Design Competitions (they suck)

I’m not a graphic designer...

...by trade.

I’ve created brand identity systems, illustrations and logos for some amazing clients.

I’ve created t-shirt graphics, posters, murals.

But graphic design is not my trade.

At my core though I’m a creative business person.

This gives me some perspective on the industry that I hope is helpful in some way.

Call it an insider/outsider perspective?

I’ve been thinking over the last few days about why our industry is different.

A few things that really frustrate me about our industry.

Why do all the books I read tell us to expect to roll back prices to match the client's budget?

When every other industry sets a price for their services and if you can’t afford it, you go somewhere else.

Why do businesses create elaborate ‘design competitions’ where they get creatives to work for free in the hopes of getting that illustrious shot and being ‘chosen’ to be on their label?

The winner gets a meager prize (often times well below the going rate for similar services)

When every other industry would just research, find the right provider and start the job.

One of my colleagues described the practice as “yuck, unethical and disrespectful”.

Yet still these competitions are common and even promoted by industry bodies.

Worse than this, clients think that we love our work so much we’re willing to work for exposure.

Why is it the norm to have our pricing on our website? Package up our solutions into affordable bundles?

Commoditizing what we do (basically acting like amazon or any other online retailer).

When every other industry would promote their services and take inquiries, without advertising their prices.

Why do businesses still not value brand as being the cornerstone, the FOUNDATION of their business growth?

It’s just a logo.

If we want to be treated like equals.

Like the consultants we are.

We need to change our standards.

Our behavior.

And how we value ourselves and the wonderful solutions we create.