Comments on: Jeremiah Owyang’s Anti Spec Contest http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/ Founder of Startup Weekend and Startup Enthusiast Based in Boulder, Colorado Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:17:04 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: nerfherder http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-27045 nerfherder Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:19:50 +0000 http://andrewhyde.net/?p=1031#comment-27045 I'd like to suggest that web design and logo design are entirely different animals. With web design, UI/usability comes first and foremost. Without that, no matter how cool the site looks, no one will be able to use it. A web design is never something that stands the test of time. Old web designs become obvious very quickly and require constant refreshing. Good logo designs should withstand many years of sustainability, of only to be slightly tweaked if at all.<br><br>This is not to say web designs are better candidates for potential success with design sites. On the contrary. I've been working in webdev for 15+ years and have sat in so many planning session I cannot even count. COmmunication, once again, is mission critical.<br><br>Create a header for a website? eh, i can see that as something needing less communication, as long as a requirement is to adhere to established branding conventions. I'd like to suggest that web design and logo design are entirely different animals. With web design, UI/usability comes first and foremost. Without that, no matter how cool the site looks, no one will be able to use it. A web design is never something that stands the test of time. Old web designs become obvious very quickly and require constant refreshing. Good logo designs should withstand many years of sustainability, of only to be slightly tweaked if at all.

This is not to say web designs are better candidates for potential success with design sites. On the contrary. I've been working in webdev for 15+ years and have sat in so many planning session I cannot even count. COmmunication, once again, is mission critical.

Create a header for a website? eh, i can see that as something needing less communication, as long as a requirement is to adhere to established branding conventions.

]]> By: nerfherder http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-26980 nerfherder Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:19:50 +0000 http://andrewhyde.net/?p=1031#comment-26980 I'd like to suggest that web design and logo design are entirely different animals. With web design, UI/usability comes first and foremost. Without that, no matter how cool the site looks, no one will be able to use it. A web design is never something that stands the test of time. Old web designs become obvious very quickly and require constant refreshing. Good logo designs should withstand many years of sustainability, of only to be slightly tweaked if at all.<br><br>This is not to say web designs are better candidates for potential success with design sites. On the contrary. I've been working in webdev for 15+ years and have sat in so many planning session I cannot even count. COmmunication, once again, is mission critical.<br><br>Create a header for a website? eh, i can see that as something needing less communication, as long as a requirement is to adhere to established branding conventions. I'd like to suggest that web design and logo design are entirely different animals. With web design, UI/usability comes first and foremost. Without that, no matter how cool the site looks, no one will be able to use it. A web design is never something that stands the test of time. Old web designs become obvious very quickly and require constant refreshing. Good logo designs should withstand many years of sustainability, of only to be slightly tweaked if at all.

This is not to say web designs are better candidates for potential success with design sites. On the contrary. I've been working in webdev for 15+ years and have sat in so many planning session I cannot even count. COmmunication, once again, is mission critical.

Create a header for a website? eh, i can see that as something needing less communication, as long as a requirement is to adhere to established branding conventions.

]]> By: Danno http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-25714 Danno Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:59:34 +0000 http://andrewhyde.net/?p=1031#comment-25714 What crowdSPRING employees (er, “contest” “entrants”) have to bet on — and stop me if I’m wrong — is the off-chance that the kind of “client” who wants a last-second brand identity done in a week for $500 (sometimes based on a 200-word brief made up on the spot), STILL nevertheless has the skill, experience, time, awareness and understanding to recognize which random entry is not only the most superbly-crafted, not only entirely original and copyrightable, not only befitting the industry and right on target for the market & the business’s culture and personality — but ALSO the best-fitting for realizing the long-term needs, goals and plans that will best position that individual company to survive and thrive in the future.<br><br>Oh, and they’d better be darn sure they’re not utilizing a ripped-off design concept already owned by another company, or are distributing something created illegally using stolen fonts and pirated software. What crowdSPRING employees (er, “contest” “entrants”) have to bet on — and stop me if I’m wrong — is the off-chance that the kind of “client” who wants a last-second brand identity done in a week for $500 (sometimes based on a 200-word brief made up on the spot), STILL nevertheless has the skill, experience, time, awareness and understanding to recognize which random entry is not only the most superbly-crafted, not only entirely original and copyrightable, not only befitting the industry and right on target for the market & the business’s culture and personality — but ALSO the best-fitting for realizing the long-term needs, goals and plans that will best position that individual company to survive and thrive in the future.

Oh, and they’d better be darn sure they’re not utilizing a ripped-off design concept already owned by another company, or are distributing something created illegally using stolen fonts and pirated software.

]]> By: Jeremiah Owyang http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-25697 Jeremiah Owyang Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:41:19 +0000 http://andrewhyde.net/?p=1031#comment-25697 Typo, I meant to write the following:<br><br>Listen, I don't mind being the digital punching bag for designers, but I'd rather focus on the reality of the situation AND focus on solutions. Typo, I meant to write the following:

Listen, I don't mind being the digital punching bag for designers, but I'd rather focus on the reality of the situation AND focus on solutions.

]]> By: Jeremiah Owyang http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-25694 Jeremiah Owyang Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:37:24 +0000 http://andrewhyde.net/?p=1031#comment-25694 I actually didn't know that email went out to the community. I asked Ross not to treat me any differently than anyone else, as I was experimenting with the tool. I did find quite a few weaknesses with spec work and crowdspring that I'll be bringing up at the panel. To start with: 1) This is no excuse for not having a design strategy. I knew what I want (and am a former UI designer) so i could get by just fine 2) Some of the submissions were sub standard, actually they were very hard to look at 3) This was time consuming for me, I spent a lot of time providing feedback to a majority of the submissions.<br><br>Andrew, I laughed out loud when I saw the graphic, but what the heck does that have to do with the issue? It would make more sense if you started to do spec work my research. <br><br>Listen, I don't mind being the digital punching bag for designers, but I'd rather focus on the reality of the situation then focus on solutions....and that's what I'm going to do. In the end, I'm going to recommend to the world's largest brands how they should approach spec work --if at all. <br><br>Also, thanks for calling me a friend, I think the same of you too! Looking forward to coming back to Boulder to partake in chai with you again! I actually didn't know that email went out to the community. I asked Ross not to treat me any differently than anyone else, as I was experimenting with the tool. I did find quite a few weaknesses with spec work and crowdspring that I'll be bringing up at the panel. To start with: 1) This is no excuse for not having a design strategy. I knew what I want (and am a former UI designer) so i could get by just fine 2) Some of the submissions were sub standard, actually they were very hard to look at 3) This was time consuming for me, I spent a lot of time providing feedback to a majority of the submissions.

Andrew, I laughed out loud when I saw the graphic, but what the heck does that have to do with the issue? It would make more sense if you started to do spec work my research.

Listen, I don't mind being the digital punching bag for designers, but I'd rather focus on the reality of the situation then focus on solutions….and that's what I'm going to do. In the end, I'm going to recommend to the world's largest brands how they should approach spec work –if at all.

Also, thanks for calling me a friend, I think the same of you too! Looking forward to coming back to Boulder to partake in chai with you again!

]]> By: Mister J. http://andrewhy.de/jeremiah-owyangs-anti-spec-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-25691 Mister J. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:22:19 +0000 http://andrewhyde.net/?p=1031#comment-25691 The contest you're referring to was heavily promoted internally at CS so the results aren't indicative of people "off the street". Here's the e-mail sent out after the contest for Owyang's banner was launched - <br><br>I wanted to send a personal note of thanks for all of your great work and the help from our entire community with the Forbes project - you made us look outstanding in that project, and we truly appreciate it!<br><br>The publicity from the Forbes article has been amazing and has allowed us to bring in many more projects and provide great opportunities for all of you. At the moment, we have more than 200 open projects! And while they're all obviously great, we have four unique projects that will help us - and you - get significant exposure and continue to bring more clients to crowdSPRING. I would hugely appreciate it if you would consider taking a look - you'll quickly see why the projects have significant value (to us and to you) beyond the monetary award so I hope you'll consider participating.<br><br><snip of other 'high-profile' contests><br><br>Jeremiah Owyang from Forrester Research<br><a href="http://www.crowdspring.com/projects/website_design/ad_banner/develop_header_banner_for_my_blog" rel="nofollow">http://www.crowdspring.com/projects/website_des...</a><br>Jeremiah Owyang is a very visible and popular analyst for Forrester Research. Over twenty thousand people subscribe to Jeremiah's blog and he's blogging about this project (<a href="http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/02/24/feedback-session-2-web-strategy-redesign/" rel="nofollow">http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/02/24/f...</a>). Let's give him a great look at the great talent in our community!<br><br>Thanks again for all your great work. We are so excited by what's ahead of us in 2009!<br><br>Best,<br><br>Ross Kimbarovsky<br>co-Founder<br><br>------------------------ ><br><br>I'm somewhat taken aback at the idea of a spec company hitting up their 'community' of 'creatives' to submit more free work (none of which is likely to win and the chances of an individual winning is lowered as the numbers rise) in order to make the company look good. At least they pointed out that the project has "have significant value beyond the monetary award". The contest you're referring to was heavily promoted internally at CS so the results aren't indicative of people “off the street”. Here's the e-mail sent out after the contest for Owyang's banner was launched –

I wanted to send a personal note of thanks for all of your great work and the help from our entire community with the Forbes project – you made us look outstanding in that project, and we truly appreciate it!

The publicity from the Forbes article has been amazing and has allowed us to bring in many more projects and provide great opportunities for all of you. At the moment, we have more than 200 open projects! And while they're all obviously great, we have four unique projects that will help us – and you – get significant exposure and continue to bring more clients to crowdSPRING. I would hugely appreciate it if you would consider taking a look – you'll quickly see why the projects have significant value (to us and to you) beyond the monetary award so I hope you'll consider participating.

<snip of other 'high-profile' contests>

Jeremiah Owyang from Forrester Research
http://www.crowdspring.com/projects/website_des...
Jeremiah Owyang is a very visible and popular analyst for Forrester Research. Over twenty thousand people subscribe to Jeremiah's blog and he's blogging about this project (http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/02/24/f...). Let's give him a great look at the great talent in our community!

Thanks again for all your great work. We are so excited by what's ahead of us in 2009!

Best,

Ross Kimbarovsky
co-Founder

———————— >

I'm somewhat taken aback at the idea of a spec company hitting up their 'community' of 'creatives' to submit more free work (none of which is likely to win and the chances of an individual winning is lowered as the numbers rise) in order to make the company look good. At least they pointed out that the project has “have significant value beyond the monetary award”.

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