Thanks CC, I have admired your work on more than one contest.

best of luck to you pork.

It's just that there ARE contests for stationary and contests for logos. But my view is, if you can't beat em, join em. So I will be using this tactic in the future. Hell, I might even just go ahead and design the whole web page as well.

Have you guys SEEN any other contest? I could list more than 100 that are open right now where designers have posted full stationary layouts in a logo contest. Why is this one in particular causing such a riot?

Porkenbeans - you're right on the money - its undercutting, and usually people don't get how harmful that is until they experience it themselves - I also agree that this is pretty much a free-for-all so its tough to claim that there are too many rules.....I hope Grindhouse at least understands where people are coming from with the undercutting stuff.. great contest none-the-less. Design on!

Hi guys, I've just been reading the very interesting comment thread here and since it is non of my business, I thought I'd add my 2 cents!
I agree that offering to do business cards and stationary for free will lower the chances for other and mean you are working harder for less. But unfortunately it is the nature of the beast here on 99Designs for us crazy designers to work for free unless we are fortunate enough to win!! Yeah!! So, I guess that what I am saying is these thing will continue to happen, and it's a beat them or join them kind of situation. The AIGA is great but the truth is that most designers here are - and will continue to be - amatures looking to make a quick buck. If we don't like it, we best get out of the game, it probably won't change.

What part of "logo" contest do YOU not understand. After this contest is awarded, THEN you can go after any aftermarket sales pitches. To do so beforehand, is just outright undercutting your fellow designers. I suppose next you will be designing whole websites for logo contests. lmfao.

I'll submit whatever I want to give myself the upper hand in these contests! You do understand that its a CONTEST, right? If someone was going to win a contest, and I contacted the CH to tell them that I would do the same design cheaper, that would be wrong! There is nothing wrong with what I do! Tons of designers on here do it!

Good Luck to you!

Once again I have to agree with pram. There is one thing that strikes me odd about your argument grinder, first you say that the extra work is a big ado, and would cost $1500, then you say that it is just a typical background to show off the logo. Either way, pram is very coherent and crrect in his assessment of what this does to all the designers here at 99.
If a customer can get more for his buck, who is to blame him, but you are only lowering the income of your fellow designers. I believe that all would benefit if as designers, we wait until after a contest is awarded to offer any extra work. If you turn this into a bidding war, you only hurt us all.

@Chameleon: @ Grind: that doesn't make it right or ethical. it just means a lot of people try to influence CH decision making in an unfair way. a logo is a logo. if you cannot design one that is impressive enough on its own, you might consider another vocation. in addition to being unethical, it actually makes the "spec" issue even worse and leads CHs to believe they can get all of this design work for even less. this only serves to erode and marginalize our industry as a whole.

next thing you know, you'll be designing logos, letterhead, business cards and web site for $12.95. ever heard of AIGA? maybe you should look into membership so you can learn a bit more about the profession rather than undertaking tactics that undermine your colleagues.

scott- I get that its a logo - my point is that its not a trademarked design and TSS's designs along with mine and alike do not infringe on any copyrights, so trying to discount other designers to put yourself in a better position isnt going to work in this case.

Actually no Chameleon, it is a company headquartered right down the road from me in which i know many employees. I recognized the similarities right off the bat. Just giving you a heads up to avoid trouble in the near future.

Thanks Grindhouse. For the record - everyone here should know that business card and stationary layouts are submitted in almost every single contest. I wouldnt pull my designs if I were you, they're fair game, just like the rest of ours.

hahahaha! scottrogers is that an attempt to claim that myself or TSS or GinoRox or Luckykid have copied something? Its a river. This is free reign and not a copywritten treatment in any way shape or form. Nice try though.