and by the way, i hope i was clear that my comments above have nothing to do with this contest specifically, this one looks to be less effected by the problem with 99 than most.

Well, I'm never a 100% on anything, don't go giving me a big head ;)

here's a thought- CH- remove star ratings. I don't think there should be star ratings period. Erik- you 100% correct in everything you said.

Back to the star ratings. In several contests, I have seen CH's complain that artists were taking elements from a 4 or 5 star rating design and using them to create new concepts. It is only natural for people to take an idea that a CH likes, and try to build on it. This is why if star ratings were eliminated, yes, there would be a greater amount of unique concepts being entered.

I suggest to this CH, if possible, extend the contest a few days and remove your ratings. I have a good feeling you will start to see more original designs.

:)

Just to chum in on the private submissions topic above... What I see happening here on 99 is a lot of contests being run more like design team brainstorming sessions (Not this one) than efforts to bring new ideas into a project. That might be great if everyone was getting paid, but in a winner take all environment it's kind of a bad idea to participate in. Typically it's hard enough for a contest holder to set aside their own preconceived ideas they bring into this, but then to foster them in publicly viewable submissions and comments will only lead more down that preconceived path.

I can appreciate what the CH states above and I think he or she will draw the line at was constitutes stealing from obvious in a fair manner, but I think all these contests are destine to produce a limited output based on the public nature of 99 to begin with. For every 1 rock star designer working on this site I'm sure dozens have left. There's no way this site has 24000 or whatever number of designers contributing ideas here. I think the public nature of the process tends to favor designers of lesser skill and is the biggest reason for talented designers leaving.

If 99 offered a totally blind design option on these contests... I bet the overall quality of submissions in those would skyrocket. I just don't think the lesser skilled designers would be as persistant if they were recieving even less feedback and input than they already do. I know that might sound harsh, but this is a real life business development resourse, not a teaching site. It's up to the designer to get the CH's attention.

Just my two cents here...

Erik

naw.. no private view only.. then there is NO reference to any designs, or reference on the community feed back.. just be original... and do all the best you can do :)

I think that 99 designs should make all submissions private only viewable by the contest holder, because there is alot of people on here that have no creativity whats so ever, and piggyback of other designers. HAVE SOME CREATIVITY PEOPLE! My 2 cents! =) Good Luck all! And CH maybe if you would raise the prize money you would get a better looking logo and more entries! =P

this is an open contest. everyone sees everyone elses ideas and is inspired in some way. that is also why there are star ratings on here and why contest holders will sometimes even say that they want something similar to a certain submission. my submissions have all had the same theme from the start. same checkers, same skyline, same colors. the taxi icon is accessible by everyone who has fonts and i just hadn't decided to use it until now. you figure a cab company logo will most likely include checkers, a cab, a city skyline (since it was asked for by the contest holder) and some sort of corner resemblance. im sure many submissions will look similar in the end. i see that "shree" took on a corner idea too. like i said, in the end its all about being inspired and it is a contest to see who can make it look best.

#22, #23, and #24 i mean

hirschy531 yours are just a tad bit similar to mine don't you think?