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November 11, 2005

Dinnerware for the Hardcore Brooklynite

plate
Fishs Eddy, the china and glassware company, has introduced a 12-inch-square serving platter --the result of a competition the company sponsored last Spring at Pratt Institute. The winning design, by Jordan Awan, a 21-year-old junior, has a Brooklyn landscape, including its best known bridge. The platter, the first piece in a line of heavy restaurant-style china that will be made with Mr. Awan's design, is $28. Information: (877) 347-4733.
House and Garden Currents [NY Times]

Comments

The plates are very nice, but Fishs Eddy are crooks. They use student contests to take advantage of hopeful artists . How much did the artist get paid for his work on this? What was the contract? How many applications will the design be used on? Will Jordan Awan get royalties for this? I hope so, becaus I have heard of many bad Fishs Eddy Business transactions and practices where the take advantage of young artists and students.

Posted by: bob at November 11, 2005 5:45 PM

I love the plate and plan on getting some as gifts.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 11, 2005 10:35 PM

I've heard similiar and worse things about Fish's Eddy. Jordan had better have a contract. Student Contests are a joke, it usually means companies preying on unsuspecting young artists.

Posted by: gar at November 13, 2005 10:50 PM

He made $1000. I hope he had a contract but I doubt it.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 9:17 AM

yeah, figured as much.
$1000 is a small price to pay for a design.
they'll run the design for ten years and end up making hundreds of thousands of dollars on the design...
schools should really step in when these 'student contests' come in a negotiate on behalf of the students.
art schools never teach the business end of the deal and it ends up being a big disservice to the students who have to learn the hard way.

Posted by: gar at November 14, 2005 10:56 AM

Boycot Fishes Eddy. There's just no excuse.

Posted by: Paul Kim at November 14, 2005 11:08 AM

If they used my design and then got it into the Times, etc, I would be happy with no money at all.

What's next? Are you anti-internships too?

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 11:11 AM

umm...yeah, anonymous, please analy rape me at your leisure fish's eddy, too, while you're at it.
the fact is that it's hard getting your name known in new york, especially as an illustrator. but just because you love what you do as an artist, and you get a little piece in the times doesn't mean that you should let people take advantage of you. make no mistake, the piece in the times is promoting the sale of those dishes, not you.
there is a huge difference between an internship where you are getting coffee for people and making photocopies and selling a design on which a company will make a substantial profit. the company assumes some risk in production, but in the end, the plates are selling because of that design.

Posted by: gar at November 14, 2005 11:23 AM

Does anyone have a copy of the entry form for the design contest? With the way some contests are run, you might give up rights to the artwork once you've entered the contest. Same way those 'funniest video shows' work.

Posted by: Read the fine print at November 14, 2005 11:40 AM

Hey, "Read the fine print" (if that is your real name) not all contracts are fair. That's why we've got labor laws, minimum wage, and h*ll for sinners. You ever see "Erin Brokovich"?

Posted by: Just Us at November 14, 2005 11:59 AM

Contract schmontract. It goes without saying Fishs Eddy has Awan 'laid over a barrel'. It's petty to debate that. The Issue at hand is the ethical (or lack there of) pactices of large companies while educating the artist and the creative institutions involved in these competitions or any similar transaction. The intention is to promote awareness for everyone on both sides of the fence. Paying an artist 1k for a design only to turn around and make a million just aint right any way you cut it. It sucks for students like Awan, it's heartbreaking to hear as a fellow artist and it's bad PR to say the least for companies like Fishs Eddy.

To the "Read the fine print" post: This has more to do with Cesar Chavez and labor rights than being caught on tape being accidentally hit by a Wiffle Ball™ bat in the groin. Please. Even Bob Sagget and AFV Inc would be insulted.

Posted by: Paul Kim at November 14, 2005 12:32 PM

Just Us & Paul, not debating whether or not the deal was fair or not. Everyone has their own idea of what they think is fair. Contests are voluntary. You either think the agreement is fair, sign it and enter or you think its unfair and walk away. Am I wrong by looking at this too simplisticly? Personally, I would not enter into such an agreement if Fishs Eddy business practices are as bad as claimed.

Posted by: Read the fine print at November 14, 2005 1:15 PM

I wrote articles for a magazine for no money. That was my internship. Not exactly getting coffee. That internship got me clips, those clips got me my first job.

Sure, they sold those magazines for a profit. I was happy to see them sell as many as possible

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 1:23 PM

I don't get the fuss. If the company actually hired this student to do the work, he would have probably been paid the same -- or less -- and not gotten to share in profit.

Do you all work in companies with profit sharing programs? Sheesh. Work for hire. This is how the world works.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 2:18 PM

Just because certain companies make that common practice doesn't mean it's right. Who do you think makes the world work that way? We're just supposed to accept it because that's "how the world works"? You're making the world work that way by thinking it's acceptable.

Yes, I worked in a company with a profit sharing program. And when I do work for hire, I try to make sure I'm compensated in a fair way. That's how I see the world working. It's not always ideal, and I've been reamed a few times but it doesn't mean I have to resign myself into thinking that is how the world works.

There are still companies that are fair out there. Hope they don't realize they don't have to be because some people think that the world is unfair and artists should just suck it.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 3:32 PM

Fair or Fowl? Who cares. The "Anonymous" posts are biost and tedious. Clearly there is something to hide behind in represending the interests of Fishs Eddy and not the rights of the designer and the ideals of promoting fair business practices. Karma. Have you heard of it? If not, you'll experience it biting you in the ass if you continue to pose as a designer/illustrator/wannabe-writer and not the Fishs crony that you are. Show your face.

No one cares if the copy writer for Fishs Eddy once had an opportunity to write articles during an unpaid intership instead of making coffee. Again, who cares. I won a spelling bee once and I'm not going to bore you all with it to make an irrelavant point more irrelavant. We're neither talking internships nor work for hire. This is regarding work and its appropriate licensing and royalty concerns. As much as the sky is blue, these are real issues real artist need to be dealing with everyday. And for the record, I have difficulty likening writing articles during an unpaid internship to developing a design (as the actual end product) for a company whom intends to make upwards of a million dollars from it.

We feel your injustice Awan.
Liberté , Egalité, Fraternité

Posted by: Paul Kim at November 14, 2005 4:20 PM

My comments were not addressed to the previous 'Anonymous' post but the 'Anonymous' post before that. And to the previous post: Brovo! You speak for the everyday individual trying to make right and having faith that others still wanna do right while understanding the world is not perfect. Thank you.

Posted by: Paul Kim at November 14, 2005 4:36 PM

where do you get this million dollar figure?

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 4:54 PM

Fishs Eddy has made over 450,000 dollars a year ( profit) from the 212 patterns according to The Times story a few years back I remember seeing in the metro section.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 5:03 PM

the fact is with most design comissions IS work for hire, but there is a contract that usualy specifies length of time the design can be used, the applications that the design can be used on, and a accordingly charges a fair market value for the design.

$1000 is chump change. I haven't seen the contract, but i bet it is for a complete design buyout and specifies that they can use that brooklyn drawing wherever they feel like it.

Wouldn't be surprised if we see it soon on teacups, holiday mailers, glassware, window displays, postcards, etc...

to the writer..stop being so damn grateful about being published...who's doing whom the favor, really?

it's understandable that some companies are startups and can't afford to pay market value for the work, but don't kid yourself about fish's eddy. They're no startup.

I hate it when companies who know better play lil' po' boy.

Posted by: gar at November 14, 2005 6:12 PM

I wish my design was picked

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2005 6:44 PM

It's simple. Read the contract. You either agree or don't agree.
Nothing worse than people who agree to a bad deal and then whine about it.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 15, 2005 2:11 PM

Excuse me Mister Anonymous, but if you are indeed intending to contribute to the anger and angst blog, you're in the wrong place.

Posted by: lovebug at November 15, 2005 3:33 PM

> Nothing worse than people who agree
> to a bad deal and then whine about it.

Maybe. But I bet we could think of *something* worse than somebody asking for a raise. Do you consider employees who form unions whiners?

Anyway, not sure why you bring it up cuz it sounds like most people on this board are just voicing concerns on behalf of some younger designers that haven't been around the block a couple times.

When the design IS the product the designer deserves some royalties. It wouldn't hurt fishes eddy to give the dude 5%.

Posted by: Just Us at November 15, 2005 7:38 PM

disagree. the job paid a grand. take it or leave it

Posted by: Anonymous at November 15, 2005 11:30 PM

You're missing the whole point because your nose is SO FAR up Fishs Eddy's ass. Wow. What are you trying to prove anyway? Your high blood pressure? Since when was being ignorant, tedious and stubborn the new 'Triple Threat.' Sheesh!
Get. A. Life.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 16, 2005 9:38 AM

Wow guys lets chill out here. Jordan is my best friend and is doing quite well for himself. He knows what he's dealing with and is conscious of the prospective problems. you all have too much time on your hands.

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