"Etiquette" of starting a contest

[donw9876]

Hi,

I found out about this board/website from the "Joel on Software" discussion forum - a happy client of this place posted the link to this site.

OK, here are my concerns:

I've been lurking in some of the contests and I am astonished by the quality of what y'all will do on a speculative basis. So, I will describe my needs - and I request guidance in setting my own expectations and the dollar level of the contest.

I need a main logo for my one business. (the general idea is "computer support", low end IT services.)

The logo, or variations, need to do multiple duty as follows (in priority order):

Business card
Web site
Sign for an office door
Small roadside Sign
Letterheads & invoices

These are varying requirements, obviously. I want multiple colors for the web site but I want a lower color version for printing (probably 2 color) that won't cost a fortune when I need printing done. And it would be nice to have the graphic look OK when printed in B&W.

I desire a "lighthearted" theme for a logo, as opposed to heavily dignified corporate flavor that all the other guys in this business use. So there will be some iterations on the personal taste aspect. However, I want to make a decision within a few weeks, so this won't drag on forever, and I will participate.

Lastly (as if all that weren't enough) what data format do you guys & gals transmit final data in? Photoshop, I suppose, and what else?

Mostly, I don't want to be an idiot and assign such a low price for these varying needs that I don't get the best help with this. I was thinking $100. Would that probably work?

Thanks! :)

[Michael]

Hello and welcome to Design outpost :)


I will try and answer your concerns

I've been lurking in some of the contests and I am astonished by the quality of what y'all will do on a speculative basis.  So, I will describe my needs - and I request guidance in setting my own expectations and the dollar level of the contest.


Thank you for the compliment


The logo, or variations, need to do multiple duty as follows (in priority order):
Business card
Web site
Sign for an office door
Small roadside Sign
Letterheads & invoices

When you set up the contest you can request that the logo will be used for the following, thus giving the designers an idea what they are designing for.


These are varying requirements, obviously. I want multiple colors for the web site but I want a lower color version for printing (probably 2 color) that won't cost a fortune when I need printing done. And it would be nice to have the graphic look OK when printed in B&W.

You will find most designers here will produce the logo in colour and in black or greyscale.
If you specify in the contest that you require a full colour with all the trimmings for the web site and then a 1 or 2 colours for print the designers will produce these for you.


Lastly (as if all that weren't enough) what data format do you guys & gals transmit final data in? Photoshop, I suppose, and what else?

Some of us work with Photoshop, Illustrator or Freehand either way you will get all the necessary formats for all your needs I.e. web, print.


Mostly, I don't want to be an idiot and assign such a low price for these varying needs that I don't get the best help with this. I was thinking $100. Would that probably work?


This is hard as most of us here do this as a living and have our own charges, but here at DO we like to help out in all contests (time permits), but like anything else the more you are willing to pay out the more interest you will receive, now I'm not saying that some of the $50 contests get forgotten you pay what your business can afford.

You said yourself about the talent here at DO and if you were to go to an agency you would pay 5 times that. I'm not saying $100 isn't enough you would get entries and they would be top quality ;) I think the highest there has been was $225 and that was increase halfway through from $150 (I think).


Any other questions feel free to ask.


Michael

[ElKootcho]

These are varying requirements, obviously. I want multiple colors for the web site but I want a lower color version for printing (probably 2 color) that won't cost a fortune when I need printing done. And it would be nice to have the graphic look OK when printed in B&W.

Actually, since you require a two-color logo then what you need is a logo designed in a vector program such as Illustrator or Freehand. These programs are designed to handle spot color easily and that's what most printers will expect to receive: a vector based EPS. It's also best for pure black and white logos.

Raster based programs such as Photoshop are primarily designed for continuous tone images (like photographs) in CMYK, RGB or grayscale mode.

Most designers (not all) will design your logo in Illustrator (or other vector program) and then bring it into Photoshop to add the special effects for the web or CMYK print versions.

As far as the prize amount is concerned, I simply suggest that you offer whatever you feel the job is worth to you. I'd guess that the average logo prize here on Design Outpost is somewhere between $125 - $150. Generally speaking the more you offer, the more entries you can expect. Although prize amount isn't the only thing that will produce entries. Your participation in the contest is equally important.

[Michael]

I apologise as I rushed my reply, just leaving the house to see the new Matrix film :)


As Kootch mentioned here at DO we love feedback and plenty of it, we respect contest holders putting time aside to comment on our designs, as this in the long run will produce the perfect logo for you.


We look forward to your contest.


Michael