Let me start this by saying that I am a t-shirt designer. I have previous made a nice living working full time as a designer of t-shirts. I am currently making a few extra bucks throwing designs up on CafePress.com – I’m as much of a “professional t-shirt designer” as you’re ever going to meet.

Having said that – I have to say, I find NBC’s latest “contest” to be pretty damn offensive.

The Peacock network wants you to design their next wave of t-shirts based on the hit series “The Office”. Being a fan of the show, my ears perked up at that. I’d LOVE to design t-shirts for “The Office”.

Then I found out what the “prize” is for “winning” this “contest” (notice all the sarcastic “s?). The “winner” gets the following:

Your design will be sold exclusively through The NBC Store!
10 free T-shirts (when produced)
Choice of any three t-shirts from NBCstore.com
Dunderize Your Cube
DM Shot Glass (four pack)
Lunch Bag
Exclusive Dwight Bobblehead Golf Balls (3)
Star Mug Set

Yes – that’s right folks, the BIG prize is a Dunder-Mifflin grab back of crap and the privilege of someone else profiting from your creative work.

Woo-Hoo! Where do I start?

Oh wait – that’s a complete rip-off. See, a good t-shirt design is worth thousands of dollars. It’s worth either a large up-front payment, or a continuing royalty. Offering a prize pack that’s this cheap is just plain insulting.

Now, I’m sure there will be some of you that think I’m over reacting. That’s fine – by all means – spend your time designing “Office” shirts – me? I’ll be over her not being taken advantage of by NBC.