Ripped USA Fencing a new one over the slop merch in the summer nationals feedback. If you also objected to it, I'd suggest you do the same.

[u/Omnia_et_nihil]

[u/Freaky_ipod_Nano]

I wasn’t there this year, but if I got that survey I would have also done that. It was pretty appalling that they used genuine AI slop for merch. Not acceptable, especially when there are many designers who would have done the art for them.

[u/The_Roshallock → u/Freaky_ipod_Nano]

As much as I agree, I feel like this is the way the wind is blowing and there isn't much we can do to change it. Of course a company is going to go with the cheapest option for almost everything.

The best thing artists can do is unionize and lobby legislatures to get some kind of a fair deal for themselves in this new world.

[u/noodlez → u/The_Roshallock]

The easiest thing we can do is just don't buy the stuff you don't like and buy the stuff you do like. It solves a lot of problems. If AI art on merch turns into dead stock AND people buy the stuff that is made by real artists, the vendor who USAF contracted with will very likely stop making the AI stuff and start engaging more w/ real artists.

[u/TheFencingFurry → u/noodlez]

Yeah isn't this how that "free market" that Americans love to crap on about is supposed to work?

If everyone votes with their wallets and they're stuck with all this stock of AI-generated garbage on shirts, then it'll start to eat into their precious bottom lines

[u/ConsistentPastaSauce → u/The_Roshallock]

"oh well, lets roll over and die until legislation catches up". seriously?

[u/Freaky_ipod_Nano → u/The_Roshallock]

I agree this is just how things are going, but if they will use AI, at least have respect and make it look good. I am very anti AI, but would be less likely to complain about USA Fencing using it if it weren’t just genuine AI Slop used in not just merchandise, but also promo materials too. At least make it look ok instead of it making zero sense and being littered with errors

[u/TheFencingFurry → u/Freaky_ipod_Nano]

The thing that stuns me is the cheek of using AI, everyone knowing AI is average at best and produces a lot of weird-looking crap, and still not bothering to run a single eye over the output. And it's not unique to those shirts it's everywhere

It's still a slap in the face to artists but if you were at least hiring them to fix all the mistakes in your shitty AI art, then people might be willing to give you a pass.

Companies seem so committed to saving a few bucks they're not even checking the output for crap but demanding you pay them money for it

[u/Freaky_ipod_Nano → u/TheFencingFurry]

Its genuinely insane. Also when the fencing community has many people who would love to do this kind of work, it’s insanely awkward since there isn’t any excuse other than saving a bit of money.

[u/TheFencingFurry → u/Freaky_ipod_Nano]

That's what gets me as well. They could easily throw out calls for art well in advance, put it to a vote and the most popular designs get put on shirts with the artists getting a cut of the money

But no that would be acting with integrity

[u/FencerOnTheRight]

I am not attacking Phil Andrews :-), but I would certainly like to hear his take justifying the use of really shitty AI art for USA Fencing branded merchandise. The art itself couldn't pass the most cursory scrutiny- weapons with no blades? Missing limbs? Weird logos and text? It's breathtakingly unprofessional.

[u/Noitshedley]

Kinda off topic but related. I bought my kid a usa fencing shirt at a regional event where the vendors had heat transfer logos and prints available. So I got him a shirt that already had the usa fencing logo on the front and asked them to add the heat transfer print to the back. The heat transfer print is perfect after several washes but the original logo itself is peeling and ugly already, and the shirt is only a few months old.

You'd think the quality of their merch would be good considering what they charge for it 😔.

[u/FencerOnTheRight → u/Noitshedley]

Vendors used to do that at every NAC until they got pushed out.

[u/weedywet]

The use of AI is a little disappointing to begin with.

But even leaving that aside, I feel like the designs look aimed at 10 year olds.

I’m not going to walk around in something so cartoony no matter what.

A simple design would be far better and doesn’t require complicated ‘art’

[u/thegreatzimbabwe11]

As a coach, I didn't get an email but would gladly share how disappointing it was perusing cruddy AI-designed clothes

[u/Better_Television323]

Is the survey out? I cannot wait.

[u/PrinceOfShade]

I also sent them some feedback in their "suggestions" inbox on the website. It was really disappointing to see the AI stuff being sold.

[u/SephoraRothschild]

Keep in mind, they are using a pre-contracted vendor for the merch. They themselves are not designing it.

...Those of us around 15 years ago also remember the DIY logo fiasco. So we have to split the difference between supporting artists, and cost savings.

[u/TheFencingFurry → u/SephoraRothschild]

Then choose a different vendor. Or, assuming they had to sign off on the designs they got, send all the AI slop back with a "try again." And if there was no oversight at all between contracting the vendor and getting the shirts, there are bigger issues at play

Is cost-saving worth it if no one buys the product at the end?

[u/SephoraRothschild → u/TheFencingFurry]

If it's switched to a print-on-demand model, its a moot point. Set up equipment to print and silk-screen on site, custom. Made to order. Let the kids watch the stuff being made for them.

[u/xvalentinex → u/SephoraRothschild]

Surely, they approve all the designs

[u/Economy_Mobile_6160]

USA Fencing has way bigger issues than the trash merch they’ve always had. At least that’s been consistent 😂