23 votes
Long time designers on sitepoint as Contest Moderators
I suggest that long time designers here on 99designs,become contest moderators, and control contests in order to prevent copying,spamming contests,using discussion board as chit chat and introducing new members to 99designs rules.
~ Dawson
Matiu
Uhlats is right you need to be a designer or know how to dissect a design and have a good working knowledge of stock art, reputable sites logo's e.t.c. But to have current competing designers that moderate others is in my opinion a conflict of interests and would be to open to abuse. If it was to be a designer moderating others I think he or she would have to step away from competing in contests.
3 months ago
Nadia
Moderator = guidance counselor (whether they participate in the contest or not), for both the designers and the contest holders. It can be done without prejudice, I know that for a fact :-) Giving advice to both sides, asking relevant questions of CH if they appear not to understand what is involved in specific situation, stop any bickering, report any offences to admin staff to handle.. etc
3 months ago
zhille
I think that a designer should be able to apply for moderation of a certain project he likes, but it's not his area. In my case - I am a web designer, and I have a lot of experience, but no time to work on web design projects here, because I work full time. also it would be a good thing to ditch the old-boys-club mentality, How long you're a member is not a tool to separate good designer from bad.
4 months ago
Gandecruz
moderator is not jury. but it would be great to have moderator to at least keep the contest always cool, with no fighting or bad mouth between designer, asking ch to give feedback. positioning while reporting to admin about ip issue. Moderator should be given guidelines too about what to do and don't. As i said moderator is not a jury. i'm fully agree with this idea.
4 months ago
imagineinternet
Don't forget contest holders..some of us have been lurking around for a while too. I think any senior/active designer or CH would make a good Mod, as long as they are clearly qualified and impartial. One issue with moderators and copyrights, especially for works done outside the contest. Example: XYZ company has a logo, a designer copies the work and posts it, is the Mod to blame for not catching?
4 months ago
Terry Bogard
Except for the fact that 99 might have to allocate some budget for these moderators. :)
4 months ago
Terry Bogard
Flagging desig by a moderator is a good idea. But if the moderator is a designer himself, who is going to flag HIM/HER for any copyright issues incase if there is one.I think having a moderator would bring better behaviours from designers but a moderator should by no meanse be a part of any contest. Take it this way. 99designs was formed by designers but these designers never take part in contest.
4 months ago
Art
I don't agree with this, this will create problems and fight between designers.
Only 99 admin should take care of everything will be good for everyone.
plz don't allow other to rule this site or allow them to raise several issues.
4 months ago
ulahts
that is what i was talking about for 6 months.
Some users that proved in the past that have knoledges about corporate branding, logo ideas, usage, copyrights etc, that can report something based on some sustainable proofs.
5 months ago
mainero
How about designer moderators being able to flag designs that could be potentially stolen or used and then that makes the design go through a search process where if anyone has links to the used logo or proof of plagiarism then if proven the designer gets punished.
5 months ago
wildcatcrazy
ulahts, not doubting your last comment, but how would a designer even know if a design had already been used? With internet the way it is, it is very easy for someone to use someone else's ideas (copied or just modified).
5 months ago
ulahts
Moderating without having knoledges about logo design is useless. How can you believe a non-designer would know if a logo was used/seen before?
6 months ago
redundant
Why can't 99designs just have moderators who aren't designers - that way it is fair for all. And no more problem on the voting thing..
6 months ago
stardiver
Moderation is needed there 4 sure - logos in particular
I personaly don't care if moderation is done by senior designers or someone else but we need it for sure. I don't think that senior designers are bad choice but if it would make community even more happy there could be moderation team that would vote on removal on entries. Personaly I would trust ulahts or any other senior members judgment.
6 months ago
fabian
Moderation of entries would be a wise direction to go in. As a moderator on another well known site we have a system that all major decisions such as copyright issues and copying of fellow designer concepts etc are put forward to the moderation team to discuss in a private forum.
6 months ago
Nadia
It can be done - all comes down to the reliability and trust-worthiness of the moderator - and as Lachlan says, a proven track record. As long as they prove to be helpful to *both* designers and contests holders in the long run and are deemed 'honest' by both, should be endorsement enough. Maybe a poll of some sort may work, but then trying to get everyones' attention to vote is another thing..
6 months ago
redundant
But what if a moderator (long-time designer) would give a comment on a certain entry, couldn't that be a bad thing for the other designers. It might bias the decision of the CH. So there should be a rule about that , eh? I mean, do you get my point? ;-?
6 months ago
xpressions
We are saying the samething, basically. I ran out of characters (space) and tried to condense what I was trying to communicate. :)
6 months ago
wildcatcrazy
I personally don't think it is a good idea for potential designers to have a say over a contest. It would be like allowing someone to write the details of a contract and then allowing that same company to put in a bid for the contract. It offers an unfair advantage.
6 months ago
ulahts
xpressions said something about jury. Well, i don't think this is a matter of jury but rather a matter of supervising. The decision in this case is and i strongly advice to be made by a higher support member.
6 months ago
ulahts
I don't find any issue in the fact that a moderator can also be a designer. There is no connection between but the knowledge shared. Old designers should be taken into account. Choosing as moderators designers without a past activity and without having any knowledge of how design sourcing forums works is not the best way to deal with.
6 months ago
ulahts
I believe that a good way to handle this is to form a team of moderators and the decision should be discussed with the Team leader, in an open discussion. This discussion will be High Priority for the staff. The staff should have decisional factor but they must take in account Moderators opinions. This worked before and will work again.
6 months ago
lachlan
I'm not much a fan of the old-boys-club mentality, certainly any moderators that were selected would be selected based on reliability and proven track record of exemplary behavior rather than seniority.
Will have a good think about the suggestion of a pool of moderators suggestions.
6 months ago
snugbrimm
it shouldn't be about "seniority" persay but more about reliability. can this person moderate a community? maybe have an application or form of some sort, informing of the person's personality and trustworthiness? i don't know if that's exactly what is needed but i still want a decent amount of seniority invlved in this because i hate rookies that think they already know everything
6 months ago
xpressions
That is a good point, lachlan and no one designer should be the judge and jury, however, these moderators could bring it to the attention of a "pool" of moderators where the issue can be discussed and handled expeditiously. Right now you have lots of arguing going on in the contest's main thread and many entries seem to be more than "inspired" by others lately. Definately needs handling.
6 months ago
lachlan
The issue with this is that the moderators are also designers, is it really fair to have designers who are potentially entering contests able to make serious judgement calls about other designers entries? I have a lot of respect for our long time designers, but putting them in a position where they have a potential conflict of interest really isn't fair to anyone.
6 months ago