a search for illustrators and discovered what they wanted as remuneration. I had to rethink because it would be too costly per illustration for a start-up enterprise on a shoe string budget..

Enough said. :)


"No matter where you go, there you are"

V_M

[i-TalkDesigns]

Yes your designs are worth more than 20, no matter how you look at it, this is how the world percieves and connects with a business. That in its self is worth more than 20$ no matter the skill level of the designer.

Look at road signs....u guys dont know what your talking about.

[Assured]

I'm new, and only put up my first contest yesterday, $35 for a logo. I'm also buying non-contest logos from someone else for a much cheaper set price. I'm not as concerned about those ones. So, I'm paying enough to attract a number of designers in this contest, maybe a bit higher than the average for a logo contest here but right around the average.

This site is generally viewed by the buyers as a place to get inexpensive work done. And that is the type of buyer it attracts. I don't think that people come here thinking they are going to get the Mona Lisa. But, some of the submissions are very good.

No matter how you slice it, in a contest, MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET PAID. It's the nature of the beast. So, unless a really high prize is offered, the average wage for doing a logo in a contest is cheap. Even if someone offers $200 for the logo, if 30 people enter, the average wage is under $7 for designing a logo in that contest. $200 may be a really good price for designing a logo, but the average is still cheap, and the higher the price, the more people will enter.

For a good designer that has as many clients as he can handle, it's not a great idea to enter the contest - unless you are doing it for marketing purposes. I know people here have entered contests then gotten straight out design jobs because someone saw a losing design but liked it enough to just hire the designer. You can build a business by showing off your talents here in low price contests.

The other point is that some people just like entering contests for the 'game' of it. Go over to Worth1000. There are a lot of contests there with no prize money and the entries take a lot of time to put together. Many of them are very impressive. So, when you say that the prizes offered on contests are too low for the effort, for you, that is probably the truth. For someone else, it may simply be a bonus for doing something they love.

The market will end up finding its own pricing. In this case, most of the pricing seems to be low. In other markets (like 99designs), the pricing is higher. I used this site because I didn't want to pay the prices at 99designs, and, in return, I'm ok with getting less entries of higher quality. If I was working on a project for a Fortune 500 company, I'd probably go over there to get it done. If your skills are up to the task, and you can win enough contests at a higher paying site, then why would you enter contests here? You shouldn't. But, there is a place for the lower priced market just as there is a place for the higher.

[typingmums]

Right now I'm searching for a quality logo guy for 2 projects, and a PSD site designer for one. The problem isn't finding a designer, it's finding a GOOD designer. I'm willing to pay a few hundred for a good logo, a lot faster than I'm willing to pay $10 for a horrible one. If you guys look at my 99designs account, my last contest I paid $390 to the winner.

Work on your photoshop skills then start charging the big bucks.

Good luck...

Just a quick recommendation here - I havent checked your iTrader so I dont know if you've used him or not before but I've had a lot of dealings with Watari and have always been really impressed with his work, and his 'after sales' care. Hes an excellent designer.. definitely one of the best on here (in my opinion anyway).

I do agree that some of the entries in contests are pretty bad, but for all the bad ones I believe you get just as many good ones. I always try to offer reasonable prize money (in comparison to others) and as result I think I get pretty good designs.

I'm definitely happy to stick with DP for my designs anyway... as long as they keep designing, I'll keep coming here and paying a fair price :) As soon as people start believing that I'm not paying a fair price then I guess I'll soon find out because the good designs will drop off... and then I'll increase my prize money :)

[samir_designs]

This is from one of my faviourite designers Gary Simon He wrote this article.

Design Contests are 93% FAIL.
Enter 100 design contests and you might win 7 of them. Good job

So what do I mean when I say they’re 93% fail? Because when you take a look at the numbers, the average designer has a 93% chance of failing every contest they enter. To put it differently, if you enter 100 contests; you’ll win a whopping 7. I kid you not, just take a look at the “recent winner” profiles on the lower right corner of 99designs.com and average them all out (But don’t bother, I already did that for you). This ratio is probably even worse when you take into account all of the designers who entered contests and never won a damn thing.


Let’s look at some other numbers, such as $ earned vs. time spent

If you look around, the average design contest earnings are $200 per project. Let’s assume on average designers spend 2 hours per project (this includes revisions as well, and we also have to consider they allow full site design contests here too). If a designer were to submit designs to design contests on a full time basis at 40 hours a week. That’s 20 contests a week, or 60 contests per month. Since the average designer wins only 7% of the contests they enter, that’s 4.2 contests they can win. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say they won 5. 5 * $200 = $1,000. A full time job grossing $1,000 a month comes out to $6.25 an hour (below minimum wage). Flipping burgers is more profitable than this shit. Let’s go over this again:

1. Joe spends 40 hours a week entering contests
2. Joe, as an average designer, invests 2 hours per contest.
3. This means Joe enters 20 contests a week, or 60 per month.
4. Joe, as an average designer, wins 7% of his contests (or 5 per month).
5. Joe, as other average designers, wins $200 per project.
6. This means Joe grosses $1,000 a month on a full time job.
7. This means a 16 year old nerd who’s never been laid makes more money flipping burgers than Joe.

“But design contests are fun!”

Fine. I’ve entered a few contests myself for the hell of it. But if you browse around on some contest sites like 99designs, you’ll see profiles of those who’ve literally entered hundreds, even saw a couple that entered well over a thousand contests. This means there are “designers” spending a good majority of their time entering contests, making shit.

“It’s a good way to learn and build a portfolio”

No. A better way to learn is by making money doing it. There’s a market for every budget, it’s simply a matter of finding those clients.


You can spend your time more wisely…

Instead of entering design contests and using the excuse that you don’t know how to find clients, how about you give it a shot? It’s not all that difficult to find clients, and stop wasting your time on a gamble.

resource: http://how.todesignyour.com/blog/webmasters/design-contests-are-93-fail/

Samir_designs

[bdasolutions]

Personally, I respect all your views as I believe, some of you are thinking from a real designer's point of view but for a university student like me who works part-time in a logistics firm, entering contests over here is merely a time pass for me as well as an instant way of filling my pocket with some bucks. In addition to that, this is even a platform for me in getting my skills enhanced, regardless if i win or didn't in that particular contest.

However, I do agree that some real/full-time designers would feel offended with the contest price offered as well as the lack of feedbacks given over here. To those concerned, 99designs would be the best place for you guys. =)

Cheers.
many of us who want to buy logo design services are start-ups with a tight budget. I don't think that participating in a contests here or over at 99designs is really a good way to make money. the high prices attract many competitors, so your chances of winning get slimmer.

A $25 logo contest may like this one http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1365505 may attract only about 3-5 contestants and one of them will be a winner. so your chances of winning are 20%-30% instead of 7%. just my 2 cents

[Flybylogo]

many of us who want to buy logo design services are start-ups with a tight budget. I don't think that participating in a contests here or over at 99designs is really a good way to make money. the high prices attract many competitors, so your chances of winning get slimmer.

A $25 logo contest may like this one http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1365505 may attract only about 3-5 contestants and one of them will be a winner. so your chances of winning are 20%-30% instead of 7%. just my 2 cents

good point.

I have stopped entering contests.

[cheesy]

I just joined this site, there are really active contests here that are held very often. Being only 15, these contests are great for me because it's money, im not old enough for a real job so any extra cash is great. But i can see the problem for graphic designers that make a living out of it. The prices are extremely low for what they deliver, and to all you contest holders, if you up the price, the chances of getting a better entry will increase.

[herenow]

I don' t want to bore you with repetitions of what has been said already and don' t want to sound negative all the time, so, wouldn´t it be nice to have certain basic standards, let´s say "premium contests"? And what would your wishlist for this look like?

Here are some ideas:
- it should be stated IN ADVANCE if PMs are allowed or not, the CH should be informed that accepting PMs increase the risk of receiving a ripped off image.
- there should be a fixed dead line, having 48 hour contests and reserving the right to close it early is ridiculous.
- the name of the website in question should be revealed so in case there´s no winner declared everyone can verify if indeed no submission from the contest was chosen.
- everyone should declare that he or she isn´t using stock images of any kind and that he can provide a vector image
- it should be stated whether the contest holder is the actual buyer or if the latter one gets to see all submissions

I believe this isn´t too much to ask for, just common sense and I believe the offered prizes would rise under these circumstances automatically.

[ProGFX]

There is a new place opened up for free contests. Free to list but the admin are more pro active about the contest holders.

www.progfxcontests.com

And they also have a store setup for designers to have their own section if they want to sell stuff.

[gestalt]

Abandon this hell hole and make some real money ...


http://99designs.com/
http://www.crowdspring.com/
http://www.logosauce.com/
http://logo.designbay.com/default.aspx?ad=contest-intl
http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/newlogo.html
http://www.dexigner.com/design_competitions/5076.html


You know that you are better than this crap pit...


Stop working for peanuts...

Go Gestalt....

[icey011]

I haven't been here long but I must agree with you. I am still an amateur designer but i am progressing quickly. But I put A LOT of my time in and the most feedback i get is....."not what we're looking for" or "nice design". that's it. I personally think that more feedback would be great and also, more money for these contests. I agree that we do work hard for this and we should get paid more. "real" professional in an office somewhere get paid hundreds of dollars an HOUR to do the work we do.

I also Agree, feedback should look like this in this thread
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1394507

[icey011]

I just joined this site, there are really active contests here that are held very often. Being only 15, these contests are great for me because it's money, im not old enough for a real job so any extra cash is great. But i can see the problem for graphic designers that make a living out of it. The prices are extremely low for what they deliver, and to all you contest holders, if you up the price, the chances of getting a better entry will increase.

Yes I have the same situation As you. I'm 15 Also. And when I don't win contests i strive to get better but when you have the same contest holder entering as another account and still is the same person entering in his contest and then claiming he's the winner is just cheating.