Vancouver’s Ion Branding + Design has announced their fourth annual One Good Idea contest that offers $25,000 in strategy and creative services to promote a project that “positively contributes to the well-being of our world,” says intermediate designer Matthew Shettler.
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Branding and design services can go a long way to helping a good idea succeed, says Shettler. The firm will help the winners identify how to best present and promote their idea to give it the “the most leverage,” he says.
The studio picks the winner based on how well it meets the contest’s criteria and how well it fits the firm’s capabilities. Shettler says the winner also tends to be “the thing that we’re the most passionate about.”
Last year’s winner was The Care Tools, a website that help family and friends coordinate the care of an ailing loved one, for which Ion worked on branding and website development, Shettler says.
The contest is open to any Canadian company or organization, and submissions will be accepted until June 4.
Contact: One Good Idea
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| Anonymous says: | |
| I am not sure about this as a long-term business venture. I can't see anyone wanting to put up giant... | |
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You're just jumping on the contest trend ... I agree with #4 ...makes your firm look very desperate for new business... and misleading as we all know you are really not going to donate $25,000 of your design time ... unless you are charging $1000 an hour.
If you were really busy, you would not have the time for salesy gimmicks. Self promotion is fine, but be honest about it.
I do agree that bringing up the 25k misleads. We all do pro-bono projects, but best not to try to put a dollar value to them -- publicly. I don't think you can honestly say that Ion will give 25k worth of time to the "winner" -- times are tough and non of us can afford to take that much time away from paying jobs. That's probably why people are skeptical about this. If you gave hard cash, you would be putting your money where your mouth is.
a. It was out of genuine desire to consolidate pro-bono efforts (of which we already did a lot) into a large, effective project, and;
b. We/they EASILY put enough hours into it to justify the 25,000 price tag. Much more, I would guess, as there was a real passion to great work for these causes.
1. this whole thing reeks of feel good self-promotion
2. you both know that the work being 'valued' at 25k is subjective and just an gimmicky headline
3. what firm can afford to spend 250 hours on a free project (assuming a typical small firm in B.C. can get away with charging 100 per hour these days)
4. most clients do not respect design, even if it is given an inflated price tag
I'm happy to show you a time sheet report for last year's project as linked here: http://www.iondesign.ca/clients/1592/thecaretools_report.pdf
There's no dates on the report, but the work was done over a three month period. As you can see, our studio rates range from $85-135 depending on the task.
25K is typical for a branding project of this scope for us - pretty much as you say: strategy, identity, application to business papers, simple style guide, brochure, ad and website art direction (to layered psds). We didn't do any of the website programming, the client has their own resources.
I'd be happy to review the strategy document with any of you over coffee or a beer sometime, so you can see for yourself the amount of work we put into these. Just give me a call if you're in Vancouver.
Again, I challenge you to tell me what you are doing. Anonymity is too easy. Be real - put yourself out there.
You might want to read the blog post I wrote today in honour of World Graphics Day at my other company Smallbox Software: http://www.smallboxcms.com/blog/post72.php
It'll give you some insight into where I'm coming from and what I believe.
Stay positive my friend, and have a great day.
Besides, $25,000 is basically just a six-man studio working for one week. I would imagine that a lot of mid-size studios are giving away an equivalent amount in pro-bono work every year, even if just for tax purposes.
Of course it will bring attention to ION. A design firm that can't attract attention is not the one I would hire.
It doesn't sound like this is a new idea, 4 years ago nobody had heard of the great recession. Completely different economic world.
I'm surprised at the negative comments here. You are doing a good deed. I don't think it is odd that you are making some noise about it. How would organizations know about this opportunity if you didn't promote it? I also see it as a call to other companies to do something to help our communities.
Good idea. Great cause. Keep it up.
No special kudos for Ion ...We all do probono work, we just have sense not to brag about it and inflate the value. I hope Ion has learned from this for next year. It was one bad idea.
One Good Idea 2010 Winner Announced
After much deliberation and hot debates we have chosen to award the 2010 One Good Idea prize to a partnership of Kin's Farm Market and the Canadian Cancer Society. Their good idea is a campaign to raise awareness and $500,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society and includes an educational component to focus on cancer prevention.
We thank all the proponents for time and effort they put into their thoughtful submissions, it was by no means an easy decision. We invite those who are interested to submit again next spring and wish everyone success with their good ideas.
i agree with some of the early comments... do something good and don't tell the whole world about it. that way it will see more sincere.
maybe you guys are trying to do this for the right reason, but it is really in poor taste if you just keep bragging about it. take some of the advice above and tone it down.