It’s years out of date, so I’ve been considering either closing or updating the WWdN Cafepress store. I can’t design for shit, though, and even if I could, I don’t have time to do it.
Rather than just close it down, I thought I’d pose a question here: I’m sure there are lots of good designers and creative people who read my blog, so if I had a contest to design things like shirts and stickers and stuff, would anyone be interested in participating?
The winner would get a signed Happiest Days hardback and credit + links to the winner’s website, blog, store, whatever.
I would probably use the “Hey, that’s awesome!” method of choosing a winner, which may lead to two or even three designs making it into the store. All winning designs would get the same book + credit + link prize, of course.
I’d have to find some contest rules to use somewhere, but it would probably be one of those things where you hold onto the rights to your submission, and I get a royalty-free license to use it commercially until the sun burns out, etc., so it’s kind of like work for hire, I guess.
I don’t know if this is the best idea in the world, so let me know what you think in the comments, mmmkay?
P.S. I’m late to the party on all of these discussions but I’ll echo what some other people have said. I totally respect people’s rights to get paid for their work but Wil is not a big businessman looking to fleece the workers. If you don’t want to volunteer a design then don’t. If I could design I would gladly spend many hours coming up with something even if it didn’t get picked and I got no real “payment” out of it. This isn’t about picking a designer and getting a paying gig. I take this original post to be just a guy that supposedly everyone reading this likes asking if people would like to participate in a contest to make new shirts to celebrate our geeky interest in Wil. My two cents is that a contest is a good idea and many people will participate in it like they did in JoCo’s (although I couldn’t figure out how to vote in his).
P.P.S. Wil, don’t worry about spending time apologizing to “real” designers who feel that you asking if people who want to participate in a small contest is like asking them to do work for free. If they don’t want to enter they don’t have to. Your intent is clear from the beginning that this is not about fleecing anyone. Don’t feel you have to bend over backwards to explain yourself to people who seem intent on misunderstanding you. Now, I haven’t the time to read the comment stream so I don’t know how badly people are complaining but if anyone is then just don’t enter and quit complaining. Plenty of other readers (including talented “real” designers) think this is a good idea and would participate and that’s all that matters.
An Alternative to CafePress:
Spreadshirt.com. They have a huge variety of tees and hoodies (jersey, AA, plus size, even eco-friendly) and the people buying the shirts get to do a lot of customization with the coloring, placement, and size of the design. I just ordered my first shirt from there and loved the concept – if I hate it when I get it, I will return to redact my statement!
LAST! As someone who has the word “designer” in their title, I completely understand the thinking behind NOSPEC but again, I agree, this is WILL. He doesn’t charge us to read his blog. He doesn’t hammer us over the head with the pop up ads PLUS he is offering payment of some sort. I’d love to do it just to see what I could come up with.
I have a degree in commercial art, but I’m not a professional graphic designer. I do, however, consider myself an artist who has created many a design in her free time. I would not limit submissions to pro’s only because there are so many of us amateurs out there that can and do create wonderful designs.
Some posters also mentioned that it would take time away from their paying design work. Well, the rest of us most probably have day jobs, too, don’t we? Therefore, we would ALL have to create a design on our own time, wouldn’t we?
I say, call it a contest and open it to everyone with the prizes as you mentioned in the original post. If I were you, I wouldn’t have even put it up for discussion. I would have just posted the contest and watched the submissions come in from those that would be excited to design something for you.
p.s. This is my first post and I love your blog, Wil. Also, this is the first blog I’ve ever read where I am just as excited to read the comments. You have very cool geek fans. I feel quite at home. =)
i DO think there needs to be a Wil Wheatons Radio Free Burrito shirt
thats one i wanted to get and wear
who did the cool old style radio tower
they should let you put it on a shirt
my two cents
😀