Thread: Designers Question

Ok, I have started doing more graphic work and have done some contests at the "other" forum but as you all know I'm new to this so I have to ask a question. There is this one chic on there that IMHO is a scammer. She always enters the contest, waits for the contest host to say which design is there favorite so far, then she basically steals their entire look and changes like one aspect of the design, usually something very small.
Maybe I'm just a noob here, but I think it is so wrong to basically steal others ideas even if you cange something of it. Is this normal practice in these types of contests? I am even in the top 3 for this one contest and the host says they like another persons logo better then mine in my header but I can't get myself to act that way and steal his logo. Am I just a niave or am I really doing the right thing. I hope that this isn't common practice, but maybe it is... anyone been in this situation before? I may not be cut out for those contests if stealling each others work is what it is all about.

Kim, you are absolutely correct. Stealing someone's work is not a practice of real professionals. Mostly in these type of contests you HAVE to work quickly because there the WHOLE world is involved, so I think its less time available for thinking about creativity therefore most people just choose the shortcut and copy other designs (its bad).

Don't worry if you are not winning any contest. Me too didn't win any contest for a long time, Then I started searching forums where there are less designers, I mainly worked for webmasters, who are not good in designing, and they liked my talent. If you are in the contest where already 1000's of designers are available then how can you enter and beat them?

Another most important thing: Try to make your portfolio. You don't have to just work on contests to be good in graphics designing. You should design stuff for your own practice. And whenever enter a contest show your portfolio.

Hope my detailed explaination helps you

Thanks for the response. I felt like I was the only one over there with integrity or whatever you want to call it. I won a few contests, nothing major but the big ones, where I come close I just can't go the extra step in my head and steal crap a others do. I know it is costing me money but I'm atleast able to sleep at night knowing I did the right thing.

I agree I need to be working on more of a portfolio. I am lucky to have a few clients already though of people I've met online that I do work for now which is nice but I'm a competitor, always have been and the contests are kind of addicting LOL! Great advice though, I will definitely take it!

My Pleasure Kim

I always love to talk on these kind of topics. Its really good to know that you have won few contests.. Keep it up.

By the way, what is your profession? I mean you are a web developer? what is your field?

Well, we began online it was in the financial business and that has remained our focus. My husband has been in financial sales, (stock broker on up the ladder for over a decade now) so we have run a few financial sites. I recently began a local news site which has taken a ton of time and money. Hence the reason I started doing some design work, make up some money spent on my newest news site. What am I...... a little bit of everything. :-) I love marketing though, that is fun to me and part of what I went to college for. So I would say I am
1. a webmsater
2. Internet Marketer and
3. a designer I guess.
Not really sure anymore. i just love learning everything!

Originally Posted by kdemonte

My husband has been in financial sales, (stock broker on up the ladder for over a decade now)

Oh, I am very sorry KIM.. I was thinking that you are a male

Actually by seeing your name I couldn't judge that who is there, a male or female.

Me too like to learn everything but I am just focusing and having interest in designing

I am so glad to here you mixed up someone being a male or female I do it all the time too... just ask LaCabra! I thought he was a girl forever LOL! until he finally called me out on it.

Originally Posted by kdemonte

Maybe I'm just a noob here, but I think it is so wrong to basically steal others ideas even if you cange something of it. Is this normal practice in these types of contests? I am even in the top 3 for this one contest and the host says they like another persons logo better then mine in my header but I can't get myself to act that way and steal his logo. Am I just a niave or am I really doing the right thing. I hope that this isn't common practice, but maybe it is... anyone been in this situation before? I may not be cut out for those contests if stealling each others work is what it is all about.

Actually, it is a common occurrence in forum contests. It is wrong, but the only thing you can do is stick to your principles. On the rare occasion that I enter a forum contest, I tend to wait until the last minute to enter my submission for that reason. I'll have some concepts ready and submit them right before the deadline.

But, I very rarely enter contests anymore. When I first started working online, I entered quite a few contests. But, I found that the quality clients don't come from that. I've had one client in the past 5 years that held a few contests, 2 of which I entered and won. From then on, he'd come to me at the onset of a new project.

Honestly, it's not worth my time. Too much time for no guarantee of pay. I value my time too much to participate.

Yep, it's definitely wrong. I used to participate in contests at namepros.com and sitepoint.com and never seen this happen. I guess people are now ruining it for others.

Mainly, I stopped entering contests cause the person running the contest would up and disappear and we had all wasted our time. :evil:

Originally Posted by chaka42

Honestly, it's not worth my time. Too much time for no guarantee of pay. I value my time too much to participate.

Exactly.

I agree. I choose designers on their portfolio alone as well as reputation. I usually ask for 2 or 3 minor revisions to test different things, and then I find exactly what I'm looking for. If it takes more than 3 revisions under the worst circumstances, and you still arent happy, something is a miss.

I think the most irritating thing on earth is people that purchase an vector / psd from iStockPhoto.com and try to pass it off as original.. but when you ask for modifications, they "cant do it because of how it was designed".

never give up! Originality will pull you through in the end im sure.

I am happy to say people are finally calling this scammer on it at the "other" place. Its nice to not be the only one totally annoyed by this. If she wants to claim herself to be a designer then act like it and prove you have some type of creativity of your own! *end rant*
I have never claimed to be a designer but still would never do this, I have a long way to go to be as good as alotof designers I've seen, but its fun to pretend!

Yeah, I noticed that on that other forum when I ran a few contests for logos.

Some original ones, but most were basically the same theme and the same look.

Originally Posted by kdemonte

I am so glad to here you mixed up someone being a male or female I do it all the time too...

I am a guy, write it down somewhere


Now back to your question, Kim what you are doing, has just got more respect for you from me.

Stealing someone's work isnt ethical, its basically a crime no matter in what form or shape you do it.

Getting inspiration from someone's work is one thing but stealing it is totaly different.

You you are doing just right thing.. Hats off for you, specially for this-

I am even in the top 3 for this one contest and the host says they like another persons logo better then mine in my header but I can't get myself to act that way and steal his logo

Kim does good work!
See the latest logo she created for me (I go to her first now for logos).
Dawg Ebook Blog