Discussion: OUSA – Team USA Uniform Design Competition
in: Orienteering; General
Dec 25, 2013 9:47 AM
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Orienteering USA – Team USA Uniform Design Competition
Call for Entries – Due Sunday, January 19, 2014
Email: PDF of Design to charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Overview
Orienteering USA (OUSA) is issuing a call for design entries for uniforms for its national orienteering teams. These uniforms will be worn in national and international competition, highlighted by the World Championships.
All interested individuals are asked to submit designs for the following garments:
• Orienteering Top (short sleeved) – mandatory entry
• Orienteering Pants (3/4 length, traditionally a single color) – optional entry
• Warm up Top (long sleeved) – optional entry
Designs should be submitted in a PDF format. If your design is selected you may be contacted to do additional work on your design.
Mandatories:
• Must convey a strong “USA” vibe.
• Logos:
o Primary – Team USA
o Secondary – Orienteering USA, uniform manufacturer, sponsors
o Secondary logo sizes are restricted to 5” wide x 2.5” high (USA can be bigger)
o OUSA and Team USA logos can be found here: Team Logos
How the Winning design will be selected
• A committee comprised of OUSA athletes from all team disciplines (Foot, Trail, Mountain Bike and Ski) plus key volunteers will determine the final design. Their decision will be final.
Prizes
• The winning designer will win a $250 cash prize and a uniform kit in their size.
Format:
• PDF. If your design is selected you may be asked to provide additional artwork.
Due Date:
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern time, Sunday, January 19th, 2014.
Email entries to
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Questions
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Note
• All design submissions immediately and permanently become the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the designs moving forward.
• OUSA reserves the rights to modify the winning design in order to meet committee or manufacturer requirements.
Call for Entries – Due Sunday, January 19, 2014
Email: PDF of Design to charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Overview
Orienteering USA (OUSA) is issuing a call for design entries for uniforms for its national orienteering teams. These uniforms will be worn in national and international competition, highlighted by the World Championships.
All interested individuals are asked to submit designs for the following garments:
• Orienteering Top (short sleeved) – mandatory entry
• Orienteering Pants (3/4 length, traditionally a single color) – optional entry
• Warm up Top (long sleeved) – optional entry
Designs should be submitted in a PDF format. If your design is selected you may be contacted to do additional work on your design.
Mandatories:
• Must convey a strong “USA” vibe.
• Logos:
o Primary – Team USA
o Secondary – Orienteering USA, uniform manufacturer, sponsors
o Secondary logo sizes are restricted to 5” wide x 2.5” high (USA can be bigger)
o OUSA and Team USA logos can be found here: Team Logos
How the Winning design will be selected
• A committee comprised of OUSA athletes from all team disciplines (Foot, Trail, Mountain Bike and Ski) plus key volunteers will determine the final design. Their decision will be final.
Prizes
• The winning designer will win a $250 cash prize and a uniform kit in their size.
Format:
• PDF. If your design is selected you may be asked to provide additional artwork.
Due Date:
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern time, Sunday, January 19th, 2014.
Email entries to
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Questions
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Note
• All design submissions immediately and permanently become the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the designs moving forward.
• OUSA reserves the rights to modify the winning design in order to meet committee or manufacturer requirements.
Dec 25, 2013 1:29 PM
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Why is this happening? Does OUSA have a new uniform provider for next year? Do they not have their own designer who can do some design for us? Is there not a way to have a group smaller than whatever this committee will be making decisions?
Dec 25, 2013 7:03 PM
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There will be a new uniform provider for next year. This is happening because the teams decided that this was what they wanted. The committee is about as small as it can reasonably be with one representative from each team.
One idea is that the same provider could provide uniforms for all the teams - including ski and MTB, which is not currently now the case - at substantially subsidized prices.
One idea is that the same provider could provide uniforms for all the teams - including ski and MTB, which is not currently now the case - at substantially subsidized prices.
Dec 26, 2013 6:03 AM
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Who are the selection committee reps from each team, if I may ask?
Dec 26, 2013 10:37 AM
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Juniors - Tori Borish
Seniors - Ali Crocker
Ski - Alex Jospe
MTBO -Greg Lennon
Trail - Clare Durand
Seniors - Ali Crocker
Ski - Alex Jospe
MTBO -Greg Lennon
Trail - Clare Durand
Dec 26, 2013 4:17 PM
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Do the university team get a say? Also I think it would be fair to ask who the provider is? and why the teams have not been informed of all of this off of attackpoint?
Dec 26, 2013 11:07 PM
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It was posted to USOFClubNet one minute after it was posted to attackpoint, if the timestamps are reliable.
Dec 27, 2013 1:03 AM
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I'm busy with holiday stuff, meet directing stuff, etc, so I'll keep this short.
This is a less-than-ideal process, and I think a better method would be similar to what I've spelled out here.
As someone who has designed uniforms, you get a much better result if you actually work with the client and the apparel manufacturer. Having a contest is like having various people throw spaghetti at a wall and then seeing what sticks.
My orienteering analogy is that when we create orienteering courses, the course designers work with clients (meet director, club, O-USA), focus groups (consultants, vetters, pre-runners), and occasionally the manufacturer (mapper). We don't design courses by contest.
The creative process works so much better with collaboration than it does with contest-ification. But that's just my opinion.
Now, the deal-breaker for me:
All design submissions immediately and permanently become the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the designs moving forward.
This really, really, angers me. If I'm going to create some intellectual property (ie: something of value), and Orienteering USA isn't going to select or use it, why should I give it to them for free? It's insulting. When Mark Cuban did this recently with a future Dallas Mavericks uniform design, he came across as a big jerk.
This is a less-than-ideal process, and I think a better method would be similar to what I've spelled out here.
As someone who has designed uniforms, you get a much better result if you actually work with the client and the apparel manufacturer. Having a contest is like having various people throw spaghetti at a wall and then seeing what sticks.
My orienteering analogy is that when we create orienteering courses, the course designers work with clients (meet director, club, O-USA), focus groups (consultants, vetters, pre-runners), and occasionally the manufacturer (mapper). We don't design courses by contest.
The creative process works so much better with collaboration than it does with contest-ification. But that's just my opinion.
Now, the deal-breaker for me:
All design submissions immediately and permanently become the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the designs moving forward.
This really, really, angers me. If I'm going to create some intellectual property (ie: something of value), and Orienteering USA isn't going to select or use it, why should I give it to them for free? It's insulting. When Mark Cuban did this recently with a future Dallas Mavericks uniform design, he came across as a big jerk.
Dec 27, 2013 5:26 AM
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GuyO:
On behalf of the juniors who have already developed O-top designs, and might submit them in this competition, I share Pink's objection to the property provision (for unsuccessful entries).
IIRC, the logo design competition only required the chosen design to become OUSA property...
IIRC, the logo design competition only required the chosen design to become OUSA property...
Dec 27, 2013 6:55 AM
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@Pink_Socks: Do you have a recommendation for improving the IP clause? Perhaps non-winning entries are returned to the owner? Winning entries are ??? paid? agreed to be used by OUSA under certain conditions?
Dec 28, 2013 9:54 PM
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A little background.
The teams decided to change uniform vendors over issues of fit, form and function. In addition, the prospect of being able to obtain Ski and MTB uniforms from the same vendor was seen to be a bonus.
Vendor contract negotiations are under way, so the vendor cannot yet be announced. This all seems to be somewhat precipitous, but a vendor and a design must be selected in time to have uniforms produced by June 1 so things must happen in parallel. This is a very short timeline given that the uniforms have to be designed for manufacture, manufactured and potentially shipped from overseas.
An attempt was made to distribute the solicitation as widely as possible. This included Attackpoint, clubnet and boardnet. Still working on Facebook, unfortunately. In particular, the clubs were asked to share the solicitation as widely as possible.
Team members should be hearing about the solicitation directly from their team uniform committee representatives. There is no current standing University team, but there is substantial overlap between the potential University team members and the Senior and Junior Teams. University team candidates can let their opinions be known to the Senior and Junior Team representatives.
OUSA policy is that all the teams use the same uniform design. The junior design competition was inspiring and fun, but it is a coincidence that OUSA is holding a design competition now. The principal reason is that the current design is owned by o21e and OUSA can't continue to use it on new uniforms. This will mean that all the uniforms will all have to be replaced and the potential cost to all the teams will be of the order of $15,000-20,000, even with a substantial discount. This is a major expense that is being triggered by the fact that OUSA does not own the design.
OUSA is a non-profit organization with limited funds and not a major league professional team owned by a billionaire. Generally speaking, OUSA is looking for a uniform design that can be used for any and all OUSA athletes for competition and for fundraising without restriction. It should also be true that individuals would not be allowed to produce items with the same design and wear or sell them independently. The design should also be portable to any vendor of OUSA's choice. Perhaps there is a better way to phrase the IP requirements that meets the needs of OUSA and does not cause such offense. Help and suggestions would be welcome. Perhaps the ownership could revert to the designer if the design is not accepted, but what if there are similar designs and one of them is accepted? What would these proposed OUSA team uniform designs be used for if not selected?
Given the experience with the OUSA logo design and the enthusiasm of the Juniors, it was felt to be best to hold an open competition. The winning design will be chosen by the representatives of the athletes that will be wearing it. This seems appropriate. It should be noted that the winning design will not necessarily be final. The teams, the vendor and the winning designer may work together to finalize the design.
The teams decided to change uniform vendors over issues of fit, form and function. In addition, the prospect of being able to obtain Ski and MTB uniforms from the same vendor was seen to be a bonus.
Vendor contract negotiations are under way, so the vendor cannot yet be announced. This all seems to be somewhat precipitous, but a vendor and a design must be selected in time to have uniforms produced by June 1 so things must happen in parallel. This is a very short timeline given that the uniforms have to be designed for manufacture, manufactured and potentially shipped from overseas.
An attempt was made to distribute the solicitation as widely as possible. This included Attackpoint, clubnet and boardnet. Still working on Facebook, unfortunately. In particular, the clubs were asked to share the solicitation as widely as possible.
Team members should be hearing about the solicitation directly from their team uniform committee representatives. There is no current standing University team, but there is substantial overlap between the potential University team members and the Senior and Junior Teams. University team candidates can let their opinions be known to the Senior and Junior Team representatives.
OUSA policy is that all the teams use the same uniform design. The junior design competition was inspiring and fun, but it is a coincidence that OUSA is holding a design competition now. The principal reason is that the current design is owned by o21e and OUSA can't continue to use it on new uniforms. This will mean that all the uniforms will all have to be replaced and the potential cost to all the teams will be of the order of $15,000-20,000, even with a substantial discount. This is a major expense that is being triggered by the fact that OUSA does not own the design.
OUSA is a non-profit organization with limited funds and not a major league professional team owned by a billionaire. Generally speaking, OUSA is looking for a uniform design that can be used for any and all OUSA athletes for competition and for fundraising without restriction. It should also be true that individuals would not be allowed to produce items with the same design and wear or sell them independently. The design should also be portable to any vendor of OUSA's choice. Perhaps there is a better way to phrase the IP requirements that meets the needs of OUSA and does not cause such offense. Help and suggestions would be welcome. Perhaps the ownership could revert to the designer if the design is not accepted, but what if there are similar designs and one of them is accepted? What would these proposed OUSA team uniform designs be used for if not selected?
Given the experience with the OUSA logo design and the enthusiasm of the Juniors, it was felt to be best to hold an open competition. The winning design will be chosen by the representatives of the athletes that will be wearing it. This seems appropriate. It should be noted that the winning design will not necessarily be final. The teams, the vendor and the winning designer may work together to finalize the design.
Dec 29, 2013 11:51 PM
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OUSA really should hire a professional graphics designer to work on uniforms, website, marketing material, advertising etc. Money would be well spent and could be generated by charging higher event fees...
Dec 30, 2013 2:34 AM
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Just change:
"All design submissions The winning design immediately and permanently becomes the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the designs moving forward."
OUSA is a non-profit organization with limited funds and not a major league professional team owned by a billionaire.
It doesn't matter if it's an NBA team or a non-profit. It's lame for the client to ask for the rights to all non-selected designs, especially for zero compensation. Period.
It'd be like O-USA wanting to host a World Champs, and they solicit the clubs for venue and map submissions. BAOC makes a map and submits, as does DVOA and NEOC. O-USA selects the map the BAOC made, but then they also keep the rights to the maps that the other clubs made, too. Now DVOA and NEOC took the time to make the maps but now they can't use them because O-USA now owns them (and may never use them). It's not the perfect analogy, but at least it's orienteering relevant.
What would these proposed OUSA team uniform designs be used for if not selected?
US national teams for other sports/activities. T-shirt designs for a US champs event. Other clubs/teams/schools that need uniforms and would be able to use the same pattern and colors. As someone who has designed and consulted on numerous orienteering uniforms, logos, t-shirts, etc, this probably affects me more than anyone else here. I really enjoy designing and l plan on continuing to do it. I'd be annoyed in 10 years if there's an opportunity for me to use a design that I no longer own, because of an unnecessary restriction on this. In reality, are they going to be used? There's a good chance they won't. But they could be. It's the principle that bothers me.
Also, let's say that O-USA gets several really good designs. They can use one for 2014, another for 2016, another for 2018... and they only have to shell out $250 the first time, since they got all of the others for free and since they own them, they no longer owe the original designer anything.
"
OUSA is a non-profit organization with limited funds and not a major league professional team owned by a billionaire.
It doesn't matter if it's an NBA team or a non-profit. It's lame for the client to ask for the rights to all non-selected designs, especially for zero compensation. Period.
It'd be like O-USA wanting to host a World Champs, and they solicit the clubs for venue and map submissions. BAOC makes a map and submits, as does DVOA and NEOC. O-USA selects the map the BAOC made, but then they also keep the rights to the maps that the other clubs made, too. Now DVOA and NEOC took the time to make the maps but now they can't use them because O-USA now owns them (and may never use them). It's not the perfect analogy, but at least it's orienteering relevant.
What would these proposed OUSA team uniform designs be used for if not selected?
US national teams for other sports/activities. T-shirt designs for a US champs event. Other clubs/teams/schools that need uniforms and would be able to use the same pattern and colors. As someone who has designed and consulted on numerous orienteering uniforms, logos, t-shirts, etc, this probably affects me more than anyone else here. I really enjoy designing and l plan on continuing to do it. I'd be annoyed in 10 years if there's an opportunity for me to use a design that I no longer own, because of an unnecessary restriction on this. In reality, are they going to be used? There's a good chance they won't. But they could be. It's the principle that bothers me.
Also, let's say that O-USA gets several really good designs. They can use one for 2014, another for 2016, another for 2018... and they only have to shell out $250 the first time, since they got all of the others for free and since they own them, they no longer owe the original designer anything.
Jan 16, 2014 8:57 PM
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Sorry I have been slow to update this.
It has been decided to extend the deadline to Jan 31, 2014 due to the solicitation not being widely enough distributed.
It has also been decided to adopt Pink Socks' proposal to amend the ownership clause as follows:
"The winning design immediately and permanently becomes the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the design moving forward."
It has been decided to extend the deadline to Jan 31, 2014 due to the solicitation not being widely enough distributed.
It has also been decided to adopt Pink Socks' proposal to amend the ownership clause as follows:
"The winning design immediately and permanently becomes the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the design moving forward."
Jan 16, 2014 9:00 PM
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Orienteering USA – Team USA Uniform Design Competition - Updated Jan 16, 2014
Call for Entries – Due Friday, January 31, 2014
Email: PDF of Design to charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Overview
Orienteering USA (OUSA) is issuing a call for design entries for uniforms for its national orienteering teams. These uniforms will be worn in national and international competition, highlighted by the World Championships.
All interested individuals are asked to submit designs for the following garments:
• Orienteering Top (short sleeved) – mandatory entry
• Orienteering Pants (3/4 length, traditionally a single color) – optional entry
• Warm up Top (long sleeved) – optional entry
Designs should be submitted in a PDF format. If your design is selected you may be contacted to do additional work on your design.
Mandatories:
• Must convey a strong “USA” vibe.
• Logos:
o Primary – Team USA
o Secondary – Orienteering USA, uniform manufacturer, sponsors
o Secondary logo sizes are restricted to 5” wide x 2.5” high (USA can be bigger)
o OUSA and Team USA logos can be found here: Team Logos
How the Winning design will be selected
• A committee comprised of OUSA athletes from all team disciplines (Foot, Trail, Mountain Bike and Ski) plus key volunteers will determine the final design. Their decision will be final.
Prizes
• The winning designer will win a $250 cash prize and a uniform kit in their size.
Format:
• PDF. If your design is selected you may be asked to provide additional artwork.
Due Date:
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern time, Friday, January 31st, 2014.
Email entries to
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Questions
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Note
• The winning design immediately and permanently become the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the design moving forward.
• OUSA reserves the rights to modify the winning design in order to meet committee or manufacturer requirements.
Call for Entries – Due Friday, January 31, 2014
Email: PDF of Design to charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Overview
Orienteering USA (OUSA) is issuing a call for design entries for uniforms for its national orienteering teams. These uniforms will be worn in national and international competition, highlighted by the World Championships.
All interested individuals are asked to submit designs for the following garments:
• Orienteering Top (short sleeved) – mandatory entry
• Orienteering Pants (3/4 length, traditionally a single color) – optional entry
• Warm up Top (long sleeved) – optional entry
Designs should be submitted in a PDF format. If your design is selected you may be contacted to do additional work on your design.
Mandatories:
• Must convey a strong “USA” vibe.
• Logos:
o Primary – Team USA
o Secondary – Orienteering USA, uniform manufacturer, sponsors
o Secondary logo sizes are restricted to 5” wide x 2.5” high (USA can be bigger)
o OUSA and Team USA logos can be found here: Team Logos
How the Winning design will be selected
• A committee comprised of OUSA athletes from all team disciplines (Foot, Trail, Mountain Bike and Ski) plus key volunteers will determine the final design. Their decision will be final.
Prizes
• The winning designer will win a $250 cash prize and a uniform kit in their size.
Format:
• PDF. If your design is selected you may be asked to provide additional artwork.
Due Date:
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern time, Friday, January 31st, 2014.
Email entries to
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Questions
• charliebleau [at] me [dot] com
Note
• The winning design immediately and permanently become the property of Orienteering USA. The designer holds no rights to the design moving forward.
• OUSA reserves the rights to modify the winning design in order to meet committee or manufacturer requirements.
Jan 16, 2014 9:25 PM
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I'm a fan of how the rules have been updated! (rights to winning design, not all designs)
Jan 24, 2014 4:55 AM
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I don't think I'm going to design anything anymore.
Today, the pinnacle of Team USA design was reached, and I just can't compete with that. I just can't. It's too good. Too good.
Today, the pinnacle of Team USA design was reached, and I just can't compete with that. I just can't. It's too good. Too good.
Jan 24, 2014 5:11 AM
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Yeah, how can you compete? You couldn't come up with something like that no matter how hard you tried.
Jan 24, 2014 10:09 AM
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And yet, that does not measure up to Norway's curling team: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/...
Jan 24, 2014 1:37 PM
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Ugh. If I fed my cat shredded american flags he could barf a more attractive design.
Jan 24, 2014 2:00 PM
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and if you do that experiment fast enough you could enter it into the US O team design competition. ;-)
Jan 26, 2014 8:09 PM
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Did anyone notice the slideshow at the bottom, and how only the women's hockey and bobsled teams appear to have a USA themed uniform? Seriously. Only those two teams.
Jan 26, 2014 8:53 PM
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Things are heating up! We now have a grand total of 3 (three!) entries! One from the USA, one from Canada and one from the UK!
Jan 27, 2014 11:54 PM
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Wow- I didn't think that entries would come from other countries!
Jan 28, 2014 2:48 AM
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I had heard that Ralph Lauren went to ridiculous effort to ensure every component of every clothing item was American made this time around. I can't find any list or proof of that, but they do have some pretty cool videos of various suppliers, such as the farm that produced the wool.
Just personally, I really like the sweater, but I think it looks stupid with the "reindeer hat" (which is sort of an Andean Chullo). It will be neat to see the sweater "in the wild" with accessories chosen by the competitors rather than just the standard look. I also like the two-color peacoat. All of it is *so* expensive. But watching that video makes me think of the movie "Gandhi", where the decision to wear traditional Indian-made clothes in lieu of suits and dresses of English mill fabrics was an economic decision to improve the economy of India. If you want American-made, you've got to pay for it.
Just personally, I really like the sweater, but I think it looks stupid with the "reindeer hat" (which is sort of an Andean Chullo). It will be neat to see the sweater "in the wild" with accessories chosen by the competitors rather than just the standard look. I also like the two-color peacoat. All of it is *so* expensive. But watching that video makes me think of the movie "Gandhi", where the decision to wear traditional Indian-made clothes in lieu of suits and dresses of English mill fabrics was an economic decision to improve the economy of India. If you want American-made, you've got to pay for it.
Jan 28, 2014 3:11 AM
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Did anyone notice the slideshow at the bottom, and how only the women's hockey and bobsled teams appear to have a USA themed uniform? Seriously. Only those two teams.
Those must be pre-Olympic trial photo shoots, where the athletes probably couldn't wear (or didn't have access to) what they'll be wearing in Sochi. The sweaters worn by the women's hockey players in the slideshow aren't from the Olympics, as the IOC banned federation corporate logos in 2010.
Those must be pre-Olympic trial photo shoots, where the athletes probably couldn't wear (or didn't have access to) what they'll be wearing in Sochi. The sweaters worn by the women's hockey players in the slideshow aren't from the Olympics, as the IOC banned federation corporate logos in 2010.
Jan 29, 2014 12:32 AM
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I hope that those with good designs for a uniform will put them forward. We want our teams to look good as they compete.
Jan 29, 2014 2:54 AM
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I've got the hand-painted singlet ready, as suggested by Harry Reid. But around here there is some murmuring about the bottomless look. So we're gonna have pants after all, just having a little difficulty sourcing a genuine American made drop-crotch number.
Jan 29, 2014 4:07 AM
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so the designs by the juniors are not in? There were some that were really good, really really good, I thought...
Jan 30, 2014 1:33 AM
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The need to submit them to the design competition. Some were good and should be part of the process!
Jan 30, 2014 1:39 AM
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I don't know what graphic programs the juniors used, but I wouldn't be surprised if the PDF requirement is what's preventing their entries.
Feb 1, 2014 5:18 AM
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We're teenagers. Why would we ever do something before the last minute?
Feb 2, 2014 1:48 AM
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Sorry, but no. The designs were submitted in confidence and with the knowledge that only the winning design would be owned by OUSA. There are many great designs and some designers would be concerned that their designs could and would be copied.
This discussion thread is closed.