[Hidden-tech] Graphic design contest for a card deck

Fri Sep 27 16:57:59 UTC 2019

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Kimo—and I have to ask, who are you
advocating for?

I think there is a place for this type of Graphic Design Contest

I'm not buying it—and I caution all young designers to be careful about
'building your portfolio' claims. It's a red flag.

An agency, sure they can handle new business expenses—though unpaid pitches
are becoming a relic. And the people doing the actual pitch work get paid.
But design students?

Of course most times, you get what you pay for — but occasionally you get a
> gem.

Professionals, and aspiring professionals, don't provide services with the
hope that they will *occasionally* get a reward. I would never encourage a
young design student to build their portfolio by entering contests. Design
students build a portfolio in school, or in creating self-directed design
projects. As a small design studio, I have never asked any
freelancer—including students—to work for free. A for-profit business
should pay for design services.

My number one advice for designers out there: demand more money.

Cheers,
Aaron

On Fri, Sep 27, 2019 at 11:52 AM B. Kimo Lee <bklee at azurelink.com> wrote:

> Greetings HT,
>
> Interesting discussion going on. Also following the parallel thread about *The
> Other Job Fair*.
>
> I think there is a place for this type of Graphic Design Contest — design
> students looking to build a portfolio, or people just starting out with the
> same goal. I submitted quite a few pieces back when I was in school during
> the late 70’s and actually “won" several. Good to have printed samples.
>
> Of course most times, you get what you pay for — but occasionally you get
> a gem.
>
> At agencies I’ve worked at, we often would develop creative concepts for
> campaigns which were technically “on spec” but these were for new business
> pitches for national clients. If we won the account, it would pay off in a
> big way. We had a budget allocated for this type of spec work.
>
> Happy Fall,
> Kimo
>
>
>
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> On Sep 26, 2019, at 4:15 PM, Denise Batalha via Hidden-discuss <
> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
>
> Aaron,
>
> This is a GREAT template to go by!!
>
> Denise
>
> On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 3:56 PM Aaron Taylor-Waldman <
> aaron at taylorwaldman.com> wrote:
>
>> The AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) has made their stance clear
>> https://www.aiga.org/position-spec-work
>>
>> When it comes to work-for-hire, I offer these options for creative
>> services:
>>
>>    - Paid work
>>    - Pro bono (or volunteering) — for cause work only, and no more than
>>    20% of my annual work hours.
>>    - Personal projects (The only person who gets 'free' work is me)
>>
>> Equity may be an option for some, sure—but 90% of the time you should
>> take the money. Unless you're a cofounder of a company, and/or the equity
>> offer is from a startup with a valuation and funding (not bootstrapping).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 2:34 PM Denise Batalha via Hidden-discuss <
>> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Kris,
>>>
>>> I've always likened the idea of these skills being too easy to be paid
>>> their worth as being seen as simple as coloring. What I don't get is if
>>> they clearly see these skills as so simplified it requires little to no
>>> pay, why don't they just do it themselves? I am, by no means, implying that
>>> is the case here. Good/great designers cost money, and I completely
>>> understand the overwhelming weight of the costs any organization, or
>>> individual lacking the funds, can be.
>>>
>>> Denise
>>>
>>> On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 2:05 PM kris badertscher via Hidden-discuss <
>>> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> As a media and communications/graphic designer, I found this *contest*
>>>> to be incredibly disrespectful to the ever-expanding community of pioneer
>>>> valley creatives who so often have to go against their better judgement and
>>>> take work either pro bono (hoping that it leads to paid a gig), for barter,
>>>> or for slave-wage labor just in order to pay a bill.
>>>>
>>>> This cultivated western Massachusetts mentality of bargaining for free
>>>> or underpaid labor predominates in this region where creative workers are
>>>> consistently being taken advantage of because so few opportunities present
>>>> themselves.
>>>>
>>>> Whether it's photography, video, graphic design, or another skilled
>>>> creative endeavor, other professionals in the Valley seem to think that
>>>> these skills require nothing more than just a press of a button. Or maybe
>>>> they do know and understand that having a subscription to Adobe or
>>>> Microsoft products or other applications, plus equipment and training in
>>>> order to make their designs for clients are outrageously expensive and they
>>>> don't care. Because right, there's always the bounty of students to hire
>>>> willing to put up with unpaid labor early in their careers.
>>>>
>>>> This mindset hurts all of us. We all then have to accept underpaid
>>>> labor as an exploited community in order to survive, never mind
>>>> *thrive*. What results is that no one outside the creative community
>>>> gets a sense of what a project *actually* costs which repeats this
>>>> unethical cycle.
>>>>
>>>> Living in the age of wanting something for (nearly) nothing is doing
>>>> everyone a disservice and my recommendation is to first research the market
>>>> and know how much a particular job costs. And please consider the cost- not
>>>> just of what you are offering in exchange for labor or products, but the
>>>> cost to all of us who live with the consequences of that mindset.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers, Kris
>>>>
>>>> sustainabilitydesigner.com
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 12:36 PM Rich at OTN via Hidden-discuss <
>>>> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You do realize that that amounts for barely 4 hours of a reasonable
>>>>> wage for a graphic artist
>>>>> and that only goes to the winner -- really doesn't sound in line with
>>>>> your company name.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'd hope to see something more, maybe at least a percent of sales
>>>>> OR just hire an artist.
>>>>>
>>>>> Think about it.
>>>>> On 9/20/2019 6:37 AM, Jessica Gifford via Hidden-discuss wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm running a design contest for the back and box of a customized
>>>>> deck of *Connection Cards*, which are used in a program that helps
>>>>> participants get to know new people, build social connections, and develop
>>>>> friendships. Each card has a question that participants answer as part of
>>>>> the program. There will be a $150 prize for the winning design. You
>>>>> may email jessica at growingwellness.life for entry guidelines. Please
>>>>> pass along to anyone who may be interested.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>> Jessica
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Jessica Gifford, LICSW
>>>>> www.growingwellness.life
>>>>> 413-548-4688
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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