Logo Contest, Good or Bad?

First let me clarify what type of logo contest. There are some logo contest such as Nashville Logo Design that are a competition for designers. Designers show of their best client work and the winner is rewarded with a iphone. Those are great competitions especially if you win. The other competition is generally hosted by a company that wants a free or cheap logo. Generally the winner is rewarded with the recognition that we all desperately seek. While recognition is valuable most experienced designers will not enter these types of contests because they have a process that they have developed to produce the best work for the client. These competitions generally give limited info about the company and do not allow any personal contact between the designer and the client. This type of setup generally doesn’t allow for insightful and relevant logos. Because of this problems will likely arise.

The host company is left with submissions from designers that are not experienced, and if they are the competition is not setup to let them do their best work.

The Company is the one that decides which logo wins. This is a problem because they may not be a very good judge of design. Generally a logo designer is hired because of their experience and ability to produce great work.

The Company is not given an education on what a logo’s purpose is and what good logo design is. This is important because most business executives do not have an accurate understanding of logo standards. Once educated the logo project takes a drastically different path than it would have had otherwise.

The Designer does not have the opportunity to push the client out of their comfort zone and pick unique and effective concepts.

If a professional did enter they would likely be overlooked for appearing to simple. The lack of great things like swooshes, bevels, shadows, and complex color arrangement would likely have them eliminated in the first round.

Some positive things could happen

The company that did not have money for a logo will receive a logo. Something is better than nothing. Right? Unless someone took another companies successful logo and tweaked it to fit the contest requirements. Then after picking that great logo the competition host is sued sometime down the road. Sorry I am having a hard time thinking of positives

A talented young designer could devote a lot of time and create an effective and original logo and be rewarded with good exposure. Which then would result in more work and a very successful career.

The company could have a very good eye for design and pick a great logo that would propel the business into record sales.

It may not be the worst thing but it could result in disaster. As important as a logo is to the success of a new or existing business I would not leave it up to a contest. What do you think? Have you ever hosted or participated in a logo contest?