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How to be a professional logo designer?

As a logo designer, how ethical is it to attempt to contact clients who have posted contests on crowdsourcing sites asking them to consider your services?

  • People believe sites like 99Designs to be unethical. So, if you believe this is the case, do you attempt to make contact with this potentially huge  client list? I mean, there are 1000's of potential clients listed in more than one place, it's a Gold Mine of contacts. I know from experience that many clients have approached me after not getting any successful submissions from a contest they put up. They end up paying more than they would have done had they approached me or another logo designer direct. Would you then consider this also to be unethical, or just business? Do you feel it's just playing the game and every one for themselves? This isn't a debate about crowdsourcing, it's just discussing the manner in which we target potential clients and the lengths you might go.

  • Answer:

    I'm not sure I'd necessarily agree with that. Companies are taking advantage of a service that claims to provide them with free design services; and I don't see any reason why a company with a limited budget should ignore that. I might not agree with the likes of 99Designs' model, but I have no problem with companies who use it. Many of these companies might not understand the difference in value that comes from working with a high quality designer. If you can successfully pitch to them, explain the benefits, and win work like that, then I say go for it.

Robin Cannon at Quora Visit the source

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I've had decent success in the past in doing this, just referencing that I heard, they were in need of design services. The "cheeky" attitude was both recognized and appreciated by clients. The following sale was pretty easy, as the competition had no direct communication with the client, where as I could just pop by, say hello and have a casual discussion over coffee - in a digital world, analogue is still king, when it comes to relations.Not all crowdsourcers are doing so for the sake of price, but also for lack of experience working with designers, and if you can assure them of quality, and make the purchase about something more than a price comparison, then you're there.Of course, some were dismissive because of price or not following the procedure, but I'd say, they probably would have made poor clients anyway.

Sigurd Rubech Hartmeyer-Dinesen

Personally I'd avoid this type of company. By the very nature they are using crowd sourcing (or a competition) to create a logo, the company is requesting work to be done for free and illustrates the lack of value they place on design.

Dereck Johnson

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