Design Me a Business Card!
Wanna be awesome? I’ve been needing business cards for sometime now. And since I got some a coupon for free ones (I still have to pay for shipping… boo!) I thought I’d dive in.
Problem is that I don’t have a design for them. So, that’s where you come in. If you’d like to help me out here are my thoughts:
- Simple is uber.
- I’d love it to “pop” and be “different” but it has to be legible.
- Just 2 “elements”: My name (John Saddington) and a website address: JohnSaddington.com (Hey, if you’re super-creative, you could “combine” the two…!).
That’s it.
Email me your ideas and then we’ll have a community vote! Then the winner gets mad props and I’ll tell everyone that you made them as I hand them to lucky people (who will probably throw them away once I’m out of visual range… sad…).
That is all my friends.
WHOA. SLOW THE HECK DOWN…!
Apparently this post has been hijacked via the comments into a debate about “spec-design.”
I, for the record, did not think that this post would generate this type of response and saw it more as a community activity. I have written about the pros/cons of spec design previously and see the “value” from both sides of the fence.
But, I apologize for those that have taken offense; I didn’t mean it that way. My sincerest internet-apologies to you (if you can accept it via the internet… otherwise, well, too bad…? Let’s meet at Catalyst!).
I am no longer accepting business card designs (but thanks for those that already submitted!) I will go find someone to do it for me “professionally.”
My only question us this: Do you have a favorite color by chance?
not really…
oops (is this)
Do you have a cutoff date for entries?
Check this http://www.no-spec.com/ to see why this is a bad idea and demeaning to creatives. We should value our creatives and not expect them to work for free, with maybe the chance of a plug. It's just cheap bro.
"creatives"? Are they not people? WE HAVE NAMES! (hehe. I'm a jerk. please do not block my IP)
Oh, and John is not a "bro," bro.
Spec work with no chance of payment for services rendered? Hey, can you build me a website, too? Simple's good, would love for the title to 'pop' and just need the logo and stuff. We'll vote and see if your awesome design wins… but don't forget, you're awesome! Mad props dude!
I canz buildz sitez…I haz HTMLZ SKILLZ. You know, like how you can draw stick figures?
cool. when can i start?
Bartering services is one thing, asking for someone to give them away and then having the audacity to only accept one out of many is a bad marketing move. Don't worry, I guess it's just a Human 3rror.
Nah. We are Christians. That is what we do. We do not conform to the patterns of this world. We give each other help and a hand anytime we can. It is what Christ did for us on the cross.
Yeah agree with Michael B. I mean there isnt even an option to at least barter services (and what are those services anyway) . This is not cool. Tell ya what, why dont you try this the next time you need to get your car fixed. "hey man..just need some new brakes and an oil change. If you do a good job, I will tell everyone" BS. At the very least try going to the local college or something and at least make it a learning experience for would be designers. My 2cents.
Hey, John, can you do me a favor? I need help painting my house and was wondering if you'd do it for free. You only need 2 "elements," a paint brush and paint. You can buy those on your way over to my house since I'm too busy working on my graphic design projects. I was too cheap to pay a house painter and thought you'd like to do it for free. Thanks!
You know, John has actually hooked me up with FREE CODE! You know, that stuff the web is built on. You should do a search on his site for FREE WORDPRESS. You will love it. Its free. He might not paint your house, but he will let you download some code.
just let me know the time and place, i'll be there.
I'm sure you didn't mean for this to be demeaning to fellow designers, but it is. I seriously urge you to reconsider this "contest".
wow. Some definite bitterness here.
John, I guess next time people have questions about CSS or PHP code I know the answer… ha
Guys: in my experience, John creates free WordPress blogs that TONS of people are using.. and offers FREE support for them. (Within reason)
He's not asking for a lot, just a biz card design. It's nothing but a creative way to create user/reader interaction and in the process a way for YOUR ART/Job to be advertised freely on a website that has 1,286 subscribers.
It's free advertisement, but the only think you're advertising is your resentment. Geez.
Wow, you summed my thoughts up perfectly.
He's not asking a question about designing business cards, he's asking people to work for free.
If a designer wants to offer a free design template (which he would do for publicity and marketing) then go for it…but he's using his status to get cheap labor.
Michael, I really respect you work and love your blog. So, I'd love to know your thoughts… whats wrong with free?
I knew this was going to happen. The self-righteous "No spec!" designers are out in full force and being snarky about what John has done.
Let's clear a few things up. First of all, John didn't say anything about anybody needing to be a professional designer in order to involved. He asked ANYBODY. That means some rank amateur who is not even a designer could submit something that everybody likes. Maybe it is somebody that is just trying to break in and it could be something they add to a portfolio.
Secondly, I don't know John intimately, but I know him well enough and have interacted with him enough to know the man has a very giving heart and would do more than just give "mad props" but isn't offering anything specific at this time. I am sure he also knows several designers that are friends who would do the work for him in a heartbeat for nothing but is just asking others to be involved.
If you guys don't want to do it, DON'T DO IT. But please, save the finger wagging and sarcasm for somebody that truly deserves it.
AMEN!
Double Amen!
Andy,
Yes, John gives some work away, but it's part of his marketing plan to build this blog. Which as you can tell, he makes money from all those ads lining the right side of the page. One guy choosing to give some stuff away is one thing – putting together a contest to have designers compete for free is a totally different thing.
Ryan
I did not see the word "contest" anywhere…
Wow, Im pretty surprised at everyones response. No one is being forced to do design anything for John. He didn't hire you to design something for him and then short change you on delivery.
I think this is a great project for an amatuer and I would doubt that John's plan was to "trick" a pro into designing something cool for him. As a designer I hate seeing a lack of generosity and an abundance of pride in our industry.
John isn't asking for you to build him a website. This isn't something that can be compared to painting an entire house. Lighten up. If you are offended by this, you are taking your self to seriously.
{laughing out loud in Longview}
lol 4 life
Jordon wtg.
Umm.. creating free wordpress themes and releasing them under the GPL(or CC, or whatever free liscense you release them under), is not in any way even close to what is going on here. People don't ask him "Hey John can you build me a free theme?" He builds them and releases them to the world to use. The equivalent here would be him finding a free business card template not asking designers to create a free one for him.
Personally I think this is a sad use of "Internet Fame"(using the word fame loosely). But basically John has a good amount of blog readers and twitter followers and so the thought probably crossed his mind, "Hmmm, I need a business card… why not ask all my followers to do it for me… Oh, and I can ask them to do it for free, and since I have so many people following me some f them will probably do it for free."
I just think that that way of thinking is so skewed and rude. Would you walk into a movie theater and ask them "You know, I'm big on the internet, could I get a free movie and popcorn?" or go out to eat and tell the waiter "Hey, you follow me on twitter, would you mind comping me this meal?"
It's just a self-serving and, yes I'll say it, arrogant. Also who cares if he will tell people that so and so designed my business cards. He himself acknowledges that people will throw them away. And in all reality is he really going to tell each and every person he hands them out to "Here's my card, By the way it was designed by Joe Blow in Kalamazoo. You should contact him for design needs." Ummm, no I doubt that will happen.
Anyway, this whole thing just reeks to me of laziness and arrogance.
Or it is an opportunity for people to get their designs out for people to see them, i.e. get experience. That is what internships, and experience work is all about. If you feel differently then don't submit. It is the way that the world works. Read Chris Anderson's "Free" or a million other books and articles about how to build a creative following. It is not arrogance, it is community.
You guys are totally right. John should hire this guy…
[youtube uoXaRORian4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoXaRORian4 youtube]
That video is hilarious…..who cares about my title, I build crowds……thats right, it me…..in a pop-up……whats that Silver, Embossed, Foldout, My Head…….$4 a card…..I'm awesome!
This guy reminds me of Rhino from Bolt
i love this vid
WOW! Getting your design work featured on a blog with 2300 subscribers would be such a pain in the ass! RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!
Sarcasm aside, John inadvertently struck a nerve and I do think it would be appropriate to apologize. I mean, now that he knows.
Peace | dewde
Crap. In my sarcastic haste, I got the numbers wrong. Should have said 5000+ followers on twitter.
peace | dewde
I just had to go look in the mirror to make sure I wasn't dreaming….but I am INDEED red in the face laughing. Are we really debating over this dude asking you to create a bidness card??
Got some jealous peeps up in here…..I have an idea….Just say no…..or utilize the big ole X in the upper corner of your screen and move on to your next blog post.
I couldn't create a freakin birthday card, so I'm out on this one….but feel free to ask again and again. I won't be offended.
Good to see you here Pastor T
Same to ya bro!! I'm really not a fan, for my own reasons, but to make this big of a deal about it seems a bit childish to me.
Wow…I'm curious if the hateraide drinkers are long time listeners or simple lurkers? Blogging is about community people. An online community. It looks different than physical community but it manifests the same way. In my community I ask people for free stuff all the time!
Can you help me move? I suck at wood work can you help me fix my cabinets? This is my first time tiling floors, mind giving me a hand at doing this? And I even…shock of all shocks…ask people within my circle of friends who do that for a living…GASP…the horror
Sorry, I'm being a bit sarcastic. It's Monday.
Seriously, though I think if you get what a blog community is all about and get John's heart for things this isn't a big deal. AND if you have to have someone give you something for free just so you can give them something for free in return? Um…don't give it away then.
Love you John and hope you get a killer business card.
Wow… there's a lot of negativity here. If you don't like the idea, then don't do it. It's that simple. I'm not an amateur, I'm an arts professional of a different sort, but if I want to help then that's my prerogative. I provide my photography services bro-bono from time to time if I believe in the cause. He provides great reading insight throughout his blogs, so I am more than willing to "give something back"
I heart human3rror
Here's a question I have been wondering:
Does posting on a blog allow us to say something that we would never say face to face with someone? Would any of you who have posted negatively, actually use the same language of "arrogance" and "laziness" if you were sitting across the table from John? I doubt it or if you did we could actually see your heart in it and not interpret it as it is coming across, which is as a very personal attack. Just a reminder that words mean something and being flippant with them lacks wisdom and good judgment.
sorry john. i'm not a regular here, but i've a read a few of your articles. good stuff and thanks for sharing as much as you do. however, i have to say that this is in bad form. i like to look on the bright side and think, maybe you didn't know.
spec work devalues designers and our profession. these contests offer precedent for other ministries and corporations who don't want to pay a fair price for work. they will cite this site as a reason they don't need to pay. that's why this is a such a debate. it's not pride or snooty designers. it's us protecting our livelihood.
here's what i would recommend. you work up a few designs (or have a designer do them for you) and have your community vote or critique those designs. that will give you a level of community involvement. then you can work out what "pay" for the designer (should you choose one) would be. Heck, the kind of publicity you offer may be worth a trade.
just saying there are other options that offer community involvement, but aren't spec or devaluing.
Mitch, well put and not demeaning. Good post!
I use spec design on my site
Spec design isn't devaluing. It is how a large portion of the world works. And this doesn't seem to be primarily about spec, but about exposure, which are really different things. If you do spec work for someone that doesn't have a platform then you just are doing spec work. Spec work for someone that has a platform is a way to both get experience and exposure.
I am a non-profit consultant. I do a lot of work for free, not only because I think what people are doing is good but because that is what I believe in. John also seems to be giving away much of his work and encouraging the entire church blogging community. So he sees something of value. Now if I had an ounce of creativity I would totally design something for him because I believe in what he is doing. Not because of him, but because of the mission that I see in him.
I think that your end point is a good suggestion, but I still don't think that the original request was out of bounds or in bad form.
All negative comments here provided by people who have never gotten a DM from John wanting to help them through a project, an invite to chat about any random thing he could do to help you, etc.
He's offering to help you struggling start-up designers here, not the other way around. Ease up, sheesh.
So…am I the only one doing this? Awesome!
In all seriousness I highly doubt John meant for this thing to blow up this much. I kind of understand peeps that say hey he's "mess'n wit business" when he offers things up for free but i will say this: remember everyone is not wired like u or at ur level of "awesomeness"
For some this is the break they have been wanting. And I am sure some of you graphics/visuals peeps had to start somewhere. Now maybe u started out the gate charging $50/hr. but most peeps start out for free trying to get there name out there.
At the end of the day we all have a choice. Yes or No. Simple. No need to Blast John. It's not like he constantly asks peeps on the blog to give him anything. For those that read this blog, I'm sure you have benefited someway shape of form from the knowledge that gets dropped on here so really there is no need to cry out like this. Thats me tho.
Wow! I don't even write this long on my own blog.
Holla!
For the record I love what John is doing at NorthPoint and the things he's doing with technology and church. Honestly, knowing him from afar, I was actually surprised at this move. Truth be told if he'd asked me to help him with a design, I probably would've said yes but a "design contest" is different.
He's asking people to work for free and I don't think that's fair. If he was asking for some input or advice…I'd dish it out all day. But looking for cheap labor doesn't fit John or his outlook…I expect that he just didn't think it through in this case.
yeah, i'm pretty stupid sometimes.
Michael:
John has over 5000 followers on twitter, 1200 blog subscribers here, and 2300 on ChurchCrunch. This is a platform that was built client-by-client, post-by-post and relationship-by-relationship. Do you think being recognized and promoted on this platform has any value to an up and coming designer? Because if it has value, then it isn't as free as you assert.
peace | dewde
Dewde,
You can't reason with people who are worried about how others "value" them. They are more worried about the fact they will not get paid than they are about helping people who actually care about furthering the kingdom with their gifts. Paul has words for people like them, you know, the ones who profit off the Gospel. The words he uses are in Greek. We just call them (edited by proper judgment, but feel free to insert an expletive of your own).
what dimensions?
I'm in!! Did I miss a deadline? Is it double sided?
This is fun!
Comment thread of the month.
Let's really beat this dead horse here…
While there are people who can take advantage of designers out there, I hardly think John is one of them. From what I know of him and his blog he always does right by people and gives credit where credit is due. For an aspiring designer or grad student this is a great opportunity to get their work in front of thousands of people.
I've participated in a few of these "spec" projects myself, most notably the Ragamuffin Soul t-shirt contest. My shirt design was printed, people bought it…he was happy, I was happy and I still get business from that and other "freebies" I've done.
My advice: if you're a new designer and want to get the word out about your skills, submit a design. If your'e too busy or don't have the time for "spec" projects then just step aside and don't sweat it.
You're absolutely right. That's why I highlighted it, I thought…no, I knew John just didn't see it from that perspective. He's good people no doubt about it.
thanks brad.
thanks dude!
Crap! I also have 500 free business cards and no design to submit… I'll NOT be asking for free help.
maybe you should so you can get flamed and then get more traffic to your blog!
DUDE! That is a GREAT IDEA!
I keep waiting for Kanye West to interrupt this shenanigans and say that someone should make a business card for him.
I'LL LET YOU FINISH BUT BEYONCE'S GOT THE BEST BUSINESS CARDS OF THE YEAR!!
OMG. hilarious!
Two things never cease to amaze me…
1. How rude people can be hiding behind a computer screen.
2. How tight of a death grip people can have holding onto outdated business models.
As a creative I realize the push-back that comes from having our work judged in a "contest." I've only met John once, and that was for all of two minutes one Sunday at church, but he's demonstrated his generosity on here time and time again. I literally laughed out loud when I read the word "laziness." I'm often jealous at the amount of amazing content he manages to put out. His apology is impressive. Even from it we can see that he values people and his relationship with them more than "free work." I think a few of the commenters could follow his lead.
As for all the "devalued creatives" out there, go paint something valuable and hang it in a museum. The rest of us are going to continue providing valuable experiences to clients that wouldn't trade us for anyone else. I highly suggest reading The Experience Economy.
Impressive, we've almost made it to 60 comments with no Nazi or Hitler analogy. What is the internet coming to?
This is pretty much my thoughts at this point. I am disappointed in much of what I am reading. Just finished Chris Anderson's book "Free" yesterday. And this is the kind of fight he was trying to suggest was pointless. In fact there are many things that we do for Free that provide long term benefits (both financial and non-financial). Those that choose not to think about how the experience and the exposure could be benefital are just ignoring the reality of a the way the world works. John has apologized (which I don't think he needed to because I still don't think anything he did was wrong), and he will keep doing what he can to support both this community and the church as a whole tomorrow. I hope all the rest of you will as well.
Sorry guys, but anyone is free to ask for a favor, and anyone can turn it down. I have been part of this debate for years. Ultimately, if your high sense of design integrity is compromised don't do it and don't give the post more attention by posting on it. I don't care to much about the advertising but have some spare time and have gotten a lot out of his blog so I will put in my entry.
So technically I have been taking a free service from him by reading his blog and not clicking ads. Consider this payment.
(P.S. My grammar might be bad and my spelling might be wrong..I really don't care…I wanted to hit that issue before the gammer/spelling nazis start their patrol)
it's monday..everyone just chillax! don't make me call some social media experts in here!
Did I suddenly fall into one of those "Christian" AOL Chat-rooms!
probably. but better.
Dude, are you serious! You aren't accepting any new designs?
I just about to send you a few of awesome ideas! (although I have to be honest, they were just vista print templates!)
Whoa, for a moment there I thought the church was a community of people who loved to help people out. Just because.
My bad.
Heads up. Your creativity is not yours. It belongs to the Creator himself and He calls you to give it away.
Really?!? Really?!?
I guess I missed where it said professionals only need apply. Maybe, just maybe, there are amatures out there that enjoy doing this stuff. And maybe they've learned a few things from John over the years and would enjoy a chance to help him out.
Then again, I'm not a "creative" so I probably don't understand. I mean I design things for a living, and am really good at it. And my hobbies usually result in some thing unique that I made, but I'm not a "creative". That's a title reserved for people that are pretentious enough to believe their contributions are unmatched, despite the fact that most people are creative.
Sheesh. John if you want a free logo, I've had some success, enjoy making them for people, and never charge for it. Your tips have helped me in the past and I'd love to help you out if I could.
Thanks bro. you're a voice of reason in these obviously troubled times…
Hey John,
How did you get that 'follow icon' on the right to follow me all the way down the page? Would you mind sharing?
http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/09/simple-twitter...
Dude, how did I miss this post? If I were good at this stuff, I'd definitely help you out.
So sorry you experienced such a swarm of horrible feedback. I was reading Don's post, which led me here. I would be majorly bummed out if this was my post. I'll pray that you keep going strong in the gifts God has given you!
Thanks for all you've done for the online community, which I have CERTAINLY benefited from—for FREE!
You Rock!
thanks man.
Geez…i ignore the internet for a few days and I miss all the "fun."
John, I learn a lot from watching how you handle yourself when people go all judgmental on your blog. Thanks for showing us how to be graceful with the critikz.
ah, thanks… i'm no expert, but i'm learning how to \”manage\” my battles and the ones worth dying over… (not many, btw).
John, I learned long ago that you can only die on a hill so many times and then it loses its effect. People stop noticing because they are used to seeing it!
Best to choose your death scenes strategically! 
cool. when i go out i'll make a big deal about it… i think.