A New Warehouse for Graphic Designers - Go for it!! « Graphic Design Blog - An Ultimate Resource for Graphic Designers

A New Warehouse for Graphic Designers - Go for it!!

34 Comments

Posted on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

“Exhibit your work and grab lucrative opportunities”

While growing as a graphic designer, we keep on discovering such authentic resources which can play a crucial role in our success. You all will agree that the creative skills of graphic designers need a continuous patronage, so they keep on coming up with exceptional ideas. Therefore, I always keep on searching for new resources to submit and share my design work…it helps us earn a bright future.

However, today I have something really exclusive to inform my ingenious designer friends about. Lately, while surfing the net I stumbled across a design submitting site named “MycroBurst.com”. Although it is still in “beta” but its impressive interface and features really clicked me.
The exclusive features of the site:

It is a platform where design contests will be held. You can get anything designed…logo design, business cards, website, posters or anything related to graphic design.
Designers will be submitting their designs, trying to meet the needs of your design project.
As the design contest reaches its last date, a winning design will be selected and the designer will win the prize amount.

The design contests are not live yet but they are accepting registrations from designers. I think it’s the high time to get ourselves registered, so our creative juices get flowing as soon as the contests are announced.

It is very important for freelance graphic designers to promote their work properly but they should be doing it on right places. Design contest site is an ideal choice…don’t you think so?? However, this reminds me of a David Aireys’s post where he claims Design Contest Sites to be Bad for Business…I disagree with his opinion to some extent.

He thinks designers on such sites come up with look similar logos and not much professional designs. However, I personally think such sites are a unique resource for aspiring designers who have freshly graduated or aim to launch themselves in the world of Graphic Designing. Don’t you think such design contest sites provide great opportunity to gain potential clients or you agree with David’s words?

So gear up guys…no time to waste

34 Appreciated Responses

Nia Brown On July 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am

1

I really thank you for being the one to search and post these links. It’s really hard for us up and coming designers to try and search everything there is out there just to come across sites that really end up leading to no where in the end. I’m very thankful for this graphic design blog. And I look forward to others that will help me in my quest not only be heard but also seen as a new up and coming designer!

All the best!!!

Victor On July 29th, 2009 at 8:35 am

2

The website didn’t let me sign up. Said “Invalid Email”…I tried 3 different email addresses.

Rick Wolff On July 29th, 2009 at 8:35 am

3

You can use the words. Go ahead. It’s your blog. Don’t be bashful. The words are “spec work”. As in, work for no pay. Get the whole story: no-spec.com

Cory On July 29th, 2009 at 8:59 am

4

Isn’t this very similar to what 99 Designs already has going? I thought that site really took off, I’m interested to see if there’s room for two. My guess is the more places designers can go to get their designs out there the better!

Paul Rodrigues On July 29th, 2009 at 10:46 am

5

I think you should read this interview on Web Designer Depot:

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/07/interview-with-specwatch-the-naked-truth-about-design-contests/

Mariusz On July 30th, 2009 at 12:57 am

6

Looks like another 99Design, Crowdspring, Brandstack and so on - I will never, ever participate in things like that, working for free is not my style.

Justin On July 30th, 2009 at 1:18 am

7

Hi Charlie. http://ThePerfectDesign.com is being developed right now. It will be another contest site, but with some really cool community features for the designers. We don’t want to spill all the beans now…come get involved. BTW, right now we’re holding a logo design contest for the site. First place $5000!

Amatatomba On July 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

8

Design contests are in no way an “ideal choice” for designers. It’s called spec work. You put in time and effort on a design on the off chance that you might get paid for it. Even as someone just starting out in graphic design, I wouldn’t participate in this sort of thing. David Airey, and the rest of the graphic design industry, are absolutely correct that spec work is bad. It’s a fact. If you really want to be a designer, stop doing spec work. It hurts the industry that this blog supposedly supports.

A u d e e On July 30th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

9

I’d still think that design contest is one of many ways to express your design, regardless of how it is considered as unethical action. However I know there are pro and cons regarding to this issue. I want to drop by with something objective here. If you decide to go with some design contests, just beware with all of the consequences; and in the other part, the contest holders must need to improve themselves, to create more safer environment or better system to guarantee & protect every piece of creative entries. Every system that fail would banish by nature in the end.

Charlie B. Johnson On July 31st, 2009 at 1:09 am

10

Hi and thanks to you all who stopped by on GDB to drop their comments.

@ Paul Rodrigues…The Spec-Watch link you dropped in your comment, shows your disapproval for such sites but I really consider such sites as a great opportunity for aspiring designers.

@ Nia Brown…thanks for telling rest of the people that how much sites like "MycroBurst.com" can help the struggling designers who don’t get a chance to expose their talent.

@ Mariusz…don’t you think many successful designers have achieved big name after exhibiing their work at design contest sites, so what harm does it make.

@Amatatomba…As you said in your comment:

"Design contests are in no way an “ideal choice” for designers. It’s called spec work."

I am sure you don’t have an idea about many Asian designers belonging to small cities, who desperately look for a strong platform to promote themselves. Although these sites don’t pay everyone but the exposure they get, is surely benifical.

@ Audee…Thanks for your support and denying it as "an unethical action". I liked the other aspect you highlighted:

"The contest holders must need to improve themselves, to create more safer environment or better system to guarantee & protect every piece of creative entries."

I would like to know more opinions over the issue….afterall we all are here for the betterment of Graphic Design Industry.

Fishgun On July 31st, 2009 at 5:53 am

11

I see parallels between spec work in graphic design and the issues the music industry have with content that is acquired for free.
On the one hand, using the freemium model, you could see spec work as equivalent to the “exclusive free track” that is seeded to the underground blogs, makes you aware of a band/artist and then leads you to eventually pay for the album or concert tickets. The spec work is a “loss leader” in old marketing speak, attracting clients with free work on small projects and wowing them with your work so they eventually become a full fee paying client with bigger, more lucrative projects.

On the other hand, you could see competition clients as the kind of people who hope to get through life never paying for anything, see no value in your work because it was obtained for free and therefore disposable. The kind of people who only like the generic me-too crap they can steal off Limewire, see music as ringtones and listen to it using their cell phone as a speaker.
They are happy using a Thai designer they can’t communicate with because they don’t really care what they get from them. They just need a tick in the “does your business have a logo?” box.

You CAN find quality work on the freelance sites. The kind of work, client and fees you are prepared to accept though are down to you.
It just depends on how you want to feel every day about the career you have chosen for the next 40 years.

Christian On July 31st, 2009 at 6:16 am

12

Nice logo. I wonder what Skype has to say about this.

Tommy On July 31st, 2009 at 7:02 am

13

Design contests kills concepts. It’s kind of sad seeing a graphic designer promoting them.

D_Ladd On July 31st, 2009 at 9:03 am

14

Spec work is bad for the industry period. It drives the overall value of the industry down, it devalues all design work. With so many people willing to spec or work for “free” how much do you think you are actually going to make when they want to pay you? Sorry, but I don’t and can’t live on $400 logos. These are the same people who will complain later that they can’t make any money or their clients won’t pay them, I won’t feel sorry for you. I’m sorry, but even an aspiring designer can find some good paying freelance with a little work and a little persistence. Believe it or not, if you actually talk to reputable businesses and not some local yokel bar owner, they will pay you more than you think you can get, because they realize you have a skill to offer that is worth something to their business.

Yes, it will take effort! Gasp! For some reason most designers think their online portfolio is going to bring people in by the masses. Almost all of my freelance has come from referrals or a personal encounter somewhere and I have never been afraid to walk away from work that doesn’t pay my rate. I’d rather work the extra hours I’d spend on that job, finding a better paying one. BUT YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE!!! Not every freelance client is the same, just because there is the allure of “some” money doesn’t mean you should take it. Those clients are the worst to deal with anyways. Go ahead and join the site, but then go out and buy the Graphic Artist’s Guild Handbook and Guide to Ethical Pricing and learn to be a professional…

STRAIGHTALK On July 31st, 2009 at 10:46 am

15

Awsome thinking.. Loved the Idea truely..

Cheers, mate and hope to read more soon!

Norman Flecha
http://www.151years.com

Dainis Graveris On July 31st, 2009 at 5:15 pm

16

I have totally positive attitude about such contests, though I guess you have only time for them while you are still learning unless prices are very good..:)

Joshua On August 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 am

17

I must admit, I’m against spec work, but for an aspiring designer, something like this may be needed on occasion, unfortunately.

On the other hand, I would love to know other ways to get great exposure without doing spec work. It would even be better to do volunteer work if necessary - at least then you KNOW you’re not getting paid, so you do it in your spare time.

Joost On August 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm

18

I agree with everything Fishgun said.

It depends on where you are in your career & if you want to attract that type of client. There is a market for sweatshop design - like it or not - and those designers and consumers in those relationships are serving eachother’s needs.

That said, I would never do it because I want to be paid fairly for my effort.

VandeVisser On August 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 am

19

PLAIN AND SIMPLE, Graphic designers should be licensed!!!! This would solve a lot of problems and increase the value of good design.

designstd On August 9th, 2009 at 4:08 am

20

Design contests websites are waste of time unless designers are new into the field and they want to market them selves.

Blog Design On August 15th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

21

Thanks for taking time to introduce mycroburst. I like contests. Design Contests are always good platform for newbie designers, its very hard to get design works through freelance sites before getting good reputation, keep up the great work.

George - HatchWise On August 15th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

22

Your post (and the other one about it) really read like Advertisements, I would bet good money that you are very connected to that site, just like you are very connected to LogoDesignGuru and their sites LogoBlog.org, WebbyGuru, and LogoSnap, which for the most part (especially LogoBlog) try to pretend like they are unaffiliated to each other, just like you are now….

caroline On August 18th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

23

that’s pretty cool I found a really cool site as well that offers tons of free goodies for web and graphic desiigners.

check it out here http://www.99graphicdesigns.com

they are giving away free designer books and designer stuff every sunday but you have to sign up. They only tweet about it they dont post it on there website for some reason? I mean the free stuff. I guess they dont want to end up breaking the bank lol.

A New Community of Graphic Designers - Mycroburst.com goes live!! | OffsetPrint.info On October 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am

24

[...] getting back to the topic….couple of months back, I mentioned a “New Warehouse for Graphic Designers” which was in beta version but now it is LIVE, finally. Yes….MycroBurst.com brings a [...]

A New Community of Graphic Designers - Mycroburst.com goes live!! | Master Design On October 15th, 2009 at 5:17 am

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[...] getting back to the topic….couple of months back, I mentioned a “New Warehouse for Graphic Designers” which was in beta version but now it is LIVE, finally. Yes….MycroBurst.com brings a genuine [...]

clippingimages On October 15th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

26

Awesome post Thanks for sharing.

Ganry32 On October 22nd, 2009 at 7:32 am

27

From reading your blog comments, and those of your readers, I think you might find it very interesting. ,

New York Stan On November 19th, 2009 at 6:03 am

28

If they changed their site logo you could give it a really good rating. It has lots of contests for a fairy new site.

Lily On February 27th, 2010 at 6:00 am

29

Thanks for a great info. I will definitely check mycroburst out.

Stickers Printing On March 8th, 2010 at 6:59 am

30

Yes you are right this information is really great thanks for share it.

The wondrously wacky world of online logo design | Snippets | The Logo Factor Design Blog On March 30th, 2010 at 7:34 am

31

[...] You know, kick in with the spec work. Odd thing though. That piece was written shortly after this post, in which Charlie positively raves about Mycroburst as “A New Warehouse for Graphic [...]

Derek On July 24th, 2010 at 2:23 pm

32

Any site that promotes spec-work loses all credibility with me.

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