A few words about logo competitions..

Logo competitions is it worth it?

The competition can be an interesting alternative to acquiring projects. On the campaign slogan, product packaging, company name, poster, photograph, etc.
In this article I will focus on the increasingly popular logo and visual identification competitions.

We have recently observed the geometric increase in websites helping to organize a competition, as well as information websites about those announced individually.
There is also a lot of controversy around the topic. He is often commented on by artists, and individual competitions can sometimes arouse extreme emotions.

Competitions are announced by companies, organizations, public entities and offices. For promotional campaigns, logos or entire visual identity. Good practices include the publication of the rules, competition brief, information on the jury, dates, and of course prizes, especially cash prizes on several levels.

If you are a designer, you will notice the positive aspects of them, but also what may negatively affect your business.

Recently, we have seen a special flow of low-budget competitions with often symbolic “prizes”, but finding participants.
That is why those starting their own business with a small budget, startups, are interested in this way of obtaining work.

A multitude of this type of activities, in the absence of good insight, can generate serious problems for both designers and organizers.

We must remember that each case is different and we must always consider whether the game is definitely worth the candle. We start a short review of the pros and cons of creative competitions:

Organizing competitions:

Pros:

  • You can probably count on a lot of logo proposals, depending on the budget – but not only.
  • If you represent a public entity, a public budget, it is possible that running the competition will be a necessity, but also the best possible solution.
  • By allocating a larger budget, advertising the competition on the Internet and social networking sites, you can count on some kind of publicity and advertising.
  • Paradoxically, taking part in the competition of amateurs and people starting their adventure with designing can bring a little fresh and unconventional look in several proposals.

Cons:

  • You will get a lot of plagiarism. You have to do your own research to discard the garbage. You will find many examples of copyright infringement in competitions online.
    (At the end of the article I will try to indicate only the problem with examples)
  • In this case (as above) you will run the risk, in the best case you will start from scratch.
  • Most often, “ideas” are worthless works: slightly modified clip-art and stock-art, scrolling on Google, at most only “tuned” ..
    But there will be 1: 1 copies that scroll in many logo competitions.
  • You will not get a set of preliminary projects prepared in such a way that will present diverse development paths in a way that creates a coherent presentation.
  • You won’t get expert advice or marketing research.
  • You will not get valuable work at the beginning of the brief, but rather loose ideas from random people.
  • Some ideas are duplicated. This is compounded by the fact that in “open” competitions a preview of the submitted works is available.
  • If you care about publicity and advertising, it may turn against you.
    Many organizers are criticized publicly on the Internet, and any controversy can be reprimanded. It should also be taken into account that losers are usually interested in pointing out any mistakes.
  • It will be difficult for you to determine and stick to the good process of choosing the winning concept.
  • Appointment of committees, consultations – they can help, but it costs money. This will not guarantee avoiding misunderstandings, lack of resolution, bad press for both organizers and participants.
  • Public opinions and winnings through ‘likes’ do not guarantee you transparency of the process (risk of buying likes), and above all satisfaction after it. The audience will not choose a good project for your business. The promotion assumed in this way can turn against you.
  • If we check the results of the competitions and see the organizers after a few months, it turns out that few won works are actually used …

Comment:

  • At the beginning, answer the question whether the contestants will get all the necessary information about you / your project / company for the proper conduct of project work? (see e.g. process / brief on the home page)
  • Do you know how to construct a brief?
  • When you get a choice of many projects of different quality and an uncertain source, will you know which will be the best choice for your company?
  • Will you expose plagiarism yourself and assess the level of work?
  • Think about who can most often undertake projects at a low price and at a high risk, will these concepts meet the minimum requirements for this type of work?
  • Underestimating the costs and not exploring the market can mean that the money spent on the competition will simply be thrown away.

Are you interested in participating in logo competitions?

Pros:

  • You master workshop skills.
  • You learn fast action.
  • You have a chance to win something.
  • Even if you don’t win, you can add a good design to your portfolio.
  • Some of your concepts can be useful in your later design work.

Cons:

  • Little chance to win (regardless of the organizer and level of work).
  • You must know that often the winner will objectively be one of the weaker works, and the decisions will be vague and incomprehensible to you.
  • Be careful not to overdo it. Often, you often lose only time. You might as well look for clients, develop marketing etc.
  • You are getting bad work habits.
  • You will not get any feedback during work – you can go into a wonderful and time-consuming project that will not interest the organizer at all ..
  • You spoil the customer and the market by supporting low-budget, unprofessional events.
  • You may not even see the results of the competition – they are often unresolved, according to their regulations and without giving objective reasons.
  • You need to watch out for organizers who are not going to settle the competition at all. They are interested in free feedback, etc.
  • Your ideas can be “helpful” to the organizer in the future as a free job.
  • You will not receive remuneration for this and you will prove nothing.
    In some competitions, your personal data may be made public without your consent.
  • Those decided through “likes” are most often a marketing game. If you don’t involve your family and friends, you don’t even have a chance to notice.
  • There are unfair moves, purchased likes and ‘temporary’ friends.
  • Many scandals have discredited this method of organizing competitions, but they are still fine.
  • Sometimes the regulations contain illegal or contradictory provisions limiting your rights in various ways. In many cases it will be information for you about the lack of professionalism of the organizer.
  • Take into account negative feedback, and even criticism and anti-advertising on the Internet (results are often publicized on social media). You will probably get criticism even if the project is relatively good.
  • Low budget. I understand that you are starting a serious competition in a few thousand. but one day’s budget? Think about getting a real customer, even at this price, you’ll get better at it. Do not give your feed a free trickster and don’t sell yourself for next to nothing!

Comment:

  • Here, the matter is simple, you can participate or not;] You have to assess the risk yourself.

 

A few examples after a very quick research:

Winners:

Comparison with existing logos / or stock graphics:

Logo competitions proposals found there:
Comparison with existing logos / or stock graphics:

Some examples that caught the eye (there were more):

Finally:

Given the above list, you have to answer the question what you can gain and what you risk. Will it be just a waste of time or other, far-reaching consequences.

If you think there is something important that I have not mentioned – please comment. Best regards!