Just stumbled across this interesting bit of news. The Canadian gov't is holding a graphic design competition for a logo, where the student winner gets $5k. Runners-up get nothing.
Interestingly, the Graphic Designers of Canada (professional association) is urging students to not enter, and wrote an open letter to the gov't explaining why this is exploitative.
I don't think my association has made its stance known (that's just too much to expect, right?) but I agree and I think it's worthwhile to have this discussion with youngsters (and oldsters) in our industry.
Unless it's for charity or non-profit, we should all expect to be paid for our work. It's ridiculous that this is even a conversation...
I don't think participating in competition is all about winning or losing; it helps ones to keep honing his/her design skill... and you get a nice project to put in your portfolio at the end. I don't think I would have landed at a position where I am without doing any competition (worked at a firm that spewed out junk after junk during the recession... ugh)
However, I've always avoided the competitions that ask a lot of $ to enter.... like entry fee is $250 while the winner gets $3,000...
I'm pretty torn on this. Competitions get you quantity with no guarantee of quality. Especially if your target is students. But it's also a kind of good opportunity for students to... doodle something? (which =/= logo design)
Feb 5, 15 2:11 pm ·
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Professional Associations stance on design competitions
Just stumbled across this interesting bit of news. The Canadian gov't is holding a graphic design competition for a logo, where the student winner gets $5k. Runners-up get nothing.
Interestingly, the Graphic Designers of Canada (professional association) is urging students to not enter, and wrote an open letter to the gov't explaining why this is exploitative.
I don't think my association has made its stance known (that's just too much to expect, right?) but I agree and I think it's worthwhile to have this discussion with youngsters (and oldsters) in our industry.
Unless it's for charity or non-profit, we should all expect to be paid for our work. It's ridiculous that this is even a conversation...
@jla-x, speaking of beer, I love my Jeremiah Red crafty beer.
I accept beer at par. I assumed this was an industry standard.
Anyway - maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, and folks here don't mind working for free.
I doubt anyone enjoys working for free, but project acquisition is always a non-billable part of the job.
I find most competitions quite dubious, but they certainly can be a way of securing real, paying commissions.
It's not so simple.
Professional association of graphic designers?
I don't think participating in competition is all about winning or losing; it helps ones to keep honing his/her design skill... and you get a nice project to put in your portfolio at the end. I don't think I would have landed at a position where I am without doing any competition (worked at a firm that spewed out junk after junk during the recession... ugh)
However, I've always avoided the competitions that ask a lot of $ to enter.... like entry fee is $250 while the winner gets $3,000...
Aside from a bad website, they have these 'ethical' rules for members:
https://www.gdc.net/tools-resources/design-buyers/design-contests
It would be interesting to see a link to the actual competition.
http://www.canada150.gc.ca/eng/1407417717020
I'm pretty torn on this. Competitions get you quantity with no guarantee of quality. Especially if your target is students. But it's also a kind of good opportunity for students to... doodle something? (which =/= logo design)
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