Sitepoint Contests – Lets Shut it down…. (or just boycott verbally, spread the word)

Sitepoint has always proven to be a great resource for website marketing ideas. the articles listed on the site have always served as a great introduction to a number of topics. However, recently they have decided to add a section called contests which has upset a number of people including myself…

This section has become a hotbed for underpaid spec work that the section should be boycotted immediately. I just randomly searched through the listings to find not a single listing with a reward of over 400 dollars. These listings are for things such as identity systems, logos, printed materials, and complete websites. Now who in their right mind would offer these services on a completely speculative basis with a total compensation of 250 dollars if they are selected.

This is a serious issue that must be addressed, the value of our work as designers must not be seen as similar to the “contests” listed on this site. This site could easily serve as an example of pricing for potential clients who have never dealt with a designer before. As a community of designers we should all stand up and openly protest these “contests” I am suggesting that every designer with a blog please place one post in regards to this topic on their blog so that we may raise awareness of the problem.

NO SPEC’s current article is one in regards to this very matter, about how a non-profit used these services to obtain a logo. (http://www.no-spec.com/archives/the-spec-trap-sitepoint/) While it is absolutely appropriate for a non-profit to receive work on a pro-bono basis, it should be done in a way that creates interaction between the client and the designer. Trying to justify spec work through situations such as clients without budgets does not change the fact the majority of all entries will be a simple and underdeveloped final product, compared to properly finding a designer. To better illustrate my point I suggest you click here to visit the sitepoint contests section and see this travesty for yourself…

For More Info on the (Many) Negatives of Spec Work Visit: http://www.no-spec.com

Update:
It appears that some of my comments and the comments of other posters on the original sitepoint article have lead to a wonderful first-hand article about what participating in a sitepoint contest is like. Please visit leahzero’s comments by reading my update post.