Designers and K-pop fans are furious about BtoB vocalist's logo competition

Logo design competitions can often be controversial. The whole concept is often criticised as a ploy used to avoid paying a designer the going rate, even if a cash prize is offered. And when the guidelines aren't clear, it often feels like a rushed, disoriented endeavour undertaken by a brand that has no idea of its own identity.

Even those who participate in a logo design contest can end up feeling aggrieved, especially if there's no winner. That's the debacle that K-pop heartthrob Changsub has suddenly found himself involved in. He launched a competition to design a logo for a music school of which he is president, and none of the entries was deemed good enough (see our guide to how to design a logo for some pro tips).

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Joe Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

Read more
 Eurovision 2025 logo
The new Eurovision logo has triggered a deep design debate
Jaguar logo
The year in logos: 2024 was both pivotal and controversial
Capital One logo design
Capital One’s controversial new logo faces out of this world design comparisons
2024 logos
The best (and worst) logos of 2024
five different logos on a pink to yellow gradient background
The best logos of the 2020s (so far)
Jaguar logo
Leaked letter suggests Jaguar's designers weren't happy with rebrand
Latest in Logos & Icons
Microsoft To Do
People have some Very Strong Opinions on the Microsoft To Do icons
Clippers logos old vs new
New LA Clippers logo is an instant classic
WLCO logo design
This hip neighbourhood's logo is totally loopy, but I love it
The superman logo as based on a potential design from Superman: Legacy
Possible new Superman logo divides fans
Lyle's Golden Syrup and Lyles Black Treacle tins showing the lion logo
Lyle's apologises for its Golden Syrup logo redesign as even the church expresses dismay
Steve Jobs and the Google logo
Apparently Steve Jobs hated the Google logo on his iPhone
Latest in News
Sonic Adventure Redux
I'm not saying this Sonic Adventure Unreal Engine 5 remake is the best thing I've ever seen, but I'm not not saying it either
Screenshot from InZOI video game
Nvidia's AI characters are about to transform how we see video games
An image from Half-life 2 RTX demo
Nvidia to show off powerful video game remix capabilities in Half-life 2 RTX demo
iOS 19 concept
Apple's dramatic iPhone homescreen redesign is long overdue
iPhone 13 Pro
Apple tells iPhone users to urgently update iOS – your phone is vulnerable to attack
Trump stood in front of a red Tesla next to Elon Musk
Trump and Elon’s White House ad proves Tesla is getting desperate