Discussion: How to improve contests

**woosh** · 02-29-2008, 03:41 PM

Welcome omgage :P ask away if you ever get stuck with anything, we love to help!

**omgage** · 03-03-2008, 11:42 PM

Is there a way we can advertise this site, so as to bring more work to the designers here? I checked out sitepoint and that **** be competitive design-wise, but also pricey. We would be a good alternative for smaller businesses, no?

**onlyyourspiyu** · 04-02-2008, 01:21 AM

I have an issue....

Can some steps be taken which makes sure that a contest ends properly...

I mean at times it happens that the contest holder just vanishes i.e. he is gone without even closing the competition whatever maybe the reason... This results in a total waste of efforts...and time...

Also, contest holder holds the same contests in various forums....and as soon as they get a design they like, they close the competition without even showing the courtesy to thank all of them who participated...or give some feedback on why they did not like the design/what made them select the winning design....

Some politeness coupled with professionalism is required to be involved.....After all every single person here is designating their very precious time....

**woosh** · 04-29-2008, 09:29 PM

There needs to be a rule or guideline of some sort to close a contest if no feedback has been given after a certain amount of time from the contest start. It's just making the contests section look silly now it's been happening far too much again lately. As for the contests being held on other sites its not allowed is it? And if thats the case designer's need to start reporting these contests more.

**angele803** · 04-30-2008, 10:15 AM

I have been trying to get a hold of the contest abandoners, but don't always have much luck. If i can't get a hold of them, I have been closing the contests. I do agree that this is a problem though.
It is not a rule that the CH ONLY hold the contest in this forum, but I think it has been discussed that the CH should announce what other forums the contest is being run on. I will see if we can add it to our form that CHs fill out when they start a new contest.

**woosh** · 05-01-2008, 03:38 AM

Cheers Angele, it's disappointing to see these things happening again, things were going really well there for a while. Designers need to be more aware and use the system to report problems and use the itrader system also. Especially with recent contest events.

**jesterx** · 05-01-2008, 05:39 AM

i have tried money for signing up...it workds well.

you know that paypal use to give you digital money for signing up way back. sort of like that.

YOu need to test first to see what works.

**phacker** · 05-06-2008, 02:19 AM

I recently got burned by the Bully Dawg T shirt contest and the thread was closed before I could post that payment had never been received. I added negative Talkup rep, but how can anyone ever even read my warning. I haven't been able to read the other comments. I'd like to be sure no one else is ever burned by this individual.

**Gx3 Grafix** · 05-06-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phacker

I recently got burned by the Bully Dawg T shirt contest and the thread was closed before I could post that payment had never been received. I added negative Talkup rep, but how can anyone ever even read my warning. I haven't been able to read the other comments. I'd like to be sure no one else is ever burned by this individual.

A negative talkupation will only let the community know about his overall reputation and how helpful he his. The comments are not read by the community only the user and admin/mods. This is what our iTrader rating system is for. This will let people know that he can not be trusted and anyone will be able to read these comments. It even gives you additional space if you need to elaborate.

I'm very sorry that you got burned. That's never a good feeling. I know you're against watermarking your work but maybe it's time to reconsider.

Don't forget your i-Trader.

**angele803** · 05-06-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phacker

I recently got burned by the Bully Dawg T shirt contest and the thread was closed before I could post that payment had never been received. I added negative Talkup rep, but how can anyone ever even read my warning. I haven't been able to read the other comments. I'd like to be sure no one else is ever burned by this individual.

It looks like you got the iTrader rating figured out. His negative rating is showing up. I am sorry your design was stolen. I am trying to do everything I can to get this worked out. I have tried several ways to contact the CH. I am also seeing what can be done from the forum side (infraction, ban, etc.).

I used to be against watermarking too, but after seeing how bold some people can be with stealing images, I am a strong proponent of it. I really encourage you to think about watermarking in the future. It can be done subtly enough to prevent it from marring your image, but strong enough to prevent a person from easily lifting your image.

Anyway, I am working on your behalf and hope we get this settled soon!

**aschecht** · 05-11-2008, 06:39 PM

A couple of thoughts from a CH who's found these graphic design contests to be really valuable and wants to see it flourish:

1) As a CH, I'd gladly post 50-100% of the money in escrow at the start of a contest as insurance for the designers against abandonment. Already in contests, many designers put in a lot of effort and only the victor walks away with the cash money. No wonder then that if contests are being abandoned it would make folks think twice about participating at all. Preventing abandonment will lead to more designers participating, better contests, and more activity.

2) If a CH has not paid a contest, I don't think negative iTrader ratings are sufficient consequence. Perhaps banning from posting future contests? Excommunication?

3) A CH who steals work from a contest without paying and then uses it on a website is committing a crime. Theft & copyright violation. It should not be tolerated. I think it would be good if the forum owners made clear that they would stand behind the designers and would support legal action if this occurs. A letter reporting the use of copyrighted content and threatening legal action to the website owner and the web hosting company may get the website owner in trouble with their host (and may help strong arm them into paying). If this is left up to individual designers it probably won't happen - easier to just write it off as a loss. But if Webmaster-Talk gets behind this and it is firm policy, scoundrels will think twice before stealing contest work.

Andrew

**Gx3 Grafix** · 05-12-2008, 10:54 AM

I think those are great suggestions. It's been known that a new improved contest forum is on the way. I hope to see some of these ideas implemented into the new system.

I do think banning is a little harsh though, at least for a first offense. I've seen a CH come back and finish a comp a couple times. Who knows what their situation was but the fact is ish happens and it happens to all of us. I do agree that if it's abuse a ban is a good solution. Pre-Paid or Down Pay options would help protect against this though.

I know when theft is committed here, the designer is not alone. In the past we've pulled together as a team, members, admins and mods. Phone calls and letters written on behalf of WT & the Designer. It's hard work and I have to applaud the staff and members here for their efforts. There is no excuse for theft, like you said, it's illegal and everyone should know it's not tolerated here. We look out for each other, if someone chooses to steal, WE WILL KNOW and action will be taken.

**angele803** · 05-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Thanks for your suggestions Andrew. Like Kimberly said, we are working on a new system. We had one started a while back, but ran into some problems with it. Now we have merged with another forum, so there are lots of other programming things to attend to before the contest forums gets put back in the spotlight. I do appreciate all the suggestions and am sure many of them will be put into the new system.

Banning a member for one negative iTrader rating could cause some problems. (ie, people could leave bad iTrader for someone they just don't like to get them banned). The iTrader does serve as a good indicator of whether or not a CH is trustworthy - kind of like the ebay feedback system.

There have been instances of copyright theft where the forum has really fought on behalf of the designer. (again, like Kimberly said). We have tracked down hosting accounts and talked to hosting companies, but sadly, this doesn't always work. But we do try! This forum is full of great members who really look out for each other. Its one of the things that makes this place great!

**aschecht** · 05-13-2008, 12:34 AM

I'm looking forward to the new system.

I agree that one bad iTrader rating shouldn't get one banned. I guess one could get a bad iTrader rating from taking too long to pay or being weasely and pushing for revisions that surpass the descriptions in the contest. But starting a contest and then walking away from it, wasting hours of time of designers, all for nothing. It seems like it would be reasonable to prevent future contests posted from that person.

Anyway, I welcome any changes that will protect those who are approaching the contests as they are intended.

A.

**katesrobyn** · 07-01-2008, 11:48 AM

can we have a good rate prices for the designs.... like other contest that I have joined... it motivates designers and will draw more people .... rates examples: LOGO - $100 - 150 , banner & poster - $150 -175 , T-shirt $200 - 250 , website $500 -1800

i think it's running prices in the market ...........

**angele803** · 07-01-2008, 12:01 PM

Katesrobyn - I have asked the other mods and admins what they think about this. I will let you know if I hear something back.

**JoshChris** · 07-01-2008, 12:09 PM

That's something I've noticed as well. Other contests that I've entered have logos from $100 - $300 and websites from $1,000 - $10,000. But a lot of people are getting things really cheap here. Then again, they get what they pay for.

**Ninjax** · 07-05-2008, 04:37 PM

It's starting to really get to me. What JoshChris says, he's right.
Most of time they go for $100-$300 for a logo, but here they go for $20. It's ridiculous. And the people who do this are repeating offenders. They come here, make $20-$25 contests, and think that they can request a magical logo...
This makes new potential new contest holders encouraged to create their contest at a ridiculously low price to, when they originally intended to spend more.
WMT needs to fix this and make a system where there is like a price boundary for a logo, banner, stationary ect... We could develop the boundary by users on this forum voting.