The client shouldn’t need to know what questions to ask from the outset. Asking questions is the job of the designer. Regardless, by pitching your skills to clients who expect designs for a dollar, I strongly believe you’re doing yourself a disservice.

As a professional graphic designer with a full time job, contest websites have provided me with extra income, often when it’s been badly needed. I understand the argument for spending some time in consultation with a designer, especially when I advocate constant feedback from those who require a decent logo.

There’s no doubt that a better result can be achieved by gathering as much info as possible, before attempting to satisfy the requirements of the client, especially if the client doesn’t know what questions to ask from the outset.

The old phrase “you get what you pay for” is often true, although I suspect a lot of logos I, and others like me, have designed are giving the client a little more than the prize value.

I know it’s a cheap way of getting a logo, but that is the basis on which I signed up. There is a market for it, although not perfect for everyone. It also serves as a ‘loss-leader’ for us designers. Who knows where these introductions will lead?

All the best,

Andy

As a struggling graphic designer, what I want to know is, how did things get to this desperate, pitiful stage? Did the internet kill our trade?

You’re right. My reasons for not using logo contests are aimed at both designers and companies (of any size). If your filming ‘company’ will remain a hobby, you’re right not to spend much / any money.

Should it develop into an income source, you can re-evaluate things then.

Good luck with it.

I’ve read your reasons for not doing the contest, but that seems like it applies more to an actual company.

What is the best way for a person like me, in your opinion, to have my logo done?

Thank you!

You’re taking my statement out of context. You could say there’s no guarantee of compensation in any line of work, because you could find yourself laid-off from employment, but what I referred to is this:

When you take on a job with a client, you should expect them to pay for your time. Otherwise, you’ll be offering a continuous flow of free work. How can anyone survive in self-employment if they don’t charge for their time? It’s simply not good business sense.

There’s a huge difference between spending time on my blog, and taking part in a contest. The former involves working for myself, whereas the latter involves working for someone else.

You said the following :’There’s no guarantee of compensation.’
No there is not, but this is part of the freelancer’s work in today’s world! This is part of working alone, for your own account, in a field where there is a lot of competition. The reality of a freelancer, saddly, is not to wait for jobs to knock at your door, charge a lot of money and get paid for everything you do.

You don’t get paid for doing this blog. Well, this is part of your job though, this is promotion. But you’re doing it for free because you know it’s good for your business.

By the way my point, in my previous comment, was that you had no valid arguments to justify that designers don’t spend time to create good logos in contest. Some of them seem to spend time and energy. Some of them are real good.

Sincerely,

Loony.

I’ve found that by showing a range of prices on my logo design questionnaire, prospective clients know my minimum price bracket before needing to contact me. This saves considerable time and effort for both parties.

Sorry to learn of the lengthy delays you found between emails with designers. That’s a sign you shouldn’t be working with them in the first place, no matter how much they charge.

Loony,

You said the following:

I don’t think your points are valid. You seem to say that Designers in contests don’t ask enough questions for the brief or don’t spend enough time searching, or don’t do brainstorming or else.

Why wouldn’t they do all that? Give me a valid point.

There’s no guarantee of compensation.

I don’t think your points are valid. You seem to say that Designers in contests don’t ask enough questions for the brief or don’t spend enough time searching, or don’t do brainstorming or else.

Why wouldn’t they do all that? Give me a valid point.

Contest have deadlines, like anything other ‘real’ job! Plus in contests, there are so many people designing that the profile is high and you must be better.

About the relationship argument, I think it’s time to get real! Business is business. If tomorrow your clients find better than you, they’ll move away from you.

Do your job, but don’t write articles like this one without giving a thought and providing solid points to your arguments.

By the way, you gave your readers and potential clients good resources and websites to get logos cheaper elsewhere.

Loony.