RE: WOAH! Hang on there! Design contests are not good! If you're a startup, you need to read this.
I am a graphic designer. I am amazed at how many professional graphic designers are willing to prostitute themselves, as well as devalue the entire earning power of the industry by participating in speculative work, aka design contests. 7/10 times you will get paid nothing for your efforts, 3/10 times you will be vastly underpaid, and 10/10 times several people get screwed out of their time while you all devalue your ability to earn a living.
It might seem tempting as a buyer of design work to run these sorts of contests, but in reality you will get an inferior product with a poor brand, and poor design elements. Furthermore most designers are capable of doing much more by working directly with the client rather than jockeying for a speculative payout. As a buyer of design services, design contests aren't about getting a good product, they are about getting to feel like you are in charge while you order about several underlings to give yourself a confidence boost.
If you really want to do serious business, take your brand seriously, it represents all of your work, and it is what everyone associates it with. If your brand or logo are garbage you will be associated with garbage. Take the time to talk with several designers and pick ONE and hash out an agreement that satisfies both parties. Everyone will end up benefiting more in the end, including you who thought you were getting a deal running a design contest.
You are amazing thank you, I couldn't have explain this any better. I am a designer as well I understand completely.
Couldn't agree any more with what you're saying. Thanks for sharing your opinion on the subject!
As a company, you have a responsibility to create and maintain an image. Shortcutting through that element is just like short cutting through any element of your project. Half assing it will only harm your project. And your image.
Nospec work doesn't allow for the most important aspects of designing. You do not get a 1 on 1, or get to communicate and draft ideas and goals for what your logomark communicates outward. Much like a suit, logos are tailored for a company. It's not just about what looks best.
Devaluing an industry harms design as a whole, not on an individual level.
Our thoughts definitely concur on this subject @ericarthurblair, I see you know your stuff!