Before you start reading the article below, know that there is no contest, no prize, no assignment to give, grant, win or whatever name you want to give it. Reading it is for your entertainment only. I can tell you I have been entertained by the interesting finds in my mailbox after publishing it. More on that later.
The intense protest this article provoked, set of what everyone in creativity instinctively knows should be done in such cases: go for the third option. There is always a third (and forth, fifth...) option.

In this particular case:

• Option 1: You play by the rules of the game. But what if you are not getting anywhere?
• Option 2: You don't play by the rules of the game. But what if you get slapped all over the place for doing that?

Then it's time for option three:

• Option 3: You make a entirely new game!

Option 3 is currently under development and I will be happy to share it with you shortly. In the meantime, do enjoy the article below...or not.

Apparently, designing and producing a business card is the most horrendous task a marketing agency can be bothered with. So far, I've asked three agencies and waited 4 months to get as little as a quote…but, no such luck. I asked for ideas and quotes, I ended up with excuses. 

So here I am. I have a brand new website I'm deliriously happy about (if you're reading this..you're on it) , new and exciting projects I feel tremendously privileged to participate in, but no business card or smart alternative to show for it. So, this is what I decided on yesterday evening: Don't get angry Karl, get creative!

Here's the deal:
I imagine that somewhere out there, someone is just crazy about business cards. I believe there is this underappreciated soul roaming the streets of God-knows-where with only one purpose in life; to leave humanity in awe over the potential impact of a vastly creative business card. I just know you are out there. Make yourself heard, seen, known, because this one is for you:

30 days, 500 items for 2.500 EURO

30 days to design:
You have 30 days to come up with an idea, a design, a suggestion, a brainwave and a quote…starting from today, Monday 1PM, May 3^rd 2010.

500 items to deliver:
I need to end up with a minimum of 500 items. Mind you, I said items, not classic, paper, business cards. Think outside, way outside the card.
And if you have a way of producing 10.000 items within the budget frame, that is totally cool too.

2.500 EURO to spend:
For the design and total production cost you will have a 2.500 EURO budget at your disposal, VAT not included. At current exchange rates, that's about 3.300 US dollar, 2.100 £ , 3.500 AUS $ or 310.000 Yen. That is, if your idea and proposal is selected on Thursday 1PM, June 3^rd, 2010.
That should give you enough mental manoeuvrability to play with ideas, materials and concepts. 

How to win this assignment?

Surf around and discover everything www.creativitips.com www.pinchingtheostrich.com & www.karlraats.com has to offer. Consider these sites as the briefing. Work with what you find there and just dive in. Design stuff, think up things, work your magic in three simple steps:

1. You provide the idea, the visual(s) and the quote by May 30^th, midnight. The idea(s) and the visual(s) will be published online for everyone to enjoy, the quote remains a private matter between you and I.
2. I will arbitrarily (hey, at least I'm honest about it) pick a top 5 by May 31^st, 2010 at noon. I will post the 5 final contenders online.
3. The public gets the final say in an online vote. Voting starts May 31^st, 2010 at noon and ends Thursday 1PM, June 3^rd, 2010.

If you end up designing the winning proposal, you win the assignment and I finally get my business card...er...or object, or thingy.
So, what do you think? Are you in? 

A few practicalities:


• Your valid entry should include: a visual, a description, a quote and your contact information.

  Your entry or entries are welcome at info@karlraats.com , subject line: Design a winner, win the design!
• Keep your message, attachments included, below 2MB.
• Correct color codes, font types, existing logo's etc wil be provided to the winner.
• Time zone for deadlines is GMT+1. 
• The winner gets a 25% advance and the remaining 75% on delivery. (Max. total of 2.500 EURO, VAT not included)
• Have fun and be creative. Do keep it legal, respectful and for all ages.
• Do something really nice for someone today. Not that that's a requirement to win this assignment, I just like the idea that you would be that kind of person today.  ;-)

Looking forward to being flabbergasted.
Have fun!

Karl

PS 1: Here's a little inspiration , but don't let that stop you from doing something rrreally cool, or zen, or conceptual, or....
PS 2: In the meantime why not become a Pinching the Ostrich fan @   

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