Why Design Contest Are A Bad Idea for Designers
From the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to Gap’s crowdsourcing efforts to Showtime’s bold attempt, spec work and design contests continue to permeate the industry. And from a professional designer’s perspective, this is bad for all parties involved.
Branding is Demanding
There are some real problems with design competitions and spec work. First off, they take time away from working designers. Daily design is rarely just a hobby, it is hard work, and it is how designers make a living.
Secondly, there is often a vague promise of future work and, the creme de la creme, exposure. We hate hearing this word: exposure. Exposure is what people promise you when they don’t want to pay you. It is a cheap bargaining tactic and should be treated as such.
No Spec, No Exposure
For professional designers, designing by contest is our version of nails on a chalkboard. Competition-based websites, like 99designs, dot our graphic design landscape, and although they are here to stay, it doesn’t mean we have to like them. They fill a niche just like a used tire shop does, but it should be considered as such.