Greetings, one and all!

Over the past few years, CSTS has run a contest each year, seeking submissions for designs for the poster and logo for that year's event. This year, since I have several years of experience creating the poster ( and , as well as a local one for San Francisco in 2006), and because I'm serving as the 2011 art director, the organizers have asked me to create this year's graphic, and forgo the contest.

However, we realize that the contest does have several years of tradition behind it, so it's not a decision we wanted to make without consulting the community! So, we'll put it to a poll (see above).

Please understand, I won't take it personally AT ALL if the consensus is that we should stick with the contest. I'm happy to do the art myself, and I'm happy to open it up to the community. So, what do you think?

I look forward to everyone's input!

-- Adam Levermore
CSTS 2011 Art Director

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Adam Levermore
2011 CSTS Art Director
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You should all know that we've tossed this around behind the scenes for a few weeks, not only because we had various reasons for handling it, but also because we want everyone worldwide to be as content as possible. You all donate a lot of time and effort to the cause, so we value your opinions.

As we discussed whether or not to use Adam as our sole logo designer, we were of two camps. One, Adam is a fantastic artist and we'd be glad of any design he'd come up with. It doesn't hurt that he has a whole staff of artists this year, so the art team is a kind of dream team. Two, the contest opens up the gates for wider participation and avenues for unknown artists across the globe, and it gives Browncoats room to strut their stuff.

While we're on the subject, let me take the time to thank Don for his designs two years in a row, and all the designs which came before. We've never lacked for good art.

Whatever we decide, let's decide it as soon as we can. If we could have the art in hand early, we could hit the ground running in advertising, merchandise and branding for 2011.

I'd like to see the contest held, but I'd like to see a limit on the numbers of entries one artist can submit. Also, everyone who submits should include poster, T-shirt, and badge designs.

Have the contest.... But Adam should enter (double blind) as well!

wouldn't not having the vote be anti-browncoat? only allowing the organizers (alliance) decide what is good for the entire planet?

just a thought.

also no limit on number of entries per artist - but make sure they have poster badge and t-shirt designs in their submissions. please.

For what it's worth, there was no vote in 2006-2008. The art contest was introduced in 2009, so is a tradition that has been around for 2 years. Adam designed the 2007 and 2008 posters and shirts.

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Global Steering Committee Chair (2010-2015)
Global Team: Comms Lead (2009)
Local Event Organiser/Crew: Melbourne (2007, 2009-2017), Vancouver (2006)
New Melbourne Browncoats Inc - newmelbournebrowncoats.com

I like having the options provided by the contest. And though the past two year's logos have been amazing for media and patches, I'd really like to see our talented artists get a little more creative with the t-shirts and posters. I think if you have a contest, all should have a t-shirt and poster mockup in addition to just the logo.

I love the idea of having an open contest, so that more people can have a hand in this great event. It gives everyone an opportunity to show their love for what we are doing.

I like the idea of having a contest, primarily because I LOVED the 2009 postcards featuring the non-winning works. They were really popular, and they're still some of our very favorite swag from that year - we use them as bookmarks and they always make us smile. Any chance of doing something like that again?

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If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.