Why design contests are bad

They really are mere presentation design contests. Apply this point to the entire profession not just design contests which are just a distillation of everything wrong with the profession and someone is saying all the things about ID that need to be said. Enjoyable article. While the system could certainly be improved all of the designers I work with and most of our clients have already assigned a reasonably appropriate value to the major ID awards.

Which is to say that they intuitively know that there are many ways to judge an object and most awards indicate success in a narrow selection of those ways. How would you judge design concepts? Would really like to participate in a contest where you would have to really design something up to the point of having everything ready for production. That would be a smart arrangement between design schools, clients being able to choose from a wide spectrum of ideas meeting their growth needs, and students that acquire valuable experience and have the chance to actually make the world a better or cooler place.

To be honest. I feel as if the design world is trying to become the art world. I don't see the ingenious designs in the functionality as I see an interesting idea with pretty packaging. I was at a portfolio review and watched someone get praised for bending a spoon. It is sickening. Really like this article as it highlights the many problems and inconsistencies of design contests.

I think that the closest comparison is to judging a contemporary art show. You evaluate the piece based on looks and feeling alone.

The problem is that there can be so many more variables that make a design important or useful. Maybe products should be evaluated after a certain period of time after the release however, so much has to do with concept and not actual production.

I think that you've hit on the point that there needs to be more guidelines in order to make design contests more credible and useful. No system is perfect and it's nice to give designers an outlet for exposer bit I appreciate the acknowledgement of the imperfection by someone with your background.

Great article, it's nice to see someone have the guts to critique the system of critiquing. Thanks for this article. Nicely words for reflection! Any thoughts as to whether the whole idea of design contests is a bad idea: predatory and cynical, getting a crowd of people to work for free, while paying one, who, even according to this piece may not have done the best work?

I'm less concerned, actually, with whether or not any contest's winner deserves to win than the fact that a whole load of people would think, create, and work and then turn over all that effort to someone for free. Call me pisher, but as a book designer I'm quite tired of people offering me nothing but "exposure" for work I normally get paid thousands of dollars to do.

Mighty big of them. And then such contest promoters still have access to all the losers' work for free. Contests devalue the work of designers and make it less likely that neophytes starting out will find a climate that welcomes them as paid professionals without first giving work away.

And this is not to suggest that there aren't groups or associations, non-profits, genuinely worthy of pro bono assistance at times. In fact, I think straight out giving like that to worthy groups is far preferable than contributing enough free content to populate a paid-for issue of a sponsoring publication, say. I guess all the above points can be applied to every award ever given by a profession to itself.

Watch Jerry Seinfeld's acceptance speech for the "HBO Comedian Awards" and replace every instance of the word "comedian" with "designer": www. I have also been a part in lot of design competitions ranging from architectural to product design and graphic design and also the way competition is held and designs are selected from jury to online voting systems. Firstly the competitions where judgments are made by the jury.

This leads to awarding the designs that do not adhere to the guidelines. At least this can be made sure by the committee. Secondly where judgment is given by the number of votes. This is true that people having maximum contacts will get maximum votes is this fair? Moreover, so many designs are submitted that no common man can go through them at once to give fair judgment.

Probably here, the committee can screen the designs first before making them publicly available for voting. Amazing insight from the veritable Mr. Don, Good points, all of them. Winning awards is great when you get them, but as you've pointed out they are by no means a real test of a job well done.

Perhaps its not the process of judging and giving out awards that is the problem. Maybe, its the hero worship that is asscoiated with them. We should be awarding designers and design but necessarily believeing in them as showing us the way.

To the designer who has an ever incresing challenge of balancing the value of design, as many of us do, awards should should not result in either euphoria or disappointment. They are just another sign of simple answers to very complex questions. Somtimes simplicity wins, even when its off the mark. Just my two cents. Ravi P. Definitely some good points.

I've been involved in some design contests, and there's another problem, even when you do have decent judges and juries. This leads to "skimming". I've submitted designs to many contests, and sometimes I get back comments that are harshly critiquing my design, but that "issue" was already clearly stated in the first image, and the solution to that issue.

It seems to be a case of judges just flying through the entrants, picking out what they feel is "clever or playful", not well-thought out, well-researched, well-designed, manufacturable solutions. The other issue, is that a lot of contests are ditching the use of experienced, educated judges, and instead using "crowd sourcing". Unfortunately, this usually results in online voting, which usually picks the most outrageous, unrealistic, yet cool looking solution.

Never mind manufacturing. Never mind materials. Never mind the real world. Never mind research. Ride the wave of your inspiration and create in a way that only you can. Previous post Who to hire first: a web designer or a logo designer? Enter your contact details below, and the free chapter, workbook, checklist, and other bonuses will be sent to your inbox right away!

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Read more about me Hi Nela! It's a good thing I read this, it made me feel better. I also find it kind of weird because I have a friend who apparently enters in these kinds of contests and he always wins them. And he's a graphic designer. It baffles me. On the other hand, I have a question. I'm a college student and I've seen scholarships where in order to win them, you need to submit a design.

Do you apply the same response you've said in your article to scholarships? I'd just like your advice on that. Once again, well said article! Nela at Thank you, Claudine! Interesting to hear about your friend - I don't know anyone personally who consistently wins contests. I wonder what his tips for entering contests would be : Hmm, I didn't know scholarship contests were a thing. That depends, who is running the contest, an educational institution or a private company?

Are you required to create a new custom design for them, or are you able to submit previous work? How many winners are there? How important is it for you to get this scholarship? You may be able to earn this money by doing freelance work instead. But I know education is terribly expensive, and I don't want to deter you from something that could make it easier for you, if you feel optimistic about it. It's a very personal decision and sometimes there's a gray area.

Luka at Good point! Just today i've discussed with someone about the photography contests and how the companies use them to get a cheap promo material. Thanks for chiming in, Luka : Oh yeah, I've actually worked for a tourist agency who organized a Facebook photo contest in order to get free photos to use on their websites. One person noticed the shady terms of use and voiced their concerns, and then the social media manager lied something about the terms of use being from the contest app, not from the company, and "we're not able to change them", bla bla bla.

Jeff Fisher, of LogoMotives, is a well-known logo designer in the industry. This is one of his logos that finds itself recreated among so many businesses. This is expected and typical of design work done on spec. Image by Jeff Fisher of LogoMotives.

Before attempting a contest, consider your risk of infringement, which ultimately will have you back at square one—in need of a new logo. Hire a professional creative or firm who will provide you a custom design that meets your needs.

You know this. Additionally, you are worth it! Get paid! Design is a job! When you participate in a design contest, you are devaluing your career, and its impact is heavy on the entire industry.

You are basically throwing away all that hard work. Pick a pro bono project: something for the community where you get to give back in some way. Work on some personal projects to beef up your portfolio. Always use your portfolio as your tool! You look into their history, you hire them, and let them work.

It is the thing that will instantly identify you and it has to convey the right message to the right people.