@romasuave I would buy a private jet

@Secondgig:

Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.

I'd buy a hot tub.(dream!)
We had one before the fire destroyed everything and it's the one thing we've never been able to replace.
Most likely though, and most realistically, bills, bills, bills. We are a two income (5 jobs between us), four person household and there's still never enough $$$. Can't wait til the kids are old enough to work. (just kidding, of course). mm

How about we turn the discussion forum into a survey...if you win the $5000 how would you spend it?

Me - Pay off debt, take a nice cruise with my family, buy a PS3 with GTA4!

i don't think it is just right to say that people are stealing designs from one another. If you try to look at this point of view: first of all, if you see a 5000-dollar contest, surely, the first thing that comes into your mind is joining it. Not everybody has gotten all day to sit and look at all designs just to make sure their concept doesn't have any similarities with any of the already submitted designs. If there were indeed similarities, SOME (maybe Most) may have not copied it intentionally, but was just coincidental. There are over 2000 designs submitted, the probabilty of having same designs are high.

i used to join in a different site where they had a blind contest system, i didn't find it very helpful and nice especially to newbies. Most of the times, the old members win. I like the system here in 99designs 100times better than the earlier site im talkin about. Maybe a maximum no. of entries could work, but it should vary depending on the prize money, i guess.

I think a few days should be taken by the contest holder to decide on the winner and start eliminating entries to a small list and then he could pick best.

All good suggestions. Preventing people from promoting designs is good as well as limiting the number of designs per person; this would keep the page numbers down.

#2985 you ever seen the deloitte logo?

I think there is a better alternative to a blind contest and it is called maximum entries per designer. This way each designer will have to think twice before posting his precious 1 out of X entry. We could avoid stollen work and endless posts of the same logo with 10 different layouts and 50 color combinations. It will be cleaner and more efficient for all.
Tini1 good to c u :)
Cheers

@m44, absolutely correct, AFTER the contest, all comments ok...

some of you may know me from other sites, these sites do not allow this sort of critique for good reasons.....
I'm sorry, when I propose a concept, I only care what the client thinks, and alot of times, they as well really don't NEED our opinions.

after reading all the posts,
1. I suggest that all the competitions shall be blind or the contest holder shall be able to choose "blind competition" to stop copycats.. or the designer shall have the option to "dont show others" etc.
2. anyone who make a "this should win", "this is great" comment while the competition is still on, must be banned (or warned.. etc..), maybe you can let designers rate the designs and after each competition there can be the designers winner etc (of course the client will not see until the competition is won)

I have joined with one design only (#2574) please dont miss it :)

Tini1, a couple of the downsides could be that (1) The contest holders can't read those kudos or critiques. While we are designers we are also fellow people... we are not above and beyond the masses and we do all tend to think alike. With positive and negative critiques they can get a glimpse at what might appeal to others.
(2) Similarly, other designers can read and learn from the good and bad as well as the various techniques people use. Take the "CMYK vs. Pantone" discussion, if that had been in a PM many people wouldn't have gotten a chance to read it.

BombardierBob, not to argue with you or cause a debate, but a forum is:
1. the marketplace or public square of an ancient Roman city, the center of judicial and business affairs and a place of assembly for the people.
2. a court or tribunal: the forum of public opinion.
3. an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.
-- A medium for open discussion or voicing of ideas, such as a newspaper, a radio or television program, or a website.
--A public meeting or presentation involving a discussion usually among experts and often including audience participation.

Now correct me if I am wrong here but at the top of this page, just above the posts one might read the word "discussion" in bold. Also the word "comment" appears just above this box. And just below the box one can read two things "To reference a design in your comments simply refer to it's entry number (e.g. #4)". - and - the button with "submit your comment" text over it.

If that doesn't fit the descriptions of a "forum" from dictionary.com, then I don't know what else to say.

@solution_specialiast.....good points, but what are the downsides to pm kudos, or critiques? I think it is the only place opinions from designer to designer should be during a contest.

@danieljoakim I've always used the pantone solid uncoated book when designing logos I would recommend that unless you know your client is going to use special paper.