bob torres: bob torres - Crowdsource a cover, rip offdesigners?
Jonathan Fields
· 1 year ago
Hi Bob,
Quick update for you and your readers.
Just hours after I launched the book cover contest, I shut it down yesterday in order to avoid even the perception of exploitation. You can read the full explanation at:
A genuine thanks to you and everyone the in design community for bringing to my attention the ethical issues in what had originally been intended as simply a community-building, fun adventure, but clearly went astray.
Have a a great week ahead!
Bob Torres
· 1 year ago
@jfh: Good points. I don't think that Jonathan intended it in any negative way. To me, though, it just didn't sit right, as I explained. Also, on the issue of Vegan Freak, glad you like it! :) We're working on the 2nd edition, which will be a complete rewrite from the ground up.
@Luke: thanks for the pointer to that article. Judging from the comments on Jonathan's site, some designers feel the same way about spec work, while others saw it as an opportunity....
@Jonathan: Thanks for the heads-up, and for the proactive action on your site. I'm not a designer, so I don't really have a horse in this race, but I'm glad to see that you're willing to avoid all perceptions of exploitation and spec work. I applaud your forthrightness.
Luke
· 1 year ago
Coincidentally, I found (and started reading) ideasonideas blog not all that long ago and a post in its archives touches on this very subject.
I think this analogy puts the practice into some perspective:
Next time you need your car fixed, I encourage you to visit your mechanic and explain that if you like what he does, you’ll think about paying him something for his efforts. Or for even more fun, go to the doctor, and ask him to remove that hairy mole from your left elbow. Then explain that he should be grateful for the opportunity, as anyone with an exacto and some band-aids could have done it. If you want him to be really keen, tell him that he can put his name on the band-aid–it will be really great “exposure.”
As Jay points out, knowingly or not, you've stumbled on to what is a popular designer sentiment; both the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and the US Graphic Artists Guild strongly advocate against such practice.
Honestly though, I don't see the big problem. The publisher has a ton of cover designers on call and they could, of course, go that route but Jonathan decided to offer the chance to have someone design a book cover for Random House who would have otherwise not had a chance to. I agree, it's most likely a ploy to gain interest in the upcoming book, but what if it's not?
I certainly don't really agree with spec work, but those of us that don't need to do work like this, well...don't need to. However, those that find this to be a great opportunity for them, whatever the reason, will undoubtedly be the ones that participate.
However, if people see this and begin to take this route as the norm, then that would most definitely be a smash in the face to designers in general. So, I guess I agree with it as a once in a blue moon kind of fun contest type thing, but as a normal way of doing things...never.
P.S. Oh crap, you and your wife wrote Vegan Freak! What a small web this is. I love that book. :o)
nicole
· 1 year ago
I'm a graphic designer myself, currently working on an MFA (coincidentally regarding narrative design) and teaching. I tell my students to be wary of such things. Sometimes they work out great and there are nothing but good intentions on all sides. Other times, not so much. I know the Nike logo was designed by a student for only a few hundred bucks. Not fair in my mind, but then again much of capitalism isn't.
I'm glad to hear you talk about your relationship with graphic designers so positively. Much of the time, I think our collective presence goes unnoticed despite clogging up much of the visual milieu. Closer contact between designer and author, I think, can help to temper this mild typographic and visual insanity. Or hopefully, just make it more meaningful.
All Comments
Hi Bob,
Quick update for you and your readers.
Just hours after I launched the book cover contest, I shut it down yesterday in order to avoid even the perception of exploitation. You can read the full explanation at:
http://jonathanfields.com/blog/cover-design-and-voting-contest-discontinued-lesson-learned/
A genuine thanks to you and everyone the in design community for bringing to my attention the ethical issues in what had originally been intended as simply a community-building, fun adventure, but clearly went astray.
Have a a great week ahead!
@jfh: Good points. I don't think that Jonathan intended it in any negative way. To me, though, it just didn't sit right, as I explained. Also, on the issue of Vegan Freak, glad you like it! :) We're working on the 2nd edition, which will be a complete rewrite from the ground up.
@Luke: thanks for the pointer to that article. Judging from the comments on Jonathan's site, some designers feel the same way about spec work, while others saw it as an opportunity....
@Jonathan: Thanks for the heads-up, and for the proactive action on your site. I'm not a designer, so I don't really have a horse in this race, but I'm glad to see that you're willing to avoid all perceptions of exploitation and spec work. I applaud your forthrightness.
Coincidentally, I found (and started reading) ideasonideas blog not all that long ago and a post in its archives touches on this very subject.
I think this analogy puts the practice into some perspective:
As Jay points out, knowingly or not, you've stumbled on to what is a popular designer sentiment; both the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and the US Graphic Artists Guild strongly advocate against such practice.
You're not the only one with the uneasy feeling. There's a huge discussion over at Freelance Switch about it.
Honestly though, I don't see the big problem. The publisher has a ton of cover designers on call and they could, of course, go that route but Jonathan decided to offer the chance to have someone design a book cover for Random House who would have otherwise not had a chance to. I agree, it's most likely a ploy to gain interest in the upcoming book, but what if it's not?
I certainly don't really agree with spec work, but those of us that don't need to do work like this, well...don't need to. However, those that find this to be a great opportunity for them, whatever the reason, will undoubtedly be the ones that participate.
However, if people see this and begin to take this route as the norm, then that would most definitely be a smash in the face to designers in general. So, I guess I agree with it as a once in a blue moon kind of fun contest type thing, but as a normal way of doing things...never.
P.S. Oh crap, you and your wife wrote Vegan Freak! What a small web this is. I love that book. :o)
I'm a graphic designer myself, currently working on an MFA (coincidentally regarding narrative design) and teaching. I tell my students to be wary of such things. Sometimes they work out great and there are nothing but good intentions on all sides. Other times, not so much. I know the Nike logo was designed by a student for only a few hundred bucks. Not fair in my mind, but then again much of capitalism isn't.
I'm glad to hear you talk about your relationship with graphic designers so positively. Much of the time, I think our collective presence goes unnoticed despite clogging up much of the visual milieu. Closer contact between designer and author, I think, can help to temper this mild typographic and visual insanity. Or hopefully, just make it more meaningful.