Monday
Feb112008
Pixish: Questionable Idea
Monday, February 11, 2008 at 1:05PM
John Gruber posted about Pixish, a new website which looks to match up publishers with creative needs and designers/artists with creative solutions.
From the creator's blog entry, we find that publishers post creative requirements and indicate some reward (money? supplies?). Powazek thinks this is encouraging for artists who "...need a way to get [their] work out there. Pixish is [their] chance to get published." He sounds even more hopeful for the publishers:
For beginning artists, this DOES sound like a great way to get your work out there. But this sounds even more like the publishers winning and lots of artists doing lots of work for nothing. I don't blame Powazek too much - his profile sounds like he has a publishing background (I should research that more to be certain). But how many web designers or architects or graphic designers or print makers do work for free, and let the clients choose what they want from that?
This sounds a lot more like a TV show that my wife occasionally watches: Designer's Challenge on HGTV. This show involves three different Interior Designers (real ones, too - not wannabe decorators) each providing a design concept to a homeowner who then chooses which one they like best. THEN they hire the designer. My wife is a professional interior designer and while she enjoys seeing the different designs on this show, she hates the format because it's completely unreal. No designer is going to spend hours in AutoCAD and Photoshop coming up with a free design concept for somebody who MIGHT be a client.
So I'm curious - how many artists and designers are going to spend valuable work time on projects that MIGHT bring a reward? I'm not an industry expert so I can't say, but I'm sure curious to see how this works out.
From the creator's blog entry, we find that publishers post creative requirements and indicate some reward (money? supplies?). Powazek thinks this is encouraging for artists who "...need a way to get [their] work out there. Pixish is [their] chance to get published." He sounds even more hopeful for the publishers:
On Pixish, you can post an Assignment that asks for exactly the kind of imagery you need. The Pixish creative community can then submit their work, and review each other's submissions. Then all you have to do is pick the winners and send the rewards.
For beginning artists, this DOES sound like a great way to get your work out there. But this sounds even more like the publishers winning and lots of artists doing lots of work for nothing. I don't blame Powazek too much - his profile sounds like he has a publishing background (I should research that more to be certain). But how many web designers or architects or graphic designers or print makers do work for free, and let the clients choose what they want from that?
This sounds a lot more like a TV show that my wife occasionally watches: Designer's Challenge on HGTV. This show involves three different Interior Designers (real ones, too - not wannabe decorators) each providing a design concept to a homeowner who then chooses which one they like best. THEN they hire the designer. My wife is a professional interior designer and while she enjoys seeing the different designs on this show, she hates the format because it's completely unreal. No designer is going to spend hours in AutoCAD and Photoshop coming up with a free design concept for somebody who MIGHT be a client.
So I'm curious - how many artists and designers are going to spend valuable work time on projects that MIGHT bring a reward? I'm not an industry expert so I can't say, but I'm sure curious to see how this works out.
tagged Teh Interwebs, The Arts
Teh Interwebs, The Arts
Reader Comments (2)
What sort of cool prizes and awards do the "winners" get? Paint sets? Plastic UV filters for their cameras?
Mr. Powazek is clearly aiming at the "I need a banner for my webpage dedicated to pictures of my cats" segment of the "publishing" industry. 15-year-olds everywhere with Photoshop will be anxious to sign up and win such fabulous prizes as $50 gift certificates and t-shirts.
Does anyone who's worked in design think any professional would use such a service?