Contests like this accomplish all of this while also allowing a company or organization to only have to pay a tiny amount for a huge amount of work. As long as people continue to enter these contests, they devalue the time and skill of everyone in the industry.

To ‘have a go’ and be chosen as outstanding amongst your peers is ultimate - just ask olympic athletes why they enter contests.

I LOVE to see my designs all over the town where I live. From the huge logo on the local surf shop to business stationery and web sites I’ve designed and I can’t even remember how much I charged them for it and I’ve long spent the money.

Sitepoint is a community just like my hometown and I reckon the prizemoney was only the bonus for the winner.

The exploitation part is the guy who starts a contest and doesn’t care much about the contest. For whatever purpose.

Like crome say you dont have to be a student or new grad to hit sitepoint.
-when i go home from my office at night ..its fun for me to hit contests.
i don’t mind the idea.
that’s me.

I think you’ll find a lot of entrants aren’t students or new grads.

I guess we all have our opinions and standards we work too. I can’t see how people are being exploited. Everything is clearly outlined before the start of the contest. Ervyone knows the rules, the prize money and what will happen if they don’t win. No tricks no scams.

Humans have a natural instinct to compete and often the contests are a great way to work with a lot of great designers and share banter along the way.

I do unerstand there are many reasons why people take part in the contests and understand they do have value for people such as students or recent grads who are looking to build a portfolio.

I still can’t however feel that these people are being exploited - I do agree that this is a free choice though.

I do find the system unfair and won’t take part myself. I am in no way saying “DO NOT ENTER CONTESTS AND BOYCOTT SITEPOINT” - this has to be an individual choice. I just feel that every contest has a winner - the person who runs the contest and gets all these peoples time at a very low rate.

There is more to a contest than simply making money. As shown by a number of SP articles and posts there are more benefits to a contest than winning.

For me it is a great way to try out lots of ideas and help keep you thinking creatively.
It allows your work to be seen by lots of people other than the contest holder who maybe interested in hiring you.
Many designers have got repeat business from a contest which they wouldn’t have otherwise received.

If you don’t like the system or think it is in anyway unfair, no one is forcing you to enter. But judging by the figures above, many people including myself are happy to enter.

I’m glad you’ve got your new logo and no doubt you’re very happy with what you have paid for it.

I have to say I’m disgusted to see such a well established industry figure embarking on contests that devalue the design profession significantly.

I have never agreed with contests as you are asking people to do work for free. However, now I have seen your figures I have to say I think you really are taking the piss with this one.

With the total prize award of $1200 (Aus $?) this is the equivalent of paying the following based on your figures:

$3.86 (£1.72, US $3.42) per designer
$0.82 (£0.37, US $0.73) per submitted design

Assuming an average of 45 minutes per design (I suspect this to be a low estimate), you have paid the equivalent of $1.09 (£0.49, US $0.97) for every hour of design time that has gone into these designs that you will now profit from - significantly.

To sitepoint - Would you work for $1.09 per hour? I don’t think so.
To the contestants - Do you really value your work so poorly that you will only work for these rates? There are much more profitable ways to earn a living from logo design. Find some clients, work directly with them and avoid contests.