Design Competition: Want to Design My Next Cover? 213 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: Uncategorized

If there is one thing I’ve learned from this blog, it’s that the readers here — that’s you — have some stellar ideas and skills.

For the next book, tentatively titled “Becoming Superhuman”, I would therefore love to invite any designers out there to throw their hat in the ring for the cover design, especially talented beginners who might not otherwise have a chance to work on a project with international reach.

This is a 7-day competition, and the clock is already ticking…

The last book is now in 35 languages, and I’m hoping the next book will be much bigger. I’ll be firing all cylinders and then some.

So here’s the deal: I’m not a corporate type, but I have to play nice with my publisher. Sooooo… I’m forbidden from making any big promises, and I need to make a few things clear. So here goes:

1. I will offer $250 to four of my favorite designs, but this doesn’t mean any of them will end up being the cover. There is a good chance all of them will be vetoed completely, so the $250 is offered as a good faith gesture. Obviously, if we do use your cover, you will get cover credit, fame and glory, and there is the possibility of a follow-on agreement.

2. If we borrow elements or concepts from your cover but don’t use the whole thing, I will make sure you are recognized and thanked, whether in some form of partial/conceptual credit or in the acknowledgments.

3. That said, the publisher’s in-house design team, a few freelancers, and I have been working on tons, and I mean tons, of different cover options. This means that there is a distinct chance we might have tried concepts you might try. Please don’t assume we stole it if things look similar. It’s not in my best interest to screw anybody, and it’d be idiotic to do it so publicly. That’s not how I roll.

4. By submitting your design mock-ups and cover ideas, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions. Please read them here. It basically says that once you submit anything for evaluation purposes, you can’t sue me or my publisher. Unfortunately, in a world where people sue McDonald’s for pouring hot coffee on their own genitals, this lawyering is necessary to prevent any misunderstandings.

The Upshot

Best case scenario, you get $250, your cover on a huge international bestseller (awesome for a major portfolio jump), full cover credit, and all the perks that come with massive recognition.

Worst case scenario, you give it a shot, have something new for your portfolio, but don’t get recognition or money.

For those interested in submitting and giving this a shot, here you go! Just follow this link to 99Designs for all the juicy details…

Good luck!

For those who think I’m a jerk for offering the above, please feel free to protest by not submitting. Feel free to call me names, too. I find “sweetcakes” particularly offensive. Just ask yourself this first: would you submit a design if it would take you a few hours and it might be featured on a Times Square billboard with full credit, even if for no pay? If not, I’d consider you unique. If yes, then recognize there are benefits to certain projects besides the compensation. Not that this cover is comparable to Times Square, but for a designer looking to break into a new and lucrative niche (book covers), or an experienced designer who can kick out a good design quickly, it might well be worthwhile to give it a shot. Realize also that there is a good shot we’ll end up using an inhouse cover, so the $250 is intended as a good faith gesture.

For a thoughtful critique of this post, I suggest the following article, which is the best written I’ve seen: Is Tim Ferriss Acting Like an Asshole?

###

Afterword – To the commenters who insist I’m exploiting the entire design community, I’d like to point out that, if you don’t participate by submitting, it is impossible for me to exploit you.

To those who suggest I write a book for free and then open it to the world, I’d like to quote blog reader Benedict, who commented below:

There’s something the naysayers all seem to have overlooked: Tim primary occupation is writing a first-class blog, an activity that earns his an annual salary of $0. (Income derived from the resulting kudos is something he has to work extra for.)

There are at least a dozen books worth of content on this blog, all of which I wrote for free. No even on spec — for free. My further thoughts on good and evil uses of spec use are below in my comments, which are highlighted in green. Here is my first comment:

I know there is a strong resistance in some designer communities against spec work, which is exactly what this is. I make no efforts to claim otherwise.

Here is where spec goes wrong: the prospective steals designs and, after someone has put their talent to work, offers nothing in return.

For the client who can offer value and not screw the designers they end up using, there is nothing wrong with spec work. If you’re in an advertising agency and want to get a high-profile client, what do you do? You offer spec designs and concepts to compete against other agencies bidding on the same project. Spec arrangements aren’t inherently evil at all, but the losses can be huge as a freelancer if you get screwed. Screwing people, including designers, is just fucked. No two ways around it.

But, can spec work be extremely valuable to someone who is looking for a high-visibility gig? Is it worth the risk that they might not win the bid/competition? For some, absolutely. For others who have a waiting list of clients and get paid in advance for work, perhaps not. It’s dependent on the individual, but spec has it’s place.

Posted on April 4th, 2009

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213 Comments

Nicky — August 4th, 2009, 9:40 pm

First, love the idea of a book cover contest and I can’t wait to see the submissions.

Next, if you search for ‘McFacts about the McDonalds Coffee Lawsuit’ on Google, the first result will have some interesting information about that infamous case.

Looking forward to the next book!

-Nicky
Reply
Aaron — August 4th, 2009, 9:41 pm

You should be ashamed. This is spec work pure and simple. I would have expected more from you.
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 12:08 am
  
  Hi Aaron,
  
  Thanks for the comment. I know there is a strong resistance in some designer communities against spec work, which is exactly what this is. I make no efforts to claim otherwise.
  
  Here is where spec goes wrong: the prospective steals designs and, after someone has put their talent to work, offers nothing in return.
  
  For the client who can offer value and not screw the designers they end up using, there is nothing wrong with spec work. If you’re in an advertising agency and want to get a high-profile client, what do you do? You offer spec designs and concepts to compete against other agencies bidding on the same project. Spec arrangements aren’t inherently evil at all, but the losses can be huge as a freelancer if you get screwed. Screwing people, including designers, is just fucked. No two ways around it.
  
  But, can spec work be extremely valuable to someone who is looking for a high-visibility gig? Is it worth the risk that they might not win the bid/competition? For some, absolutely. For others who have a waiting list of clients and get paid in advance for work, perhaps not. It’s dependent on the individual, but spec has it’s place.
  
  Hope that helps!
  
  Tim
  Reply
Eric Jorgenson — August 4th, 2009, 9:42 pm

I’m excited for this-will definitely put in some time for a shot at the cover.

It was great when Guy Kawasaki did it for “Art of the Start” too. He put all the runner-ups on the inside of the jacket-something you might give a thought to?
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bradleybradwell — August 4th, 2009, 9:44 pm

Who needs to go out and search for qualified cover designers when you can just ask your own community. However, the problem with this is that you can’t be sure that the work is original…. Is there any process for this?

With that said, doing this is much easier than actually getting a thousand dollar designeer to do it.
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David Turnbull — August 4th, 2009, 9:44 pm

I have a feeling there’s going to be some brilliant designs submitted, and I doubt anything I could create would match the inhouse design team, but I think I’ll still give this a go.
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Jose Castro — August 4th, 2009, 9:46 pm

Awesome, will have a design turned in, What the heck… You only live once and sounds like fun ; )

Pura Vida

Jose
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Timothy Spell — August 4th, 2009, 9:48 pm

I like this idea…I’m sure your going to have 1000s of people submit their work…including me.

Being in web design has given me the opportunity to get creative; from time to time . I’ll see what kind of mock-up I can get you.
Reply
Alex — August 4th, 2009, 9:58 pm

I think the cover should be two photos of Christian Bale. The first from The Machinist, and the 2nd from Batman Begins.

Geek to freak baby!!!
Reply
Jason Sew Hoy — August 4th, 2009, 10:02 pm

Glad we could help out Tim and am sure there will be no shortage of awesome concepts.

We’ll all be waiting in eager anticipation for the release date!

Jason
99designs
Reply
Mike Newton — August 4th, 2009, 10:03 pm

So glad to see a great author embracing crowd-sourcing to engage their fans in helping creating something cool and let them be a part of the process; you are way ahead of the curve Tim. If you ever decide to have your fans create anything else in the future, we would love to help.
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Mike — August 4th, 2009, 10:16 pm

Crowdsourcing & spec design = BAD & Irresponsible

Tim, would you write a book for me? For free?
If I like it, I’ll throw you a few bucks. If I don’t end up using it, you got a lot of great experience to use for the next time. Right?

You’re ok with working for free, right?

For more information on why this sort of thing is an atrocious practice, visit:
http://www.thelogofactory.com/logo_blog/index.php/crowdsource-new-logo-design/
Reply
John — August 4th, 2009, 10:19 pm

Dear Sweetcakes (someone had to do it…),

Great idea and opportunity. And, while I’m not artistically inclined, I’ll be sure to pass it to many of my friends who are!

Can’t wait to see what the new book holds in store…
Reply
mike — August 4th, 2009, 10:24 pm

great idea. i am far from being a designer but i would love to offer myself as a cover model if you descide to do a cover with a person performing something “superhuman” as i take personal pride in being able to do very chalenging feats while looking good doing it if you are interested send an e-mail and we’ll talk. if not i would suggest you use pictures of yourself. you’ve done some pretty awesoem things from what i’ve seen. or you can take one fo those cirque de ole guys! they can do soem pretty awesome stuff.
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Patrick ortman — August 4th, 2009, 10:35 pm

Yeah, sorry but you’re being really uncool Tim. That’s OK, though, if you would please publish your entire book here and let us all read it first and then decide if we’d like to pay for it
Reply
JB — August 4th, 2009, 10:41 pm

I think the “becoming superhuman” title will only be justified if you go beyond diet and exercise, to talk about herbal enhancements. Having flexibility in choosing your body type, while impressive, doesn’t strike me as overwhelmingly superhuman. Increasing your intelligence, personality and energy levels effortlessly past the competition does. If that’s what you’re delivering, then don’t nerf the hook!

Not that I doubt. Just sayin.
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Rich — August 4th, 2009, 10:42 pm

Damn you sweetcakes!!!

I think it’s a great opportunity. Worst case scenario: You get some practice.
Reply
Jesse — August 4th, 2009, 10:48 pm

Are you are aware of the controversy around the issue of crowdsourcing and spec work? I would think you would be, which makes me wonder if you are trying some kind of PR stunt… Regardless, I’ll probably submit an entry.
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Alex — August 4th, 2009, 10:54 pm

Oh my goodness this is so exciting! I don’t know if I’ll come up with a great design or not, but I am excited to see the entries, and especially to get the book. How should we submit our entries?And can we send in more than one?
Reply
Karlil @ PDPro — August 4th, 2009, 11:08 pm

never mind the cover. The title of the book sound awesome enough. I want the book now =D
Reply
neil keleher — August 4th, 2009, 11:08 pm

I read the link that Mike sent and it looks like the article is
FOR crowd sourcing.
Reply
Baker — August 4th, 2009, 11:28 pm

If I was a designer, I would go for the throat on this one.

I can’t wait for this book. When do we get more info on it?
Reply
Jose Castro — August 4th, 2009, 11:30 pm

@Mike, having your audience join in on a contest is completely honest and should not be frowned upon. You could find an article supporting anything, this is completely cool…. You should join in ; )

How do you think Threadless got started? Same thing!

Have a blast,

Jose Castro-Frenzel
Reply
Design the cover for Tim Ferriss’ new book « 99designs blog – Leading Designer Marketplace for Logo Design and more… — August 4th, 2009, 11:48 pm

[...] here are few things from Tim that you should know before entering this project: 1. I will offer $250 to four of my favorite [...]
Schmidty — August 4th, 2009, 11:50 pm

Even though I can’t design it is still very exciting to hear more things about the book Tim…looking forward to it.

@Mike.

I think it produces a win-win should your work be the best. Especially if you are new and looking for exposure.

When an entrepreneur starts a new company are they guaranteed a million dollars whether it is a fail or success? not likely…but rather they have to work for free until they make it a success.
Reply
Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 12:11 am

Thanks for all of the comments, guys! I can’t wait to see the designs

Pura vida,

Tim
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Professor X — August 5th, 2009, 12:14 am

about crowd-sourcing … ummmm… this is a COMPLETE OPPORTUNITY…if you don’t see it, you’re staring at your feet and not the path of opportunity ahead of you. with Tim’s popularity and best seller status in several categories…. yeahhh… what kind of credibility and attention do you think one gets if they’re selected? This isn’t some narrow niche contest. You’d be printed in 35+ languages and popularity from the stuff Tim puts out.

get your head out of the sand and look ahead of you…. this ain’t your typical opportunity in some small, unnoticed community…
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Jesus Maria — August 5th, 2009, 1:02 am

Great, spec work at its finest. $250? Are you kidding us? You’re screwing over even amateurs with this.
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Rich — August 5th, 2009, 1:04 am

Sorry Tim, but this is Free pitching..

And the terms and conditions are evil..

Good luck.
Reply
shh — August 5th, 2009, 1:10 am

Great opportunity…but $250, one week…no time…extension? Pwease, sweetcakes?
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Roman Remake — August 5th, 2009, 1:47 am

Tim: Two things. First, your blog is the only blog I read (which says a lot). . . and when I’m too under the influence to actually read your blog, I watch your videos. Kudos to your great personality.

Second, you are the man at outsourcing. You’ve elevated to a new level: Why hire an Indian or make a job posting on oDesk.com when you can have people do it for free?! (It’s nice of you to offer the money, by the way). When I had my book cover designed, it cost tons of hours of research and well over $1,000.

P.S. I recently bought your History channel video “Trial by Fire” . . . I hope they accept the show.
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Yak Boy — August 5th, 2009, 2:23 am

Oh, right, it’s not spec work it’s crowd-sourcing.
It’s not a job it’s a competition.
$250 flat fee, mmm…
Are you taking a flat fee from your publisher, regardless of number of copies sold?

I love that you pre-empt the backlash in your post, because you knew before you made this request that it was a dick move.

I wonder how many of the professionally designed covers in that little mosaic were designed on a promise of maybe winning $250 & getting “international recognition”.

I’ve got a design idea for you – your head up your butt.
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 5:30 am
  
  I tried the head up the butt move. Not recommended.
  
  T
  Reply
Rog — August 5th, 2009, 2:35 am

As a designer I almost unsubscribed your RSS feed after reading your post sweetcakes. Not cool!

http://www.no-spec.com/

Also to Professor X: Name the designer of the first TF book cover and I’ll agree to your arguments.
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Chad — August 5th, 2009, 3:30 am

This really does the design community no favours.
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Lloyd — August 5th, 2009, 3:40 am

I am really looking forward to the book.

I have some ideas for the cover but unfortunately am not artistically inclined.

I was wondering if you will be talking about HGH in your book and the use of anabolic supplements?
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 5:29 am
  
  Hi Lloyd,
  
  I will cover it all.
  
  Tim
  Reply
Serrano — August 5th, 2009, 3:42 am

Great idea! This seems like an incredibly challenging book to design a cover for, because how can you make it appealing to not only fitness nuts, but average Joes who may have never bought a fitness book in their life? How do you convey the potential for a fast and extreme body transformation using the info in your book, without seeming too good to be true and being a turn-off to the more skeptically-minded folks? Good thing you seem to have many smart and creative people who read your blog
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Alex Mathers — August 5th, 2009, 3:50 am

I’m on this – I think designers are missing the point that this is a competition, and not a job assignment that might not be paid. Excellent decision, Tim, it brings in your readership and is great marketing.

Expect a design soon!

Alex
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Joel — August 5th, 2009, 4:06 am

I just submitted a very rough entry. I think pooling the resources of the interested public is the best way to go. So long as credit is given, and I have no doubt it will be.

The book’s opposition are going to love that its initials are BS, though.

I can’t wait to get my copy.
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Hansson — August 5th, 2009, 4:14 am

“Spec arrangements aren’t inherently evil at all, but the losses can be huge as a freelancer if you get screwed. Screwing people, including designers, is just fucked. No two ways around it.”

My reply: Spec arrangements where participants are not paid for their participation IS an evil way of exploiting all those participants that will not win. And by rewarding the winners 250 dollars you even exploit the best of your crowd. You run a multi million dollar operation and offer a ridiculous USD 250 reward. It’s nothing less than shameful and I don’t understand how you can put your name on this. You come out as a total cheapskate that takes no pride in selecting the best possible packaging for your product.

At least the winner’s reward(s) should be fair compared to the editor’s future revenues. Why not offer the winner a royalty per sold book? That would show your generosity and sense of fair business.

It’s surprising that you don’t seem to be willing to spend money on your two most important visual assets of your contact with your public – your online presence (your website looks super cheap to say the least) and your book cover. Recommended reading: No-spec.com
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 5:28 am
  
  Hi Hansson,
  
  Thanks for the comment. I appreciate the candor.
  
  Just a few things:
  
  1) There is a decent chance that none of the finalists’ covers will make it to the final cover. The $250 per finalist is a good faith gesture. If it makes it on the cover, and the book hits bestseller lists, and the designer is not already rolling in clients, is it worth it for them? Setting aside that I will probably pay them more in that case, it’s absolutely worth it. One big hit is all you need to be set in some industries.
  
  2) No book cover designers are given royalties. That’s just not how the business works. There is the publisher (bulk of profit), there is the author (4-15% royalties), there is inhouse staff (salaried), and there are various work-for-hire contractors who handle certain areas of expertise (per-hour or per-project compensation). When not give my publicist a % of all my sales? Because the market dictates that it isn’t necessary.
  
  I don’t expect you to dislike this any less, but the above points are, I think, worth considering.
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
nick — August 5th, 2009, 4:43 am

some people miss the point..

imagine a talented but unrecognised graphic design student – or not even that – ASPIRING graphic design student.. they try it out – they succeed – suddenly they have prospects and choice – especially if they aren’t from a conventional university/geographical area. This is much more of an opportunity for them than for the working freelancer.
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Nathan — August 5th, 2009, 5:02 am

Just browsing the comments, it appears there are some really passionate opinions against this idea. I don’t see Tim asking anybody to work for free, but if money is the only capital you work for, then I guess I can see where some feel like this is shady. If you’re a designer without any need to elevate your status in the design community, then this project is not for you. But I see an opportunity here, for an undiscovered designer with amazing talent to catapult their career to rock star status.

And here is the best part, if you’re design gets ripped off by Tim, start a blog – http://www.igotSCRWEDby//////.com (didn’t want to insert his name because of pesky search engines) to vent your frustration. The way I see it, Tim took a HUGE risk with this project, because there is significant probability of a designer claiming to be ripped off – even when they weren’t. I wouldn’t have done it, but then again, I’m not Tim.

Thanks for trying to pull your community up with you Tim.
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Brad K. — August 5th, 2009, 5:12 am

This is just like pornography – if you’re against it, don’t consume it. If you’re into it, there are plenty of providers to give you what you want. Either way, we all have the right to take part or not but we cannot impose our beliefs on others. If you are OK with what TF is offering up you should go for it and good luck to you. If you feel somehow degraded by this “crowdsourcing”, guess what your choice is?

Fact of the matter is that Tim Ferris has masterfully created his ideal lifestyle and gets paid for it – genius. If I figured out how to get thousands of great ideas from willing submitters while sitting on a plane on my way to try yak herding in the Himalayas in the days before the publishing of my next book – I’d be pretty proud of myself.

To stand on the shoulders of giant, you first need to find a giant willing to let you do so.
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David — August 5th, 2009, 5:41 am

Tim, while it’s true that book cover designers aren’t paid a “royalty,” people who create artwork for book covers do license the art to the publisher based on print run, region, language, etc. So the artists get paid again if the book goes into a second or third printing, or if the same artwork is used for a foreign edition, etc. So it’s not a left-field comment. Count me in the “no spec” choir.
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 5:59 am
  
  Hi David,
  
  Fair enough. The truth is that Random House would probably want to have a separate agreement with any designer whose design, if in full, ended up being used as the cover. That said, since I’m doing this independently, I don’t want to speak on their behalf. This ham-strung position — granted, self-inflicted — limits what I can promise in terms of outcomes.
  
  Point well taken, though.
  
  Tim
  Reply
Lloyd — August 5th, 2009, 5:48 am

The most annoying part of this offer is the comments labeling it as evil. Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Lucifer…EVIL. Tim Ferris, blogger, entrepreneur, author, guy making an offer…not EVIL.

If you don’t like the offer… “please feel free to protest by not submitting”
Reply
tully — August 5th, 2009, 5:58 am

Wow….I thought sugarlips was low…but sweetcakes? that’s bad…descending to new lows
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graham bibby — August 5th, 2009, 6:14 am

hi i am one of those 54 year old dinos who is computer and tech iliterate.
i have managed investments and studied the pschology of what makes markets move..i dont buy and hold and run profits and cut losses.
i know my stuff but would like to outsource the huge amount of research papers i get througth and the articles i write.
i would like to out source my technical analysis sifting process.
i have seriously outperformed the msci index ,i am a regular speaker on bloomberg and cnbc but not so hot at running companies especially leveraging my abilites by getting more assets under mgt…can anyone help point me in the right direction to sort my life….love the book..it was as if thats what my life had been waiting for
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Hansson — August 5th, 2009, 6:25 am

[Quote T.F.]No book cover designers are given royalties. That’s just not how the business works. (…) Because the market dictates that it isn’t necessary.

[Comment] I know it’s like that. But great minds invent, they don’t follow conventions. You could personally have guaranteed your designer that royalty in addition to his one-time payment. $250×4 just isn’t coherent for a guy who’s known for being generous about non-profits and on the cutting edge of investing in startups.

Striving for excellence – which is what I gather you do when you put all this effort into finding the perfect title/the bestselling cover – means surrounding yourself with excellent people, having the highest expectations, and rewarding other people’s excellence generously. 250 bucks and 200 billion printed copies doesn’t pay any bills. Nobody knows who designed your first book cover. Exposure is a bonus, not the paycheck itself. Show us the money instead.
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Neil Cohen — August 5th, 2009, 6:34 am

Geez, never heard of slogan contests? “Tell us why you love Ovaltine in 30 words or less”

Continuing the progression of outsourcing and alternative development of projects.

I am not a designer but I understand that professional designers do not appreciate this process. Professional jingle writers probably didn’t submit a slogan to Ovaltine. And when they wrote their jingle they paid a professional to write it.

And as an amateur, I was excited to submit one of the first 20 submissions. To all the “professionals” – please do not submit, I need the money.

Cheers,

Neil
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Oliver — August 5th, 2009, 6:59 am

THE REAL REASON DESIGNERS ARE AGAINST SPEC WORK:

Because they’ve discovered that their skills are not as unique or valuable as they thought they were. Sorry, I’m not trying to be rude but it’s true.

Just like engineers who are struggling because there are an order of magnitude more engineers being trained in India and China who will work for much less money. Even if the work is of lesser quality, the lower cost often makes it worthwhile to outsource. (I don’t want to start a conversation about the merits of engineering outsourcing, I’m just using it as an example).

The expected value of submitting a design is low but it has enormous upside variance. If you’re starting out and looking for a break – this is it. This opportunity gives the stereotypical “struggling artist” a chance for a big break. The fact that people are willing to enter these competitions suggests that they have considered the fact that they aren’t going to be paid and submitted anyway.

It’s no surprise that established designers are against spec work – they don’t want the competition from the crowd of amateur designers. They’re behaving more like microsoft and standard oil than they probably even realize.
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Hunter Johnson — August 5th, 2009, 7:15 am

If spec work is bad, then spec work is no less bad for designers who choose not to participate. This is a variation of The Prisoner’s Dilemma. If none of you and your fellow designers participate, you get the best overall result — actual contract work for work needed. If only one of you participates, he gets a local reward (chance at $250), everyone else is worse (the continuation of spec work). If everyone participates, it’s worse for everyone (lower chances of $250, continuation of spec work).
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Benedict Westenra — August 5th, 2009, 7:17 am

Hi Everyone,

There’s something the naysayers all seem to have overlooked: Tim primary occupation is writing a first-class blog, an activity that earns his an annual salary of $0. (Income derived from the resulting kudos is something he has to work extra for.)

If you think people shouldn’t work for free, then I suggest you stop reading his articles and benefiting from his advice.

For everyone else – myself included – keep on subscribing!

Oh, and Tim, my offer of free piano lessons still stands . I’m not saying this because I want publicity but because I think your feedback on my teaching techniques would be very useful.

Peace,
B.
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:56 pm
  
  Thanks for pointing this out, Benedict!
  
  To repeat what you said:
  
  Hi Everyone,
  
  “There’s something the naysayers all seem to have overlooked: Tim primary occupation is writing a first-class blog, an activity that earns his an annual salary of $0. (Income derived from the resulting kudos is something he has to work extra for.)
  
  If you think people shouldn’t work for free, then I suggest you stop reading his articles and benefiting from his advice.
  
  For everyone else – myself included – keep on subscribing!
  
  Oh, and Tim, my offer of free piano lessons still stands . I’m not saying this because I want publicity but because I think your feedback on my teaching techniques would be very useful.
  
  Peace,
  B.”
  Reply
Kevin — August 5th, 2009, 7:19 am

I’m surprised no one has addressed on important issue yet: Quality.

Tim’s going to get a lot of average designs from a bunch of amateur designers. Maybe 5 or 6 will be above average, but I highly doubt anything exceptional will come out of this. However, there’s not much difference between average and exceptional to the untrained eye. Sometimes average design is all you need. And if you want average, spec is okay in my mind.

The point is, if you’re good at something, never do it for free. Simple.
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Jay — August 5th, 2009, 7:21 am

Great idea Tim. I don’t know how other design fields work, but in architecture a considerable portion of jobs is won through ‘spec’ under the guise of ‘architectural competitions’. Many a practice spends considerable resource to conceptualise and work up a design for these competitions and the winner is paid an honourariam amount to cover costs which can be considered pocket change to the companies hosting them.

If architecture, a well respected design field, wins a considerable amount of work (which can actually make a practice) through ‘spec’ work (under another name), then I don’t see how designers in other fields can rankle at this proposition. Business is business and competition in theory should produce better results?

- Jay
(A freshly graduated architecture student who can only get jobs through spec work for the moment…)
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Oliver Ruehl — August 5th, 2009, 7:21 am

Haha. Thanks for making me laugh.
I don’t even touch a pencil for 250$.

Here is my design for you, just copy & paste:

“Superhuman”
by Tim Ferriss

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Mike — August 5th, 2009, 7:28 am

I don’t know about the cover art, but the title should be…

“The 3-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich”

This new and improved DEAL system is guaranteed to reduce your 4HWW by 25%.
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Stuart — August 5th, 2009, 7:32 am

Thanks for provoking such entertaining comments. I’m having fun reading the responses and I’ll have tons of fun entering the contest.
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Joe — August 5th, 2009, 7:44 am

These posts crack me up. If you guys hate Tim so much, why do you read his blog? Great stuff Tim, I love reading about your adventures and I’ve learned a ton from your book. I’m just trying to find ways to apply it in my life and find my own flugelbinder! Keep up the great work.

Cheers

Joe

P.S. I’d love to see some more posts on entrepreneurship and creating web properties. It seems like you have access to a lot of smart people and and additional info you have on hooking up with good programmers to start my own web company is much appreciated.
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Stephen — August 5th, 2009, 7:48 am

If you need a new jacket photo I would love to be involved. Am based in DC buy NY is oh so close!
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John S. — August 5th, 2009, 7:54 am

Designers, as a bunch, are uber sensitive and self-conscious, there’s no doubt. Afterall, I am one. But Tim, you’ve reduced the design of your covers to ‘here’s the title, make something pretty’. This contest rots because it glazes over the most basic tenet of the creative process—research. At the very least, anyone designing the book should be given the opportunity to read the book, to pull relevant concepts or quotables or whatever to come up with a real, strategic solution. I mean, how many Million Dollar Man-esque solutions have already been submitted? You wouldn’t write a book without some level of research would you?
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:51 pm
  
  Hi John,
  
  Thanks for the comment, and I agree that research is key. Unfortunately, I can’t really offer more besides the post on the new book, which I linked to. This was meant as something fun for me and the community, but I’m also on deadline, so I needed to keep it light. I’m sure there will be surprisingly good designs despite this, but only time will tell
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Tyler — August 5th, 2009, 8:04 am

I can understand why some designers don’t like this but it seems like it’s pretty easy to deal with. If you think it’s unfair and not worth your time, don’t participate. I used a similar method 3 years ago to design one of my company logo’s and got great results. On top of that the designer uses my logo in their portfolio and I have gone back to him again for other resources.

Tim will pretty much do the same thing when his book publishes. Meaning that most of you that make the argument that he should publish the whole book for free and then you will decide if you’ll buy it will actually pick up his book and thumb through it in the book store prior to purchasing it. You’ll get a feel for what the book offers before you invest your hard earned money in making a copy your own.

I appreciate that Tim has been transparent and upfront on the issue. Good luck to everybody that makes a wise personal choice to participate!
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Alex — August 5th, 2009, 8:14 am

Hey Tim,

I’ve got a good idea for your cover but am not artistically inclined. Is it possible to simply tell you the idea? I need no reward if you end up using it.

Thanks and good luck!
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JG — August 5th, 2009, 8:17 am

Go Tim.

I’m surprised by the negative reactions. There’s nothing new about competitions for artistic endeavors. If would be one thing is you approached a specific designer, a known professional, and asked them to do work on spec. But in the case, the competition is open to everyone. What a great way for someone to get noticed, or possibly just take on an engaging challenge?

I think it’s fair for a professional to say, “I don’t work on spec.” But I think it’s ridiculous for a professional to say, “And no else should, either.” I totally agree with Jay on this one.
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Jason — August 5th, 2009, 8:19 am

Tim et al,

I’m not a designer nor will I be submitting anything, I’m just a fan of 4HWW and this blog and have been following this thread.

I can see why some people (mainly pro designers) are upset, calling it spec work/crowd sourcing for very little reward even if theirs is the cover chosen. I’m a professional musician and might feel the same way if it was a “write the Official Tim Ferriss Jingle to be played around the world and win $250″ contest. Wait, I got a Masters degree for my skill to be reduced to this?

BUT….

I also find it a little ironic that all the whiners and cryers probably call themselves ENTREPRENEURS, which, by my definition, are obsessed with opportunity and have the vision and creativity to see AROUND the problem to the long-term value. The complainers are so focused on looking at the problem that they don’t see the upside.

On another note, I will buy the book when it’s available because I’m very into health and fitness and body-hacking as well, and have a blog post about a workout I created based around Pareto’s ideas I learned from 4HWW. Good stuff!

Best,
Jason
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Jeff Couturier — August 5th, 2009, 8:21 am

“Here is where spec goes wrong: the prospective steals designs and, after someone has put their talent to work, offers nothing in return.
For the client who can offer value and not screw the designers they end up using, there is nothing wrong with spec work.”

A $250 prize for a project like this is not offering value. $250 is insultingly low. Offering “recognition” isn’t adequate, even and especially for designers that are just starting out. We do this for a living and we need to be paid fairly for the work we provide. The issue isn’t just the competition, it’s the incredibly low reward you’re offering. Things like this devalue our industry and make it more and more difficult for both beginners and seasoned professionals to make a living – and I’m not talking about lavish lifestyles here, I’m talking about paying the bills and feeding our families. I gurantee there are hundreds of would-be design clients out there that will read about your contest and say to themselves, “Well, Tim Ferris held a design contest for just $250 – I can too.” This isn’t helping anyone garner more clients. Instead, it is leeching the true value, skill and craft out of design and only helping to make it more acceptable to ask a designer for wold-class work while only paying pennies for it.

I like you Tim, but you’ve made a very bad decision here. At the very least offer a (substantially) larger reward for your selections.

Please, please read what No!Spec has to say about Design Contests ( http://www.no-spec.com/articles/design-contests/ ) and the Ten Reasons article ( http://www.no-spec.com/articles/ten-reasons/ ).
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Marcie — August 5th, 2009, 8:26 am

Wow. My undergrad degree was in Art/Graphic Design, I didn’t know about this “No Spec” controversy. Well said, Jay:

“Business is business and competition in theory should produce better results”

I always like to say, if you don’t like what you are hearing, change the channel!

Thanks so much for the opportunity, Tim, I am looking forward to doing some brainstorming and giving it my best shot.

~???~ ? p e a c e ~???~
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jkersley — August 5th, 2009, 8:27 am

Jay – agreed, and it is not just recent grads that submit very elaborate architectural design that are very well developed to competitions, very high profile firms do it as well. The firms that could get plenty of work from name alone.

Even the small firm (20 people) I work at in Colorado, that is very well know for doing educational buildings, we still participate in competitions for educational work and we are very proud of the competitions that we win.

But to each his own – if the graphic design community doesn’t feel the need for this type of competition, so be it.

Tim – way to make use of your community and getting us more involved.
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Lorna — August 5th, 2009, 8:34 am

Tim, Tim, Tim. Sometimes you really make me laugh. For all this time I’ve been reading your book and blog, I’ve seen you step out there and “step in it” several times, getting yourself embroiled in a little controversy without meaning to and watching your fans and non-fans get riled up over something probably meant either in fun or in earnest. Sometimes I wonder if you suddenly get someone slapping you back for an idea and think, “Oh, crap! How did this happen?!” You must not have a VA polling the public to see how well-liked your ideas will be in order to avoid any potential controversy. I’d be disappointed if you did.

But regardless, I really admire you because you actually DO something. You’re not sitting around, just playing it safe with your bold ideas but you’re putting them out there for people to use (or abuse or feel abused by, since this is their issue and not yours). You’re having fun and inviting people to play if they choose.

Oh yeah, and as an author under a pseudonym for a major publisher, I wrote several books on spec to get my foot in the door but when I sold the first, it did well and paid the bills. It was exasperating to work for free, but it was what I had to do to prove myself to editors. I’ve since repackaged my old spec projects into a steady income stream rather than moaning about lost work or lost opportunities.
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Mike Newton — August 5th, 2009, 8:39 am

What the hell is wrong with some of you people? I wish more authors, businesses, bands etc. would involve their fans in product/design creation. Perhaps if you own a design firm and were hoping to get some business this might piss you off, but deal with it and find a way to include everyone in the process. One of my favorite bands Iglu and Hartley has a t-shirt contest in which their fans get to create their apparel and purchase all designs submitted. What a great way to give your fans a voice.
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Mark McLemore — August 5th, 2009, 8:56 am

Good grief. I’m a songwriter, and I would never feel exploited if a competition like this popped up for “Four Hour Blog Theme Music”. In fact, Sweetcakes, if you offer a competition in MY niche of audio/video (that is, if you don’t get Douglas Price to do it…), I’ll submit. Even for $250.

I’m a pro, and would gladly use my mad skills and equipment to make a quick buck AND increase my exposure.

I seem to recall another popular blogger doing the same thing for his book, except he didn’t pay anyone as far as I remember: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080652720X/bpitu-20

Some people love to do what they do–and often do it for art before money. Incidentally, the music that I enjoy making is the music that makes me the least money.

If graphics were my bag, I would have entered by now instead of writing this.

Mark
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Brandon James — August 5th, 2009, 9:03 am

I think this is crowdsourcing at its finest. I don’t understand people’s resistance to breaking down industry barriers and going about business in a fresh, creative manner. Tim, I think this is a smart and an acceptable approach to creating content. This gives your community an outlet and the fact is that no one would have the opportunity to design anything or get recognition if it wasn’t for the following you’ve created.
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Ian — August 5th, 2009, 9:06 am

All those ideas for a thousand bucks! That is what I call value.
Looking forward to the new book
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Northa — August 5th, 2009, 9:15 am

For all you no-spec design nazi’s, feel free to not participate. This competition is obviously not for you.
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Becky — August 5th, 2009, 9:19 am

As a design professional, I look at it this way: Am I going to spend countless hours working on a project I’ll probably get no reward or compensation for? No. And $250 is an awfully low number, Tim! But is it worth spending a few hours putting something together and sending it in, if I’m not swamped? Sure. It’s a matter of risk/reward. The potential reward in terms of exposure is huge. The chances of that reward, slim. So adjust your “risk” (the time you put in) accordingly.
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Rob F. — August 5th, 2009, 9:53 am

Tim,

I’m a big fan of your work. Question, when will the new book be coming out?

Cheers,
Rob
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:47 pm
  
  Hi Rob,
  
  The next book, the expanded and updated 4-Hour Workweek (about 100 pages of new content) will be out in mid December. Should be fun
  
  Best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
jonathan bowden — August 5th, 2009, 10:00 am

wow tim, really dissapointed that you would stoop so low as to crowsdsourcing.

echoing an earlier comment:

Tim, would you write a book for me? For free?
If I like it, I’ll throw you a few bucks. If I don’t end up using it, you got a lot of great experience to use for the next time. Right?

You’re ok with working for free, right? Sounds completely legit right?

and tim, your follow up comment of “if your at an advertising agency, and you want new business, what do you do…. (your assumption of pitch work)”, is not completely true. There is a strong contingment of creatives who don’t pitch, and waste our energy and time.

check out this site and manifesto:

http://www.winwithoutpitching.com/manifesto

also, as others have mentioned above, ultimately the quality of your design will suffer, and thus the presentation of your work. if this is worth being a cheapskate to you, then go ahead. But it will be your loss.

Other wise, be a professional, and hire a professional to do the work.
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Mason — August 5th, 2009, 10:05 am

It looks like you’re accomplishing more with this contest than just generating some cool book covers, You’re also weeding out annoying readers

Long live captialism.

Cheers,
Mason
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Kevin Neadley — August 5th, 2009, 10:07 am

It sounds like a BIG win win situation. Yeah there is a chance your design won’t make it as the final cover piece but who cares … it just might! With that said, what the heck – I may even get designing one myself.
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Grant — August 5th, 2009, 10:31 am

As a Designer… I kind of like spec work. Our concepts are usually a ways away from standard. And, I’m only interested in taking on clients who are paying me to be as creative as I desire. So, our work isn’t for everyone. And spec work lets people see what they are getting. Because, in my experience, your first job for a client is usually not your last. And, once your in the door you are done with spec work.

I think many of us have gotten clients by doing unsolicited spec work… at least when we were first getting started.

But, I have a different question for Tim from a designers perspective. When I work with a client to brand a product, which a book cover is, the best solutions come out when I am extremely familiar with the work. So, Tim, I was wondering if you could follow up with some more info – maybe a large set of visuals you associate with what you have written – just don’t want to spend time flailing around in never ever land.
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Chris — August 5th, 2009, 10:49 am

I’ve used design agency’s, one-off contractors from elance and recently spec work / crowding-sourcing with 99designs. I think there’s a role for each type of engagement. I wouldn’t use 99designs for a national branding / ad campaign – but at the same time its not worth the big agency fees to just pull together a logo for a new start-up.

I get why some designers would be pissed about the move towards spec work – just like I get why some developers would be pissed about $4h programmers in India. In the end though, the clients will drive the process and if crowd sourcing produces quality work (which IMO it does if managed well) then its not going anywhere.

Cheers
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Paul — August 5th, 2009, 11:01 am

I’m a veterinarian, and a neophyte in such areas, but I have a question. If this contest/spec work is wrong, what should Tim do?

Should he hire a designer and pay him/her even if he doesn’t like the designs?

Not trying to be an ass, just wondering because I’ve considered such options to help me design a logo for my practice.

As for the person who asked Tim if he would write a book for free.
Actually, that is what most authors do. They write a book, with no guarantee of payment (or even of getting it published), then try to find someone to buy it, and most of them fail, repeatedly.
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PPC4 — August 5th, 2009, 11:13 am

@ those whose opinion I value and disagree with:

I can recall my university offering internships. You know…where you work your butt off for no money, and if kill yourself enouph…you get a 24k per year entry level job when you graduate that comes with a cubicle and a hammer to bang your head with repeatedly. Then again, if you wanted to work for a particular company or develop a track record to do bigger things…You went for it like the last piece of cake at the family picnic. (Or you were TF and said “F this!” and followed other passions)

So…If you’re Hugh MacLeod…this won’t be your thing.

If you’re the artist/designer looking for some way…any way to break out…This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and it won’t take you’re entire summer to get it done.

Talented people are a dime a dozen…People that can execute their dreams and plans…are rare, and well f’ing special, imho. The world will allow your heart to bleed dry while raging against the machine. There is always someone who can do it “better”, “cheaper”, and “more efficiently”…Noone can do you, so figure out wtf “you” wants and do that. If “you” resonates with others, they’ll probably pay alot of money for what “you” have to offer because its so scarce and/or special.

Do it or don’t. If it works for “you”, it has immense value! Either way, you should probably stop trying to piss on the tidal wave to slow it down and start learning to swim before you (and “your” dreams) get swept away.

PPC4

PS. I meant it when I said value and respect…If this sounds shitty in any way its because my head is swimming after being up on rescues all damned night…
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PPC4 — August 5th, 2009, 11:15 am

See what I mean…The intro. was supposed to say value, respect, and disagree with…I’m going to sleep now…
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Jordan Chénard — August 5th, 2009, 11:25 am

Hi Tim,

I think the way you drive this “contest” (I see this more like a party than a contest) is fair, clean and respect the designer’s community.

Spec work is the norm in advertising business but what you’re asking here has nothing to do with that.

In my own perspective, this is a fun activity you are sharing with your readers and I’m gonna give it a try. Of course, I’m busy so I’m not gonna pass tons of time on it. Priority to something that pay my bills, but I will place this project in my agenda and replace 1-2 hours of “Reading 4-hour workweek” by 1-2 hours of “designing next Tim Ferriss’ book”.

This is not “spec work”, I think it’s an opportunity to create something. How a designer can see this as disrespectful? (not sure about this sentence… I’m practicing my english here, lol).

Well, when you’re not happy with what you see look somewhere else and shut the f… “funny mouth” up!

In other words: ” Money’s great but fun’s better. If you don’t have the time, stop spending it to criticise and organise your schedule.”

See ya, Tim.

Jord
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:45 pm
  
  Thanks Jordan and the designers who do see some value in this.
  
  Thanks also to the critics who keep me thinking.
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Tony — August 5th, 2009, 11:33 am

I’m amazed with how much controversy this topic has.

I checked out No Spec (http://www.no-spec.com/articles/design-contests/) and it seems their argument has to do with not developing a business relationship with your client. … Okay … What if all you need is a design and not to have to hire a graphic designer?

I really don’t understand the argument anyone holds against these contests. The designers are well aware that their work may not be compensated; they chose to enter anyway for the potential award and a portfolio addition. Why speak on their behalf? They are cool with it. If you are against it, don’t participate. It really is that simple.

That aside, what will this book include besides weight loss and strength training?
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Thierry Dehove — August 5th, 2009, 11:47 am

Hi from Caribbean,
love this idea… I am on it

Good luck to all
Peace, Thierry
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Tom — August 5th, 2009, 12:44 pm

I’m a professional designer, and I think these competitions are great if you’ve got time to do them.

This isn’t some kind of scheme to screw the designers, it’s simply an opportunity take it or leave it.

Spec work comes down to this – Do you have the time and resources to spend on this work without any compensation? If yes then do it. If no, then don’t.

The responsibility is on the designer’s side to make prudent business decisions for themselves. Sadly, many artists and designers are not prudent business people. C’est la vie

That said, I’m looking forward to reading the book!

- Tom
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Jose Castro — August 5th, 2009, 1:09 pm

Tim, is there any certain type of design that is being considered as far as being abstract? or is this completely just put it out there and see what sticks?

Thx

Jose
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johnf — August 5th, 2009, 1:34 pm

It’s funny how different this would be if it were a writing competition. Imagine a magazine that does the same thing for article space. Top 4 entries get a cash prize while the grand prize winner gets their article published.

I’m struggling to see the difference, but I’m sure all the “designers” out there will set me straight.

Maybe Tim should have said that this “competition” was only targeted towards amateur photoshop/design gurur’s. The kind that just enjoy the work and many times could produce equal or better results. Design Professionals need not apply.

?
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:43 pm
  
  Hi John,
  
  You’re right. If this were a writing competition — same rules, same everything — we wouldn’t have the fuss. I’m not sure why the design-specific sensitivity.
  
  Best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Ray Gulick — August 5th, 2009, 2:18 pm

Tell you what, Tim: I have a cover design for a book that needs to be written. Why don’t you join my contest to write the content to go with the cover?
Ridiculous, right? Not more ridiculous than these kinds of crowd-sourced design projects, however.

The least you could do is offer the designer of the cover that gets used an amount of money that reflects its real value to your project. $250 and “exposure” is BS.
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Sachit Gupta — August 5th, 2009, 2:37 pm

Atleast your upfront about it. Fair play to you. Reminds me of Guy Kawasaki’s approach to twitter followers – unfollow me if you don’t like what I’m posting.
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Jason — August 5th, 2009, 2:48 pm

Tim,

Obviously your going to use this blog to serve your agenda. But usually when you’ve done this in the past, you managed to make it a win-win situation for everyone involved.

However, out of your thousands of readers, this post only applies to a few of us.
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:41 pm
  
  Hi Jason,
  
  I totally understand this, but I have to also keep the blog fun and exciting for me. Every once in a blue moon, that just means the random post out of left field. I hope you understand.
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Anthony — August 5th, 2009, 2:53 pm

Hi guys,

I just submitted my design for Becoming Superman. I am so confident it will win, I will even show it to you. Check it out:

http://anthonyadams.posterous.com/becoming-superman-book-cover

Someone is about to be $250 richer. And that someone is me….
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:40 pm
  
  Hahahahahahaha! Man, this is a real contender.
  
  Tim
  Reply
Steven Sisler — August 5th, 2009, 2:54 pm

Tim,

I appreciate your mature answer to Aaron’s comment. That was definitely a man’s answer; it would have been easy to just trounce him for using life’s lowest level of knowledge – assumption.

Steve
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@mikeysmalz — August 5th, 2009, 3:40 pm

I submitted my design, low on artistic quality and high on concept! People need to relax and have fun with a competition.

I breezed through 4HWW accidentally on vacation and can not wait for the this book. Anyone that connected with the themes of Tim’s philosophy should a) be excited to see a more granular view of the application

I am trying out his weight-loss and muscle building diet w/ 1-hour of gym time for 28 days thing right now: 1/2 way through and its working out for both of us.

Here’s my blog on the experience if you’re interested:
http://lifebytimferriss.blogspot.com/
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A.D. — August 5th, 2009, 3:42 pm

I’m a designer from 99designs. I work only webpage design so Tim if you need a website… And I’m sure many designers like me would love to (re)design your website for free!
A question for you all: have you ever done spec work to know that is bad?
Yes, it’s not 100% SAFE. Live your life without taking risks if you can, and tell me what you win.
Crowd-sourcing made me a better designer. Competition has this effect… And I’ve got some money too. Sometimes it’s hard to find work. If you are more lucky, are you sure that’s because you’re better at what you do? I woke up one day without a job, without my paycheck for the last months, without any chance to find a decent job. How needs a web developer when everything is going down? No one in my city. So I gave it a try, as scary as it might seemed at that time (2 months ago). If you have the time and need the money and you don’t do it, it’s because you’re afraid you’re not good at this (so do it anyway to improve your skills) and/or you’re afraid to loose (and that’s lame).
So I dare you all great designer that are so above us, “the crowd”. Come give us a lesson. If you’re so better than us you will win for sure.. And we will enjoy the competition.
Tim, I think your idea to outsource the book cover is great. Can’t wait to read the new book. It’s for girls too, right?
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 3:52 pm
  
  Hi AD,
  
  Thank you for chiming in with your experience. Yes, yes, yes — the next book will be for girls, too. For sure.
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Jason — August 5th, 2009, 3:46 pm

I enjoy your respectfulness in your replies =)
Reply
M Kowan — August 5th, 2009, 4:28 pm

I’m going to hold a book-writing contest. I’ll select four of the entries I like the most and I’ll give $250 to each of those four.

Best case scenario, you get $250, your book on my shelf (awesome for a major portfolio bump since all of my clients and employees will see your book there in my bookcase) and all the perks the come with that recognition (like people seeing your book sitting on my shelf next to last month’s issue of HOW and sandwiched between a few Sandman and Hellboy comics).

Worst case scenario, you spend hours upon hours bringing your skill and craft to bear on a book I don’t care for, but hey you’ll have it to put in your portfolio next to work that you were paid for.

Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Wait, what? A book you would write would be worth more than $250 and a byline? Hmm. Well just don’t enter the contest then. Plenty of other people will. If they’re OK with me taking advantage of them, it’s not really taking advantage at all and therefore I am absolved of any moral conundrum.
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Gavin — August 5th, 2009, 4:58 pm

It’s clear. It’ simple. And it is, as ever, well laid out.

Yes some fair opinions over spec work(although some quite stunted), web presence etc etc… but its irrelevant.

We’re all probably grown up enough, experienced enough, or ugly enough to make our own decisions. Tim laid it out. answered the questions. Why harp on?? I for one probably won’t be submitting anything even though I think it would be a fun little project… I have too many other thing to do this week.

Either way neigh-sayers. PIPE DOWN. I could go on… but it’s boring me as much as the whining is.

TF. Loving the idea, and a lot respect for doing something off your own back. Lets hope you get some good replies and the publishers on board.
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Jay — August 5th, 2009, 5:30 pm

All this talking of the negative aspects of crowdsouring has me thinking. I think the issue is one of the actual amount specified as an honourariam for time spent on designing the book cover. Had Tim pitched it as a call for ideas without any monetary compensation, there would still be loads of entries regardless. The monetary amount as I see it is the extra incentive for people within and outside the design community to participate.

I feel the naysayers on the issue of crowdsourcing are missing a fundamental issue here: that of potential. There is an element of reciprocal altrurism inherent in Tim’s offer: effectively produce something pro-bono will lead to prestige and monetary compensation through reputation.

Tim’s intention’s are as I see it quite clear: here is a guy who regularly engages with a fantastic community who wants their input even more. Did Charles Leadbeater dish out $250 bonuses everytime someone made comments to his first draft of WE-THINK? Of course not. However the book was made better through effectively establishing a transparent public feedback system and yes, as the author he probably makes good money from royalties. Do the anonymous contributors complain? Of course not. They are just happy to see their comments were considered.

Will Tim be happy when his readership actively contribute to something he has worked very hard on? Probably, otherwise this post would have never happened in the first place.

Democratising the design of the cover *is* a win win situation: It opens up the barriers to people who aren’t designers (as several posters have pointed out) without feeling that they are imposing on someone elses territory AND whatever the monetary compensation, the potential prestige generated by the winning design should be compensation enough anyway.

If you have bills to pay, I suggest you don’t enter this competition. If you are entering because like me you have derived many hours of pleasure from Tim (yes that sounded so wrong), why not?
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Logo Outsourcer — August 5th, 2009, 5:39 pm

Spec-haters seem to share a single perspective that guides the idea of spec-hating – that the client and the talent are in a partnership. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. The designer works for a fee, the client offers projects. If the specs behind those two needs synch up, that’s great. If not, the market system doesn’t force them to synch up, it allows them to go their separate ways. Tim is making an offer, and offer that would not exist at all if he didn’t make it. Even if he offered $1, it’s better than no offer existing at all.

I think this speaks to the beauty of choice and markets. Nobody is forcing designers to take part in this. If you don’t like the arrangement, don’t take part. The resistance to Tim’s offer seems more socialistic, that Tim should be forced to abide by an unspoken standard that puts the designer on a pedestal. I’d take choice and voluntaryism over force any day of the week.
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Brian — August 5th, 2009, 5:40 pm

I have to wonder what kind of backlash this same concept would have received if Tim was not already successful? Would it provoke the same indignation if Tim didn’t have the means to compensate further than offered? Not looking for an answer; just an observation.

Regardless, as Tim has pointed out, there are other means of compensation and avenues of growth than financial compensation. If Tim guaranteed $10k to the winner but no formal recognition otherwise, I’d consider that a less attractive proposal.
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Jeff K — August 5th, 2009, 5:48 pm

God, the ‘no spec’ crowd is ridiculous.

“Gee Tim, would you write in my book for free for a chance to let me pay you?”

No. Tim has better things to do with his time, just like a professional designer has better things to do with his time than participate in contests. A newbie designer who can’t find work, though, might not.

“You’ll get only crappy, amateur designs.”

It’s Tim’s choice whether he wants to use them.

“$250 is a joke, and ‘exposure’ isn’t worth it.”

For you. Don’t judge someone else who sees it as an opportunity.

“But you’ll devalue the entire community and encourage other people to do the same!”

Sorry, but your moral ramblings are irrelevant. That’s like telling someone not to hire from India because Americans need to eat – you’re wasting your time. Spec happens, get over it.

Kudos to Tim for sparking controversy yet again =).
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Ken Peters — August 5th, 2009, 5:50 pm

Spin it anyway you want, but spec work is wrong.

It’s exploitative and unethical. To even argue for spec work demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of the creative process and lack of understanding of the value creative professionals provide.

Educate yourself here: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/position-spec-work?searchtext=spec%20work

Comparing the speculative nature of presenting the info in your blog to the speculative nature of designing a book cover that may or may not be used does not stand up to logic.

Simply (very simply) parsed down, on your blog you are writing to promote yourself and your ideas. With the book cover you are asking speculative work be done to further your writing and your promotion. You will benefit. Your publisher will benefit. How or if the cover designer is promoted is entirely secondary and essentially inconsequential to the book. One designer will see some modest benefit. Dozens, maybe hundreds of others will be taken advantage of. You even have the audacity to try and give yourself the latitude to steal ideas from unselected submissions. Balls that big are usually only seen rolling through caves behind Indiana Jones.

The $250 is a “guilt offering” that doesn’t absolve you of the unethical nature of your request. Nice try.

No matter how you cut it, spec work is unethical. It speaks more about you and your morals than it will ever speak about the work produced by the designers foolish enough to contribute.
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Jeremy Sinner — August 5th, 2009, 6:19 pm

I’m not in the design industry by a long shot, but this is how the deal follows to me.
Best result: You earn $250 for doing something you love, you get full recognition for said effort and your cover gets international recognition. After the book gets published, you have people calling to do more books(Tim even mentioned a follow on possibility), and this time they are bringing their check books.

Mediocre result: You get top 4, $250, the experience and another thing to add to your portfolio with a sticky saying Tim Ferriss liked it, but couldn’t be used at this time.

Worst result: You submit, and don’t get anything, but you got some practice DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE.

Those people complaining about doing FREE work are probably miserable with their jobs. I know I am, because there is no way I would do what is I’m doing right now for free. I would rather be teaching.

People like A.D. and @mikeysmalz and many others will probably flourish in their careers because they enjoy doing what they do so much. And if they don’t, they’ll probably still continue to do it.
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dynasty — August 5th, 2009, 6:42 pm

@Anthony Very funny post, thanks for the laugh
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Jordan Chénard — August 5th, 2009, 6:42 pm

@Anthony

Pouhahaha!! Anthony, you rock!!

Unicorns are always a must in design! Unicorns, Steven Seagal or Chuck Norris are always big hits!!

Thanks for this!
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dynasty — August 5th, 2009, 6:49 pm

Hey Tim,

Thanks for putting the opportunity out there, I appreciate it and I hope designers see your generosity. You are a very sincere person.

It will all work out for the best, good luck on the cover.
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Norman Dacanay — August 5th, 2009, 7:26 pm

simple answer to all the hypocrites…if you don’t like his method of sourcing for quality and customer-driven design then don’t f*ckin enter!

who the hell is forcing you to doodle, draw or design for Tim anyway.
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Rachel — August 5th, 2009, 7:35 pm

Tim, you should be embarrassed offering $250 as a prize for this. I have been a huge supporter of yours for a while now and the precedent this sets completely goes against many of the principles you have previously stood for.

This little stunt is tacky and cheap. Don’t let your success get to your head and pay creatives what they are worth. You would have been better-off not attaching a cash value to this at all- and focusing on showing the value to the winner in the form of exposure and recognition.
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- Tim Ferriss — August 5th, 2009, 10:29 pm
  
  Hi Rachel,
  
  Thank you for the comment. I agree and considered offering no guaranteed payment for these reasons. In retrospect, that probably would have offended the offended parties less. Live and learn
  
  I appreciate you taking the time to express your thoughts,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Magda — August 5th, 2009, 7:52 pm

Hi Tim

Heh, sweetcakes… that made me giggle, which probably wasn’t for the best as I was drinking a coke.. oops.

I think it’s a cool opportunity for designers, and while it’s not for me I like the contests you hold. My best friend won the lap top in your last contest, so I can personally account that you’re not full of shit or taking advantage as some people have said. Plus I greatly enjoyed donating your money to Charity!!

Cheers
Magda from Taiwan

PS, Casey is trying to do some stuff with Donor’s choose (getting ALL the Milwaukee projects funded) If you’re interested in what he’s doing with that at all.. the link can be found at http://www.socialmilwaukee.com/ I hope to make a blog post about it in the next couple of days. But I thought you might get a kick out of his current project, so I’m sharing the link with you.
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Doug Rader — August 5th, 2009, 8:08 pm

Tim, Your idea here is fantastic. If you want in – just do it! Have fun with it and enjoy the ride. If you are NOT interested, get off the train. All I can say is that I am tired of hearing all the complaints of this blog. I have now wasted one half hour of my four hour work week. I hope this book can help me lose some weight!
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KB — August 5th, 2009, 8:25 pm

Hi Tim,

You are an inspiration! Your book, “The four hour work week” has helped me remember what I set out to do years ago but lost/forgot along the way. It has motivated my butt into writing my own book that I have been talking about for the last however many years! I am also driving my husband crazy (who unfortunately doesn’t get the NR concept) with my new way of life – we own our own business and I use to work on average from 9 am until minimum 7pm 5 days – now I take days off at a time; start late and leave early and am getting all my work done (or others to do it for me), have started learning Spanish, organising to buy a piano to start lessons and writing/researching for my book (which by the way is going to be a best seller).
I have also just got back into running after a sporting accident where I broke my foot quite badly and had to have screws and plates put in to hold it all together – I was also told that it would be unlikely that I would ever run again, I believed that crap for nearly 3 years and milked that excuse for too long! So thank you Tim!
I am a little confused however about why you think you need to give reasons as to why you are offering people a chance to design your book cover – it sounds as though you are feeling guilty! (Gee if I could draw more than stick figures I’d be in on it – will try and exploit my kids though!). You, more than anyone should know that no matter what you do in your life there will be some people that will always criticise you; and you, more than anyone should know that those people don’t count! Don’t feel guilty (if you are), keep doing what you are doing and to all those people out there that don’t have what it takes and prefer to sit in the background and criticise – go and buy a copy of “The four hour work week” and get on with life!
Cheers
KB
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King — August 5th, 2009, 8:32 pm

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.”
- Henry Ford

Ive been reading this blog since the book found its way into my life, and consider Tim a friend for sharing his findings and thoughts, some revolutionary and life changing information. In that light, I think this is something a friend can be trusted to do, compensation or not. It has been a one sided friendship thus far, has it not? This is a good opportunity to help him out. It is, after all a bit distasteful to distrust a friend.
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Onno — August 5th, 2009, 8:32 pm

I understand why ‘not everybody’ particularly likes the spec concept, but do you really believe this is about Tim wanting to save some bucks? Come on: it’s a design competition, with 4 certain prize winners, nothing more. Well, maybe even more…

I think this is really about fear. Fear for change. But hey, this is 2009! Old systems and old fashioned ideas soon won’t work anymore. Think about the record industry that still wants to control something that is out of their hands, using drm-techniques, threatening campaigns and imposterous lawsuits that will only drive their few remaining customers even farther away. And there are plenty of other examples. Times have changed, and businesses wil have to evolve, or they will not survive.

What doesn’t change is Quality. Quality will always come to flourishing. Internet just speeds up things a (mega)bit, don’t try to stop it, embrace it.

Back to the competition. I am certain that this competition really can give talented (but yet to be discovered) quality designers the opportunity to quickly get the audience they deserve. It’s the power of the networked world. Don’t fear it, evolve and enjoy the opportunities it can and will give you!

And to conclude: I must say I really admire these kinds of ideas and blog postings that get people to discuss vividly, as this will create even more buzz around your books, blogs, and ofcourse the Tim Ferris brand. Brilliant! ))

All the best,

Onno
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Raina Gustafson — August 5th, 2009, 9:06 pm

It seems to me that it all comes down to how one wants to invest in oneself. When I was finishing art school (for painting and printmaking, not graphic design)–not only did I invest time and energy into entering juried competitions–I had to pay, too! Most juried exhibits required entry fees, and when my work got accepted I had to cover the cost of shipping it to the show (and back from the show if it didn’t sell). Even enjoying a lot of success with accepted entries, I quickly learned that this was an expensive way to build a resume, and concluded that I could find more practical, leveraged, and strategic ways to invest in myself for the time being.

I realize that I’m the only one who can decide how I should or shouldn’t invest in myself at any given point in time. That pretty much removes the controversy from this issue for me.
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Gaurav Varma — August 5th, 2009, 9:52 pm

Hi Tim,

Greetings from New Delhi!

I follow your post, after reading this one ,especially from all the people who are your critique , you seem to be defending each of them and the people who are encouraging . You seem to be ignoring to respond to them. Please be consistent. As a reader ,the a normal man like me creates impressions about the Author , the BAR for you becomes much higher, I agree with some view points here ,that you already included the justifications of doing the design contest in your blog post it self.

This was not needed, You should have let your audience decide how they wanted to react to your post, by putting up all what you did, you got yourself in trouble and surely for me , you need to do some thinking before you write a book to advise other people on what to do.

Think about it, I hope this decision was your own decision and no one advised you to put a post like this,cause if it was the advise of some close colleagues which prompted you to include all those justifications than trust me , you vision is clouded , take a deep breath before you write the next one

Wish you all the best and I hope you think about what I said …

Regards-Gaurav
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Will — August 5th, 2009, 10:14 pm

Hey Tim,

I can’t wait for your new book and the expanded edition of 4HWW!

When is the tentative release date for your new book?

Thanks!

Will
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jonathan lopez-espinoza — August 5th, 2009, 10:46 pm

muy emocionado por la oportunidad!
great idea!

no estabas viajando por china?

best,

jonathan
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Rachel — August 5th, 2009, 11:12 pm

Thanks Tim for taking the time to and respond upholding your editorial integrity in publishing my cynical comments!

I’m glad you agree in hindsight.

All the best with the book- I’m sure you’ll have an overwhelming response and I’m looking forward to reading it.

Cheers,
Rachel
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Konstantin — August 5th, 2009, 11:15 pm

Tim, don’t bother with such lengthy explanations as the one in your last email. There will always be negative people who will do their best to smash any idea to bits, be it because of jealousy, stupidity, disrespect or whatever. I think from the replies here you have already seen that there are plenty of people who understood your offer exactly for what it is – a chance to get some publicity and recognition for their work/talent, and not an attempt to dick them over for free. Unfortunately, few people realize that sometimes it takes a little extra effort, midnight oil and perseverance to break through. Alas, its their loss!

Keep up the good work, and pls. do think about having downloadable ebook versions of your stuff.

Cheers,
K
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Blair Enns — August 5th, 2009, 11:27 pm

Two of my favorite things collided this week in the No!Spec movement and Tim Ferriss.

I’ve weighed in with 16 universal points on free pitching here: http://www.winwithoutpitching.com/16-brief-points-on-free-pitching

I hope you are okay with the link rather than an 800-word comment. I trust both sides will find the post adds meaning to the conversation.

Tim, I’m impressed with how you’ve argued your position and let people have their say, even as things get a little hot. Free pitching is a sensitive issue in the design space. I think both sides can benefit from exploring the other’s position. Having someone like you stumble into this issue will be helpful.

Keep up the good work. You remain one of The Good Guys.

Blair Enns
Win Without Pitching
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Anna — August 5th, 2009, 11:28 pm

Tim,

Good luck on your new book project.
Can’t wait to get it and tell others about it.

To all the negative comments about the contest I’d say
“it’s not for everyone.”
I like the phrase a lot and use it in the biz situations.
It almost became my company motto.

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Carmen — August 6th, 2009, 12:32 am

Hy Tim! When will your book be ready to buy?
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- Tim Ferriss — August 6th, 2009, 1:00 pm
  
  Hi Carmen,
  
  It will probably come out early next year, but that’s subject to change.
  
  Hope that helps!
  
  Tim
  Reply
alwaysboss — August 6th, 2009, 1:46 am

Tim

I like this Atlas Shrugged cover
http://savecapitalism.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/atlas_shrugged_cover.jpg
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naomi — August 6th, 2009, 2:26 am

Wow, there are a lot of angry designers out there.

I’m wondering where the anger behind the comments is coming from. Is it because people think their chances to win are low, or that they’re going to get ripped off?

When was the last time you got mad at the lottery companies for selling their lotto tickets? And what are the chances of winning the grand lotto prize? (Pretty low, and it’s not even based on talent.)

I don’t think getting mad at someone for offering a great opportunity with no guarantees is smart way to go.

And whoever who gets bragging rights to the cover of the next Tim Ferris book will have got a great opportunity. Think of all the other bloggers out there getting book deals. Seems like an interesting market to me.

Like other commenters earlier, I work in architecture and spec work is pretty commonplace. And builders tendering for work is standard too.

As long as the rules are clear and everyone knows how the game’s played, it’s up to you if you want to play.
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Ryan Riegner — August 6th, 2009, 2:45 am

Wow what an opportunity Tim. I’m sure you’re going to get some brilliant submissions.

I’ll see exactly what I can do for ya on this one.
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Benedict Westenra — August 6th, 2009, 2:49 am

[delete this after reading!]

Hi Tim,

Just to say you’re welcome to correct the typo in my comment and elsewhere (“his” should be “him”) – I wrote it in a rush.

Glad you liked it. It’s extraordinary how people are blind to the obvious!

B.
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Marc — August 6th, 2009, 5:42 am

Tim,

The most impressive part of this blog entry has been your graceful responses to those offended. I fully appreciate when people–particularly lightning rods such as yourself–can openly listen to their critics (aside from the down-right nasty of course…pathetic) and respond with reasonable, polite feedback. It speaks volumes to who you are as a person, and serves as a learning tool for those who approach the world similarly.

I’d say “keep up the good work”, but I’m confident that’s not necessary.

Cheers,
Marc
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Roman R — August 6th, 2009, 6:21 am

I didn’t read past the first 30 comments, so this may have been mentioned. I, probably similar to Tim, didn’t see the “no spec” argument coming. I’ve ran a few contests myself, so I’m genuinely shocked.

Does the concept “NO SPEC” appear to be as crazy to ANYONE else as it does to me?

Key points to think about:
-Designers should have to prove themselves. Artwork, by nature, isn’t consistent.
-There is a high-risk involved on both sides. You can’t expect the business / buyer to take all the risk on YOU. Do you expect someone to spend their hard-earned money on a logo, design, etc. that they don’t like? Are you nuts? Do you realize how well this would go over in any other industry? In the publishing industry,
-This isn’t a job. It’s a competition. You don’t have to be involved. If you’re going to start flaming “shame on Tim,” you might as well start flaming “shame on Google” (damn them for Doodle4Google).
-Tim isn’t saving any money. He would only have to spend roughly $1,000 on a great book cover, and with his tactics probably much less. (My first cover cost $1,000, the second roughly $800. Both were very high-quality).
-My guess is that there will be dozens of people (particularlly younger people) who would like to design a book cover for a high-profile artist. They generally don’t get the opportunity, because they first have to prove themselves. It’s a vicious cycle, and one that this competition can help them break.
-Finally, it’s win-win (win for the people who really want a shot at a bookcover that they can add to their portfolio and win for Tim, as he gets a lot of ideas thrown his way).
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johnf — August 6th, 2009, 6:56 am

With all due respects to the people saying that we should compare it to spec-work for writing a book. A book that someone can spend a year+ of their life on is not the same as a book cover that most professional and amateur designers could get done in a week or less.

In fact, Tim has set it up so you are guaranteed not to spend more than one week on the project.

Let’s at least try to compare crab apples to may apples. Compare this to contest with spec-work for a published article (2-10 pages) where the author spends maybe 2 days to 2 weeks writing it and I think we have a better comparison.

I suppose it’s human nature to take unfavorable comparisons to the extreme though.
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markus — August 6th, 2009, 7:23 am

Well done Tim,

You show us, how things are done in the today’s entrepeneurs world.
Just exploite the creative workforce and even feel good about it!

You can say everybody joins these competitions at free will. That is right.

But I think that is modern slavery.
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Stephanie Todd — August 6th, 2009, 7:41 am

To all that have agreed to participate in this foolery- thanks a lot! For what? For devaluing my trade. For fostering an unhealthy understanding of the importance of my expertise and knowledge. For single-handedly, shrinking the market of good, well paying clients by accepting these types of terms to be hired. Tim never disagreed with the fact that this is exploiting any of you- he simply said, I can’t exploit you if you don’t participate. Yet, so many of you will. And, perhaps its because you’re a starving artists- but many years from now (probably right now for most of you) when you’re stuck working with crappy clients and still doing spec work just remember that you, yourself acknowledged long ago that your knowledge, your tens of thousands of dollars in higher education, your talent… isn’t worth much anyway, if anything at all.

Yesterday, I took my two year old to an orthopedic specialist, it costs $200 up front.. Before he even met her, read her paperwork, reviewed an x-ray… He can charge a premium rate like that because there aren’t a million want to be great orthopedic specialists running around doing his job for nothing more than a 1% chance they’ll do something so great the entire medical industry will suddenly know their name. And, because of that he not only can charge hefty fees just to be seen, but he is allowed to relish in having security- job and financial.
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joe — August 6th, 2009, 8:14 am

Everybody has to realize that Tim could have kept this all in house and never given anyone of us the chance to do this. Random House is a big company; I’m sure their designers are plenty qualified and could easily come up with a great cover. This is a fan’s chance to impress, nothing more. I applaud Tim for doing this, like I said, if it was kept in house, we would never even know how the cover was designed, at least now we get to throw our 2 cents in!
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gmoney — August 6th, 2009, 8:31 am

Tim,

Got to love user generated content You’ve come a long way from having to write guest posts on people blogs for pr and back links. Funny, I actually am friends with a guy who runs a travel blog website that you contacted in the early days when you were looking to promote 4HWW.

I read your first book, which was the kick in the a** that I needed to start my own adventure which has lead me to become a self proclaimed expert in SEO (I don’t consult but do it for my own sites). In the next few months I will reach full income replacement. I then hope to double that income in the next 6 months. Yes, there is still money to be made in adsense

In my journey I found that 99 percent of people are sheep that rarely think outside the box. It’s too bad, because that’s where the money is at. Find that one percent and network with them, they are the ones who will help you get to the next level.

Thanks for the inspiration and best of luck on the new book!
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Marc Posch — August 6th, 2009, 8:32 am

A design contest, what a great idea. You must have a lot of time going through hundreds of childish clip art submissions sent in by amateurs. I hope you will eventually give out your books for free also, and if a reader might like it then he/she could pay 10 cents or so. Be assured that nobody in the design community will buy your book. Nice PR, isn’t it. Best, Marc
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Randy — August 6th, 2009, 9:03 am

I think what a lot of these comments are missing is that this is more of a CONTEST. He’s NOT looking to hire someone to work for free. In my years in online art communities, I’ve seen this countless times. It is at the discretion of the designer whether or not they wish to participate, if all the hard work is for nothing, then they move on.

The simple fact is (and already stated in the original posting) the designer can and will get international recognition if they market themselves correctly on top of the published design.
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PPC4 — August 6th, 2009, 9:25 am

Tim-

I just figured it out…This is the “workout session” for the major backlash storm that will start when the book is published. You’re building up your emotional muscles for the real fight with medical and exercise industries that will be flogging you repeatedly for printing your research. I’m thinking something along the lines of the “Ultraman” of PR battles…

Stay strong (and continue getting stronger), my friend.

@Anthony and Tim- I’d pay 100 dollars for the “Anthony Special Addition Cover”, as it’d be a great value because a great sense of humor is priceless!

PPC4
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Mike M. (design203) — August 6th, 2009, 10:20 am

Tim-
Just submitted my design. Generally, I agree with you regarding spec work: when terms are laid out up front, and compensation/recognition is fair and consistent, spec work is a very useful tool to gauge a designer’s competence and ability to solve visual problems.

I am very pleased that you made this a blind contest. I’ve seen a number of projects on 99designs go awry as people repurpose others’ ideas, argue about the origin of some of the designs, etc. The blind format, while limiting the cross-pollination of ideas, also limits the Pandora’s box of problems that come along with that.

With your new book, I’m sure you have interviewed countless industry heavyweights in fitness and nutrition. To that end, I would like to recommend a few names (if you haven’t already had contact with them) that could add immensely to a resource like this: Eric Cressey (strength coach), Dr. John Berardi (nutritionist), Dr. Stuart McGill (backpain researcher), Tony Gentilcore (strength coach). I’ve had the immense pleasure of learning from, working with, and getting stronger because of all these gentlemen. If you’ve heard of them, kudos! If not, I think the book might be lacking…

Thanks,
Mike
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- Tim Ferriss — August 6th, 2009, 10:25 am
  
  Hi Mike,
  
  Agreed on all counts. I don’t know of Gentilcore, but I am quite familiar with the others. Cressey is very smart.
  
  Thanks for the submission!
  
  Tim
  Reply
Mike M. (design203) — August 6th, 2009, 10:47 am

Tony Gentilcore is a co-founder of Cressey Performance with Eric. I’m glad that you’ve had exposure to their work and writing – and now I’m even more excited about the book.

Now if only you could package motivation in the book jacket…although I’m certain you’ll cover some strategies for that as well!
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Orville Chomer — August 6th, 2009, 11:08 am

Its probably too late to suggest this. But tough! I am any ways!

The title “Becoming Super Human” In my opinion, has too much of a “master race” feel to it.

How about “Becoming Incredible” or “Becoming an Incredible Human Being.”
I think it gets the idea across better without the historical baggage. The second one especially gives me a good vibe.

Of course with my last suggestion, the book would need to cover more than physical improvements, but emotional and spiritual improvements as well (since as we know, there is more to a human being than a body).
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Peter — August 6th, 2009, 12:23 pm

Tim,

I am a big fan, and I am a graphic designer. But I can not for the life of me understand why you would only want a few hours of someone’s time, even if it is for free. Great design is well thought out process, not something rushed.
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Kacey — August 6th, 2009, 12:24 pm

Hi…
I agree with the negativity surrounding the spec work aspect.

People who think this is a good idea, are obviously not starving artists or graphic designers trying to break into the business. They aren’t understanding how these gimmiky competitions are like signing up for a raffle. you pay $5 for a chance to win [enter big ticket item you desperately need] but essentially it’s just a gamble if you will be chosen.

They are also failing to consider how many hours the designers put into designing a cover that may or may not be used. Non-designers see this as a way to add to your portfolio. Well you know what a potential client would think if they saw this in a portfolio? They would ask if you won, “oh, you didn’t win…” (enter disapproving look)

Tim, I sincerely hope your intentions are good and not a way to skimp out on actually paying for a quality book cover. Or a low way to generate free publicity on your book.

And NO i am not an artist or graphic designer. I’m a financial analyst. I am not submitting work to the contest and then writing this so I can be a brown-noser. I’m just stating the facts.
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Carl M. — August 6th, 2009, 12:24 pm

My how the designers whine. Last I checked, writers do an awful lot of work on spec. WAY back when I dreamed of being a science fiction writer, I wrote 100% on spec and never got paid — other than a few magazine copies.

Have since shifted to science and writing code — much more lucrative — but have still written some (nonfiction) on spec, and have been happy to get paid in pure promotion when published (in magazines). If Tim was putting together an anthology of articles and he was offering no monetary compensation but the chance of being published in an anthology with his promotion, I would go for it if the subject was in my area of expertise and I thought I had a reasonable chance of getting published.

What Tim is offering mainly is promotion, and last I checked Tim is VERY good at promoting his stuff.
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Jeff Beeler — August 6th, 2009, 12:34 pm

Tim,
I am glad to hear you are coming out with another 4-Hour work week. I read the recent one about 7 times. And you many of the things you talk about. Although I have been living a smaller version of your life syle for 20 years. You have taken it to the next level.

Way to go.Keep it up and live the dream.

Jeff
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Chuck Turner — August 6th, 2009, 12:38 pm

Hey Tim,

I can’t wait for your new book. The 4hww was my inspiration to escape the 9-5. I agree with your comments above.

One of my muses is a crowdsourcing site that provides custom tattoo designs (CreateMyTattoo). Our customers love it and we have a great community of over 500 artists from around the world. Crowdsourcing is not for everyone, but it is working great in our niche.

Chuck Turner
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Artur Król — August 6th, 2009, 12:43 pm

Jeff Courtier wrote:
“I gurantee there are hundreds of would-be design clients out there that will read about your contest and say to themselves, “Well, Tim Ferris held a design contest for just $250 – I can too.” This isn’t helping anyone garner more clients. Instead, it is leeching the true value, skill and craft out of design and only helping to make it more acceptable to ask a designer for wold-class work while only paying pennies for it.”

1) If someone is willing to do the work at said fees, then what’s your problem with that? It’s their business, not yours. That’s what free market is all about.

2) Actually, what Tim did will certainly HELP a lot of people get more clients.

The error you’re making is looking at the current market of people who use designers and thinking ‘hmm, now they’re going to pay us less’ instead of looking at the whole market of people who don’t bother with designers and noticing, that they now might – because the “entry level requirements” have now became lesser.

And after buying work of this quality and seeing the effect, they will often think “if this is what 250 gets me, lets see what 1000 gets me… or 10.000″.

Why should they, if they can get it cheaper? For the same reason people pay twice as much for a hardcover version of a book they already have, and for the same reason a 1$ aspirin works much better on a physical level then the very same aspirin priced at 0.10$
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Anne C. Kerns — August 6th, 2009, 12:44 pm

A friend of mine pointed me here. I can hardly contain my amusement about such comments as book cover design being “lucrative” and having one cover published will lead to clients “rolling in.” There is no rolling involved. (Or as Ilise Benun says, “there is no flocking involved.”)

Some responses:

To compare multimillion (or at least hundreds of thousands of) dollar architecture competitions with hundred dollar collateral design contests is laughable. And frankly, many small architecture firms cannot enter those competitions either because they need to take work for fees, you know, to pay their bills and salaries and the like.

Um, and what does liking what you do for a living have to do with whether some people think you should do it for free? That just makes no sense.

Comments like those show a complete ignorance about the business of design as well as the process of design. Design is not decoration, and it’s not done in a vacuum. It’s not even about “talent” which is a given in the field of professional design. It’s about thinking and communicating a message and achieving a goal.

I first learned about spec work in college, and I teach it to my design students now. It is also covered in the classic “Graphic Artists Guild Handbook.” There are numerous ways to gain experience in design. There are also surefire ways to gain exposure by doing free work. We call this pro bono, and it is a win/win situation because there are many worthy organizations out there that do need design and yet have no budgets and would be appreciative of your heretofore underexposed efforts. There are ways to build one’s portfolio–and that is how one proves oneself: past work and client references and whatever ideas you can talk up in a meeting.

Professionals in any field work for a salary, a fee, or deliberately for donation of services (BTW, no tax benefit there).

So, Mr. Ferriss may well get a lot of submissions to his cover contest. But most will be from amateurs. Some of the entries might even be to his liking. If he’s lucky, they will even be original (as opposed to derivitive works) and legal.

I’m not complaining. It’s not about fear, fear of change, or being anti-competition. It’s about the commodification of design. I choose not to participate in that, because there will always be someone who will charge less. As David Baker says, if low price is what distinguishes you in the marketplace, you will have a never-ending battle of lowering prices.

I don’t think this blog is entirely altruistic. It seems like it is promoting Mr. Ferriss’s book.

* * *

Mr. Ferriss, since I enjoyed and benefitted from your 1-minute advice on how to peel an egg without peeling, I will offer you a 1-minute bit of advice for your cover, from a professional designer (me):

In the event of someone equating your word “Superhuman” with the visual association of superheroes, I would recommend you avoid any and all visual references to any of the trademarked properties or their accessories of Marvel or DC Comics, as they are known to vociferously protect their IP, justified or not. That means no Wonder Woman crown or bracelets, no Batman hood, etc.

Also, you will need to make sure that your final submission is prepared in 300 ppi resolution, at 100%, CMYK or limited spot color (no RGB for print design). Make sure they don’t use the magic wand in Photoshop to silhouette an object as that causes jaggy outlines and is not a proper clipping path. Don’t forget bleeds, and to plan for spine and back cover. Will it be cover or dust jacket? Be careful of the licensing restrictions of any stock images. Is there a property and model release? Don’t forget kerning the title! Just some things to think about.

Disclosure: I am a professional designer. I am a member of AIGA. I am a part-time design educator. I have paying work, including but not limited to book covers. I don’t do spec. When I have free time, I design for family, friends, and church. Have a nice day and enjoy your contest and its results. Haha, or at least all the attention it’s garnered!

cheers,
anne
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ian shimkoviak — August 6th, 2009, 1:01 pm

I think you should find a qualified designer and pay them to do a good job and work with you. Engage in a real dialog with one person who is dedicated to the job. These competitions never work and all they show is a lack of professionalism on the part of those participating. Sure, it can be fun, but it degrades our profession and cheapens the process of book design to a simple game of chance. It does not matter how long something takes to produce. It’s a question of relationship and dedication to your craft. And this is from someone who has participated in this kind of stuff and seen the end result. These kind of competitions are abundant and usually attract a plethora of “folks who know how to use photoshop a little” and not someone who lives and breaths design as a lifestyle and livelihood. Free work has no value. My 2 cents.
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ahmed — August 6th, 2009, 1:11 pm

- this is a great idea, and it worked when the internet was booming. but now the mass knows better. when u write a book, people read past your mind and they understand who you are and what you’re intentions are.

- now if i submit my work, i don’t want to be listed as someone who created such a good work for $250. guess what? then I will be called a cheap designer. Plus there is no such thing as good design. A designer could spend 100 hours to design something that you may not understand what it means and trash it.

-There is a difference between “being a designer who won the contest for the Time cover and the Tim Ferris cover”. Every time I list my work in my portfolio, I am promoting you for free! and u only paid $250 for the design. If you paid me $25,000 then that is an achievement!!!

- it also gives you a chapter to write in your book, “How I got the smartest designers in the world to design me a book cover for a mere $250 and got automatic evangelists to the book”.

Just throwing it out there. Good luck with ur book. I am sure you can outsource the work and pay a little more to work with a decent company to get exceptional work.
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cathy — August 6th, 2009, 1:52 pm

Yes Carl so true.

“What Tim is offering mainly is promotion, and last I checked Tim is VERY good at promoting his stuff.”

Which is exactly what this is. Promoting HIS stuff (This is not about giving any designer the opportunity of a lifetime.) Because as Tim says

“There is a good chance all of them will be vetoed completely, so the $250 is offered as a good faith gesture.”

As an angle investor, I think you could afford to at least fork out a fair price for your four favorite designs.

If a designer can completely get where you’re going with the new book, and provide an inspired, spot on comp, just by reading your contest outline, well they must have superpowers and they deserve much more than a mere $250.

I agree with Anne. Design It’s about thinking, communicating a message and achieving a goal, it is not decoration.

Designers just something to think about, I believe this is a general statement —so it can pertain to providing cheap services as well.

“If you wear cheap clothes, eat cheap foods and surround yourself with cheap things to “save money” you will put yourself in the mental attitude of cheapness and inferiority. You will think of yourself in connection with cheap and inferior things, and so will see yourself as a cheap and inferior person. The cheap and inferior within you will be brought to the surface, and you will never do your best. You will be incapable of exerting your whole power, and by the law of reaction, cheap and inferior things will move toward you.”

~Wallace Wattles

However he did also say this, so if your are so impelled…

“Do not wait for an opportunity to be all that you want to be; when an opportunity to be more than you are now is presented and you feel impelled toward it, take it. It will be the first step toward a greater opportunity.”

~Wallace Wattles
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Mark G. — August 6th, 2009, 2:02 pm

Tim,

I only read the first 50 or so comments so I apologize if you covered this… The level of value you are getting from the designer is (much) higher if you choose to use the design for the book cover. So why not say that if the design is actually used, you will pay the prevailing market rate for it, given its expected distribution, etc. That way the designers can enter if they want, and if one of them contributes the design that gets used, they receive the full value for their work.

Just a thought,

Mark
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- Tim Ferriss — August 6th, 2009, 2:52 pm
  
  Hi Mark,
  
  I would absolutely do that if I could speak for Random House, but I, alas, cannot. To be honest, if someone’s design gets used, I believe this is likely exactly what will happen.
  
  Agreed,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Benedict Westenra — August 6th, 2009, 2:47 pm

@Anne C. Kerns

I think you might be missing the point a little bit here: Tim emphasized that he’s interested in ideas as well as finished designs, so a successful applicant doesn’t necessarily need to know about not using RGB for print design, etc. Not everyone with visual talent has had the opportunity to go to design school.

As a professional musician, I’d use the analogy that while you definitely need experience to write a good orchestration, anyone could write a good tune.
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Jaqui — August 6th, 2009, 3:10 pm

Reading 4 Hr Workweek right now and just joined Twitter for the first time wanting to follow you and a few others. I am reading Art of the Start as well as another commenter of yours. I like what Guy did as well with his competition. I could almost say I bought the book based on that cover design. I need an elaboration of your concept to offer a cover contest submittal. Can you offer a 3-4 sentence narrative on your new book concept?
Cheers. Continued success to you!
Jaqui
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Anne C. Kerns — August 6th, 2009, 3:21 pm

@Benedict Westenra,

I don’t believe I missed the point at all. Mr. Ferriss emphasized nothing of the sort in the post I read above, although he did indicate the possibility of borrowing or overlap.

Besides that, I was simply offering advice (because I appreciated his egg advice) that many people using contest sites like 99D… do not know about and therefore end up getting burned with. If bad files are submitted, somebody has to fix them! Professionals know how to prepare files properly, for all the required uses.

Just because someone can write a good tune doesn’t mean they can record a professional sounding CD.

cheers!
anne
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Jaq — August 6th, 2009, 3:41 pm

CUE MOVIE TRAILER MUSIC

NARRATOR: In a world where terrorsts lurk in dark corners and carbon spewing corporations threaten the very air we breathe… In a world where totalitarian dictators race to build nuclear bombs and where diabolical men with Napoleon complexes threaten to take over the internet…. We now have a new evil. One that is more insidious than all the nefarious “men who will destroy the world.” And his name is TIM FERRIS! (CUE chorus of creepy high pitched and fast singing nuns) AHH OOO AHH AHH, AHH OO AHH AHH!

…. Otherwise known as DR. SPEC! (AHH OOO AHH AHH, AHH OO AHH AHH!)

In a world where Graphic Designers sip there lattes enjoying free wireless access in the coffee shop while listening to their free music, while communicating with their clients with free gmail while doing research with free google while tweeting with their free twitter and sending their projects with a very low cost yousendit.com servic (eschewing the old school way of creating their designs on paper and shipping using the nice (and costlier) UPS man) they are under attack! Armed with only their expensive student loans and abnormally sized egos they must try to regroup against DR. SPEC’s merciless design contest thrusts and parrys! Their only defense is to form the LEAGUE of GRAPHIC DEWHINERS!

DR. SPEC: Would you guys be interested in submitting cover designs for my new book? (of course only with your consent and I’ll throw in a few buck too. You might even get some recognition in the Web 2.0 world! (I’m actually kind of a big deal!) You know it’s kinda like when filmmakers submit their films to festivals or when oh yea, like when fashion designers send clothes to celebrities in the hopes they might wear them to an event and get it seen on tv. If you’re not interested, no biggie. But there is no fee to enter!

GRAPHIC DEWHINERS: That’s below the belt! How DARE you! Don’t you know you are destroying us! This contest is pure bile coming from someone who should know better! Bring back the old Tim Ferriss before we uh, before we uh…. STOP READING YOUR FREE BLOG! Punk! We have bills to pay and can’t except your offer of….opportunity!

DR. SPEC: Jeesh. Uh didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Sorry for asking! I know, let me do this… I’ll just go back to my publisher and let the graphic designer who made a personal choice to work for a company that provides him with a salary and graphic design work and ask him to do it. Poor guy has to go to the office every day, but I’m sure he’ll gladly work on it.

GRAPHIC DEWHINERS: You should be ASHAMED of yourself! (Wait, we are getting an industry tweet…. “blah blah ok… another graphic design firm goes under due to surge of lower cost freelancers”)…ahem. NEVERMIND! Where were we?

DR. SPEC: I think you were trying to pin your life choices on me. You know, funny thing, I write this blog on lifestyle design, you should check it out.

GRAPHIC DEWHINERS: We’re melting!!! (AHH OOO AHH AHH, AHH OO AHH AHH!)
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Miki — August 6th, 2009, 4:42 pm

I think it’s a great idea! I really don’t see why people have such big problems with it. People do this all the time- i’m a student and we basically have no choice but to do stuff like this to get our foot in the door, so to speak. People who have problems with doing stuff for free – try being a student with no experience in their future career fields. That’s life. And it usually works out really well!

Tim -I think it’s really good of you to even give people a chance at this. Thank you.
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Tyler McGill — August 6th, 2009, 8:28 pm

Hi Tim,

This is my first comment after years of reading and using the fantastic insights and practical wisdom imparted here. The controversy here prompted me to finally speak up. I wanted to voice my personal appreciation for this opportunity. I have often read your articles wishing that I could share the enthusiasm they generate and the success and failures from my attempts to implement them. This is a genuine chance for me to participate in a conversation I have only been listening to for much too long.

I already submitted my design and happily spent my time and money designing it. I’m actually really excited about the final product. How can this be a bad thing when it leaves a reader excited and anticipating the results and book release? You already have the pro designers, and now you’re giving us a chance to best them. Thanks for keeping it real …

Tyler

The Tyler
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Michael Grills — August 6th, 2009, 8:51 pm

I wasn’t going to chime in here but because the FHWW was the first of many books that continue to improve my life and I am a hard working illustrator and artist I thought that I should.

I have never done Spec. I do get paid royalties on book covers. They are Ebook covers and I get a % everytime one is sold. It is a business model that was designed to mitigate risk.

I have passed up having a billboard in central London because the price was too low. I’m that very unique person Tim mentioned.

I do a lot of work in video games (over 15 million people have interacted with my artwork) of which I sign away all the moral rights to my work. I know that I automatically get them back after 35 years and there is so much work to do right now that I don’t worry about it. Yet!

If you think you can win in a contest like this. Where the guy putting it on says that you will probably not win anyways. I suggest the lottery.

This contest actually has nothing to do with graphic design. Nothing. If you study the art and have read some of the posts above you would understand why.

Anytime a contest like this comes up it’s really about having some fun. I think that instead of worrying about whether Tim is taking advantage, one instead should consider what they would get out of it.

I have seen the work that comes out of 99designs. Rarely is it amazing. But its valued at a risk versus reward that most up and coming designers can handle. So be it.

If you think that this will propel your career… Think again. Everybody, Even Tim Ferris and Random House wants design on the cheap.

I hire a lot of artists. As soon as the work is over… Your on your own again. Sometimes your associations help but the truth is your price is going up so your getting harder and harder to hire. Go look at all the portfolio sites and stock image sites. Crowdsourcing is not going away.

I can tell you that there is no magic associations any more. Being on the cover of a Tim Ferris Book is going to be great for a while, but only if you leverage it when the time comes. People will not see your design as the catalyst that sold the book. It’s the inside that counts.

If you do the contest… Do it for fun and forget the spec argument. If you don’t win but enjoy yourself then great. If you do win then Bonus and A holy shit moment.

I myself am not doing it. Because I don’t have the time as I am working on my own Art project when I’m not working with my clients. I intend to pad my portfolio with my own cool stuff. In Fact the art project and the strides I’ve made with my business and clients started with FHWW and I have begun my own life’s work because of it.

I suggest anybody who has doubt just work on there own project for a day.

Tim,

I have to admit the original post comes off a little cheap. I think that next time your inviting a contest of talents offer more and make it worth it. The lottery is millions of dollars. $250 is like a punch in the face. I pay more for canvas.

I respect your work and your blog. I have one too. Its free as well. Love of what you do is often done for free, however you have stated in the past that the blog is designed to sell more books. Therefore its an investment.
So comparing the free blog of lifestyle experiments to the books you are selling almost negates your life’s work.

I will buy the second book and continue to sell your books for you of mouth style, (I think that I have sold 6 copies) as your life message rings true, and I hope this debate has given some new insights.

Peace!
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Tim Ferriss — August 6th, 2009, 9:57 pm

Hi Jose,

I’m surprised you’re a fan (as you said) if the emphasis of the entire 2nd 1/2 of the post is to insult me and my friends. Nice touch.

Best,

Tim
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Michael Grills — August 6th, 2009, 10:52 pm

Not an insult. I meant it. I respect your work. Sorry if it read that way. I even had my wife proofing it. It’s the punch in the fact comment. Darn it! She even questioned my on that.
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Emi — August 7th, 2009, 2:15 am

Wow,
First of all congrats Tim. I am very sure you will receive a large amount of ideas and who knows? Maybe your future book cover.
For the rest of you all who’s beliefs are preconceived about the crowdsourcing…well hear that i have participated in contests from 100$ till 20000$, won a lot and lost a lot. Regarding the prize, there are companies – large ones – that prefers crowdsourcing instead of being pricked by a mediocre agency who asks for a huge price for their poor services. I am glad crowdsourcing was invented , this way a lot of middle and mediocre agencies will disappear.
If you would ask me, i really know a lot of guys & girls who started from crowdsourcing and now their studios can compete against large agencies like S&S, LeoB and so on.
SO yes, as long as SPEC work will exist we will know the real prices, yes, as long as the crowdsourcing will exist we will know that clients will no longer need to be tricked paying a huge amount of money for a guy who draws some curly things, throws some ink splat-like over them and then throws in some vivid unprintable multicolor on those circles, call that creation and claims it worth’s 5000$ – the source of this is as real as i am. Then why pay 5000$ when you can get the exact same shit for 1000$? Why? Just that because a few “brain publicity” guys cannot adapt their standards? Just that they consider “low level” when they have to compete against hundreds of proposals? Ha…losers who don’t know how to loose, who likes to have complete control over the client and influence his decisions, who likes to send candy stories about their designs and pictures taken late in the night with all the creation department, all that sent along with the proposed artwork in a nice file. That’s what we don’t need!
Accommodate people, believe it or not this thing you call “SPEC work” will become “i am going to work” in the future.
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Dan — August 7th, 2009, 3:28 am

$250 sounds about right, Microsoft offered $500

http://tr.im/vR5m
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David — August 7th, 2009, 4:56 am

This is a pathetic way for a professional author to behave and $250?! Really? Completely lame.
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Patrik — August 7th, 2009, 7:41 am

Hi Tim.

First off, thanks for a great blog, and an inspiring lifestyle.

I’m a proffessional designer too, and I have nothing against this. It’s a smart way to get loads of inspiration. If unlucky however, it could result in a bunch of useless designs and loss of time. That’s the risk you take and you already know that.

This task is for blog readers with love for design and some spare time. Designers in need of money should not even think of participate in design contests like this since it’s obviously not a clever way to earn your food and rent money.

I’ll submit a 4-hour designwork later on.
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Benedict Westenra — August 7th, 2009, 11:05 am

I hope this is my last comment on this subject!

* * *

@Anne C. Kerns

Sorry for misinterpreting the tone of your comment! In the context of all the aggression from other writers I mistook your design advice as being sarcastic, which I can now see it wasn’t.

I would still argue that “mock-ups and cover ideas” suggests concepts rather than finished designs, though. Also, your statement:

“just because someone can write a good tune doesn’t mean they can record a professional sounding CD”

seems to express exactly the same sentiment as my original:

“while you definitely need experience to write a good orchestration, anyone could write a good tune”!

OF COURSE, just because someone can write a good tune doesn’t mean that they can record a professional-sounding CD, but the best-selling album of all time – Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” – was written by Michael Jackson singing melody lines to Quincy Jones, who then arranged them.

I got the impression that Tim’s intention was to take a reader’s idea and then give it to the in-house team to finalize.

[Also, I replied to your comment not because I thought it was the one I objected to the most, but because I thought it was the most constructive critical one. Many thanks for your reply. ]

* * *

@Everyone Else

I’m not defending Tim because I think he’s right, since I think he probably made a mistake with this post, albeit a very small one in the grand scheme of things (let’s not forget how much he’s given to and raised for LitLiberation). I’m defending him because I know from his book and other media that if he did a mistake it was made in good faith and that he’s open to criticism, as he’s admirably demonstrated!

He could have followed his own rule that “if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff”, but instead chose to let the negative comments stand (even following someone’s suggestion to stick his head up his own butt – conclusive proof that he is indeed superhuman). I think this displayed far more courage than most of the commenters are likely to possess. And while his blog may not be entirely altruistic I don’t think it’s at all entirely self-serving either – I know I’ve benefited a lot from it without it costing me a thing, as have thousands of previously illiterate Vietnamese children.

When someone acts in good faith and is open to criticism I don’t think there’s any excuse to react offensively, abusively, or aggressively – it’s not constructive for anyone. Maybe if people redirected the energy they’re expending on mudslinging towards making new designs the world would be a prettier place.

Best wishes,
B.
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Nate — August 7th, 2009, 5:02 pm

Tim,

Goodness, talk about a touching topic. It sounds (or reads) like you were expecting this kind of response by the tone of your post.

Enough already! Where is the report about your China Tea adventure!?

Nate
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Eric — August 7th, 2009, 5:57 pm

When I first read this post, I jumped on the bandwagon with the other designers, crying ‘no spec!’

but after some thought… have you guys read Tim’s first book? Its all about outsourcing. cheap. to India. Should you be surprised? I’m not.

This is arbitrage at its best. Sure you could get an Indian firm to design your logo for $99, (or less), or get 5 from logoworks for $300, but hey, if I could get 1,000 submissions for $250. That’s a no duh, in the 4-hour work week playbook. Right Tim?
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Jason Aiken — August 7th, 2009, 6:05 pm

Hello everyone…Jason Aiken here from 99designs.com

Really fascinating comment thread and I read a lot of these things. Definitely appreciate the feedback and sentiment from all sides.

Thanks to Doug Radar, Jeremy SInner, Patrick, Jaq, Miki,Naomi, Ryan Riegner and the many others who have commented in support of the opportunity that Tim has offered.

At the end of the day..that’s all it is…an opportunity…you can choose to see it that way or choose to ignore it.

Those who are against Spec Work always say that “people deserve to get paid for their work.”

I don’t think anyone here would argue with that…but as has been noted…Spec Work in one way or another is an inherent part of customer acquisition and building a business in countless industries.

What Tim has offered here is a real gem of an opportunity with very little downside and a world of upside.

Cheers,
Jason Aiken
99designs.com
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Zeno Popovici — August 8th, 2009, 9:19 am

Hey Tim,

I’m also against spec work … but the comments here are simply entertaining .

I really loved this post. I’m not going to submit an entry, but not because I hate spec work, but because I really have to focus on another project right now.

Come on Tim, prove them wrong
PS: I love the way you respond to comments. I for one learned something from this post, just by reading your responses.

Cheers!
Z.
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- Tim Ferriss — August 9th, 2009, 9:39 pm
  
  Reply
Daniel Aguirre — August 8th, 2009, 7:46 pm

Real artists: stop begging for easy money.

I have seen very few (but enourmously many taking in consideration artists their size are scarce) world-class artists in my country do some work more valuable than anything you have ever done…..and they didn´t paint on a canvas, but a bare wall in an abandoned house. Yes, my neighborhood is a very nice place to live in.

I love everything Tim Ferris.
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Daniel Aguirre — August 8th, 2009, 7:57 pm

And if you´re still offended please notice Tim pulled the post out- by republishing it 4 months “earlier”,

as well as sending two more post to subscribers, one of them old but remastered and appropiate for the occasion, the other fairly made in a rush

there´s nothing like that to distract attention. i mean

TIM HAS REALLY BEEN POLITE TO ALL DESIGNERS

i really appreciate that and the fact that his comments have the coolness of a master even under severe criticism. one can learn a lesson or two of that, if you want
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miltownkid — August 10th, 2009, 8:15 am

I know why everyone’s so pissed off Tim.

This contest TOTALLY needs…

more cowbell. lol
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Bryce — August 10th, 2009, 10:52 am

Um, I really don’t see this as spec work. He’s not looking to hire anybody.

It’s a contest. A contest. When kids color in the insert in the newspaper and send it in are they expecting to get paid? No – because it’s not a job, it’s a contest.

When writers write a short story for the Writer’s Digest Short story competition, do they expect to get paid for it? No. They hope they’ll win and get some cash, but they actually pay to enter the contest. Is that spec work? No, It’s a contest.

It’s a contest, for fun. Should I complain about every programming contest out there, saying it cheapens my profession as a programmer? As a programmer, my skill are adequate to get a job already, and as such I need to competition credentials. I don’t ever bother to even find out what competitions are out there.

It’s a contest, a competition, a fun little challenge. Tim isn’t exploiting anybody, he’s holding a contest.

On a different note: does the gallery of entries become visible to the public after the contest is over? I’d be interested in seeing what everybody entered.
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Bryce — August 10th, 2009, 10:54 am

Oh, garbage, I need to read over my posts better before clicking “Submit Comment.”

the lines should have been “my skills are”, “I need no competition”
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Suzya — August 11th, 2009, 8:06 am

Let me start by saying I will not be submitting a design but I do have something to say to Tim Ferris…

I congratulate you on the ability to create controversy and get a lot of people to talk about this contest. I am sure you knew of the current debate going on in the design community about spec work and you have used it to your advantage very well.

I hope that you choose to post all of the design submission so that we can see if this spec work paid off for you.
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Herbert Reininger — August 11th, 2009, 6:50 pm

It’s actually not spec work at all, there is no bidding for this job involved, which, as one part, would include spec design. This is called crowd sourcing, and it smells cheap.

But then again, Tim got us commenters out of the woodwork and that is worth something, I guess.
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Gurpreet — August 12th, 2009, 5:29 am

I wish I had the artistic talent to submit a design! Mainly to express all the col ideas this book has inspired (just from the title & synopsis in your other post.

I’m sure many people have thought of this already, but a great design could involve some form of modern twist on Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian Man…especially because of all the polymath and ‘Renaissance Man’ associations that come with it.

By the way Tim – at the bottom of this post it says “Posted on April 4th, 2009″ seems your blog or WordPress is experiencing some kind of a bug?
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Gurpreet — August 12th, 2009, 5:41 am

Oh no! Random embarrassing typos in my comment! :s

That should be cool not col ideas.
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Eric — August 12th, 2009, 12:14 pm

Hey Tim,

While I don’t think you are an “asshole,” I am disappointed in your approach. I saw your talk at TED online and it was inspirational. I think you are talented and have the benefit of an audience, but that also is a responsibility.

Here are some alternatives I wish you would have explored:

1) Design it yourself. Frankly your life pattern has provided you with lots of opportunities to concept what this would look like, I would imagine. I’m sure you could have displayed your vision for your content.

2) Find a student/entry level designer to work with. Think of it as a missed opportunity to mentor and inspire someone on a project that might have helped a fledgling professional grow.

3) Position this as a non-paying project accepting submissions from your followers only. Something that might give one of your talented fans a voice and some recognition.

With a spec approach, you cannot be sure that the work you are getting adheres to quality, ethical and legal guidelines either. Is this important to you?

I’m also disappointed because people who promote or engage in spec work do not and have not thought enough about what this does to design as a KNOWLEDGE BASED profession. You’ve heard this before, I know. Yet, just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.

As for those who believe that spec is “good for design,” “no big deal,” and promote their “lighten up” mentality… who are you really trying to convince?

That’s about it. I still wish you well Tim. Thanks.
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- Tim Ferriss — August 12th, 2009, 12:27 pm
  
  Hi Eric,
  
  Thank you. I completely and totally agree that the suggested alternatives could have been better, especially #3. Frustrating as it is, I was considering doing this and then complicated things. Another lesson in why to keep things simple
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Angela — August 12th, 2009, 1:31 pm

In regards to “the commenters who insist [you're] exploiting the entire design community,” ignore ‘em. Nuff said. No, wait, I spoke too soon. Let me also add that I find that the freelancers who have enough time to criticize and complain so passionately about things like this tend not to have enough work to keep their minds, hands and hearts busy. Hmm, inverse correlation to time-on-hands to talent? No, no, I can’t say that—that would just be a mean and baseless accusation.
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AD — August 12th, 2009, 1:54 pm

Hi all. Just want to say something to all of you. I had some fun reading this. I learned some things. And now I’m very sad.
I sad that you Tim choose to hide this post. You can’t please everyone and tho I understand you are just being polite I think you should leave it the way it was (I hope you are not running away from some bad publicity). Write something nice about everything going on here in a future post.
But that’s not why I’m sad. I’m sad to see so much HATE. Stop judging, stop making assumptions. Try to understand the other side.
I didn’t really see my participation to 99designs as spec work. I’m a little offended by some things said here. I’m not saying they are true. Or that they are not. Not everything is black or white… And I don’t think the idea with this contest is good or bad. And I think we should stop talking about it.
I like your passion. But do something else with it.
Ok, my final thoughts: hey you pretty girl AD(me), do you like to dance? go to this club 99, it’s a free entry, and if the bartender likes how you dance, he might give some free cocktails… This is how SOME people see these things. Not saying is good or bad!!
Have fun doing what you want!
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- Tim Ferriss — August 12th, 2009, 5:15 pm
  
  Hi AD,
  
  Thank you for your post. I really appreciate your comment. I redated the post, not to hide it, but because several readers pointed out that the post only applied to a small % of my readership, probably less than 1%. I’m not avoiding the critics — just thinking of my readers
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
edita — August 12th, 2009, 9:58 pm

Hi Tim,

I have a question, I know the deadline is passed BUT I had problems with 99 designs. I registered to 99 designs to upload the cover and it took them almost 2 days to send me confirmation link so I could log in. The problem is that by the time they wrote back the deadline was over. Is their anyway I can still show you my design? I wrote to 99 about this and they said no.
I just wanted to ask you since you are the author.

Thank you,

e.
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- Tim Ferriss — August 12th, 2009, 11:46 pm
  
  Hi Edita,
  
  Feel free to send to amyatfourhourworkweekdotcom, though I can’t make any promises, as I’ve sent everything off to my publishers after looking at the submissions.
  
  Sorry for your trouble!
  
  Tim
  Reply
Sean — August 16th, 2009, 9:32 am

I don’t get the spec work argument as long as you’re dealing with a contest holder that has some integrity….it’s really no different than taking on a sales gig that pays on commission. You can spend some time and not get rewarded but that’s the risk you take. And if you’re not willing to take the risk, you don’t participate in that piece of the market and look for work elsewhere.
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Shane — August 17th, 2009, 7:56 pm

Wow! I’ve never seen so many whiners in one place… I know I’m late to this post, but had to chime in….

There should be no apologizing here for this Tim… and people saying the price was insulting, etc, etc, etc… Thats B.S… You should never pay more than the minimum someone is willing to be paid for the job you want done. Period….

I have to agree completely with what Mason said….

“It looks like you’re accomplishing more with this contest than just generating some cool book covers, You’re also weeding out annoying readers

Long live captialism.

Cheers,
Mason”
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anja — August 19th, 2009, 9:10 am

wow. my original intent was to comment on your post, tim. way too much pre-emptive apologies, caveats and disclaimers. VERY american, or so i thought (see your hot coffee example). it was not a fun read …

and then i saw the comments. sheesh. pitiful. sad.

ok, much as i was suppressing my curiousity before, now i HAVE to see the book. i’ll buy it. promise. and i’m sure the cover will be interesting.

good luck.
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Jase Cooper — September 16th, 2009, 3:58 pm

Hi Tim,

It’s interesting to hear your take on spec-work, I’m a designer myself and while I disagree with a lot of spec-work out there your argument makes a lot of sense. Though I won’t get into this debate here, it soon becomes tiring.

I’m currently in the early stages of a project that offers an alternative to design spec-work involving the employment of design students, tomorrows professionals. It would be great to discuss this further with you if you find any spare time. If you’re curious you’ll find a fast-paced slideshare in my website URL to the left that will provide a bit more information on the project.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to see the chosen design!

jase.
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Thomas — October 9th, 2009, 5:28 pm

Hi Tim,

When do we get to see the winning designs? Just curious.

Best,
Thomas
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The Spec Work Argument - Are We Missing Something — December 14th, 2009, 8:24 am

[...] really a designer (I do search engine work 80% of the time) but I was surprised to see Tim Ferriss go this way. Spec Work is currently a pretty huge and unstoppable change with the introduction of contest [...]
Agne — March 3rd, 2010, 6:06 am

Hallo, I am designer from Lithuania. If in the future will be similar competitions let me know.
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Book cover contest entry « Tara Design Concepts — July 19th, 2010, 6:04 am

[...] and entered it in the contest for Tim Ferriss’ book “Becoming Superhuman”. I discovered the contest a bit too late and rather than over-working the design and risking being too late for the deadline, [...]
Francis Tapon — August 29th, 2010, 3:41 am

Agne, as a designer from Lithuania, you’ll be interested in my book design contest. My upcoming book is called “The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us.” So it’s a subject that should interest you as an Eastern European!

I learned from Tim Ferriss’s book competition and I’m offering something that is better:

1. Since I’m self-publishing my book, I don’t have to resort to contest rules that are filled with weasel-words. Tim had to cover his butt in case the Random House design vetoes his ideas. He doesn’t have the power to overrule them. I don’t have anyone to answer to, so I pick the winner and guarantee it. Simple and clean.

2. There’s a clear winner. I don’t give $250 to the 4 finalists, but $1000 to the winner. Simple and clean.

As a writer, I’ve PAID money to participate in writing contests. I spent lots of time writing, paid the entry fee, and didn’t win. This contest is free to enter.

Like Tim’s contest, if you don’t like design contests, then don’t participate. Nobody is forcing you to do anything. Hike your own hike.

Contest details are [on my site, per comment rules]

Thanks for sharing your experience Tim!
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Paul — November 23rd, 2010, 11:57 pm

I’ve been a fan of yours for quite awhile now, but I will be refusing to buy your new book purely on principle. I refuse to do spec work and where possible I refuse to support any product or service that uses it.

- paul
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Michael — October 15th, 2011, 6:37 pm

Hey Tim,

I know it’s not your fault as this was a largely misunderstood and misinterpreted event in the media, but this comment should be examined.

‘Unfortunately, in a world where people sue McDonald’s for pouring hot coffee on their own genitals, this lawyering is necessary to prevent any misunderstandings.”

Watch the doco called “Hot Coffee” which is about Tort Reform in the USA and how that particular case was used to push an agenda that was designed to reduce the average American’s access to the court system (Tort). You will be shocked and disheartened. No doubt you will also see how easily it is to “brainwash” a society (as if you weren’t aware already). That particular case was a huge public misconception, it will seriously blow you away how wrong we all are about it and how easily the media et al can guide our thoughts.

There’s a really great lesson in there for all of us and perhaps even some reference material for your future work.

All the best and love your work
Michael

ps: after a quick peruse of the comments I now notice this post is years old … still a good doco if you haven’t seen it yet
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