Well, allow me to be the first to say I won’t be competing next year. What started as an exciting opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking brand has, for me, ended with some disappointment. Based on the information shared by Nothing staff during the contest, and what I’ve seen in the final results, I’ve developed concerns about transparency, a perceived preference for industry professionals, and inconsistencies in how the stated rules were applied.
In my view, this no longer feels like an open and level playing field for everyday creatives. It comes across (at least from my perspective) as more of a brand-driven campaign, where the selected winners reflect pre-existing design credentials or align neatly with marketing needs.
I found it particularly disheartening to see many rule-following entries overlooked, while a winning design appears to have diverged from a design constraint that was clearly communicated beforehand. This sentiment extends to other categories as well, where I saw outstanding submissions that seemed thoughtfully crafted around the brief — yet weren’t recognised. The concern this raises, for me, is that following the rules and investing deeply in the process might not be enough when the criteria doesn’t appear to be applied consistently.
I want to make it clear that this isn’t about personal disappointment; I speak up because I’ve seen how much time, passion, and creativity others put into their entries. I believe they deserve clarity and fairness.
I still support the idea of community-led innovation, and I hope Nothing continues to embrace that vision. But when rules feel negotiable, and the judging process appears unclear, it raises difficult questions. Not to mention the over shadowing fear of: if someone’s willing to go back on their word - what integrity do they have? What’s stopping them from doing so again or do worse? - On that same token what’s stopping Nothing from going back on theirs again?
That said, I can only go by what’s been shared publicly. I’m not claiming to know the full story — only sharing my perspective as a participant. I encourage others to reflect on their own experience and make the choices that feel right to them.
Well done winners, your submissions were nicely crafted and thought provoking. My issues lie within the rules and confines of fair competition practices.
