I saw this logo design contest in a local paper over the weekend. Lately, it seems like a lot of illustrator and art director jobs are almost trivialized into contests. Design a logo or something for a cash prize that is often smaller than the fee you would charge if they hired you professionally. Sadly, it's the way of the world these days. Would I enter? Probably so. (See Games That Help You Stay On Your Game.)

If you win, it gets you exposure. If you don't, you may end up creating something that still may be nice enough to put in your portfolio. When I think about it, it's no different than being on the job. Sometimes you go up against several creative teams in your department, submitting ideas and hope yours is the one picked. It feels like winning a contest sometimes. You're not going up against as many entries, but the odds can feel just as great.

With all of that in mind, this is how I would break the job down for young students: Your job is a never-ending contest. You submit ideas. Sometimes you win. More often, you lose. So ask yourself if you are willing to consistantly play? If you don't think your work is good enough for a simple contest, is it good enough to get you into an agency? And if you don't like contest committees owning your work, regardless if you win, agency life may not be for you. Agencies own everything you create for them, even if it is not chosen to be produced. Contest entries are like being hired to do a job, but you only get paid if they like the idea. If you don't like it, then start thinking about other lines of work you may enjoy better.

Oh, and that contest I mentioned is for the 11th Annual Cruisin' Gratiot event. Detroiters love their cars and this is one of two events where people parade their classic cars down a major roadway.