Comments on: A conversation about spec work

By: Kaitie Bakker

Kaitie Bakker — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:40:59 +0000

This is kind of funny. I just read this article last weekend, and then I met with a client this past Tuesday about a potential job designing a catalogue. He asked me to do up a sample page, as sending him my portfolio pieces was apparently not good enough—I guess he was hoping my portfolio would include a catalogue with the exact same style and aesthetic he’s looking for. Silly me, I must have forgotten to include that piece… So basically I’d have to have an idea of what the whole catalogue would look like in order to show him one page, by next week too. Though he said he’d pay me for that work, and I could really use the money, I don’t think I need to plead my case in this way. I bet i would have done it with less hesitation had I not read this article beforehand.

By: Noah Kameyer

Noah Kameyer — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:16:38 +0000

I am always looking on Craigslist for work. So many people want free work, or they don’t want to pay much. I’m not sure how long this ad will be up (http://sacramento.craigslist.org/crg/1200989637.html), but this person wants a logo for $20, and a brochure for $80. I wonder what they charge for their services.

By: David Airey

David Airey — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:31:51 +0000

Hello Deshea,

Sorry to learn of your own contact with spec work. There’s no faster way to learn than through experience.

By: Deshea Witcher

Deshea Witcher — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:28:55 +0000

Man, that’s pretty scary, i had the same thing happen to me a few years ago…I had to create a website based on my favorite athlete. A trip to new york city was on the line, and like a dummy i did it. They emailed me and told me I was in the top 20 and I would move on to the next step. A week later, still no word. 2 weeks, 3 weeks, nothing. Come to find out that they had scammed a lot of artists like that, and they used the designs to build a nice portfolio.

I will never do anything “free” again.

By: David Airey

David Airey — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:54:27 +0000

Matt,

I’d harbour similar thoughts, knowing what I know at this time. Back in my college days I happily took part in such projects, without thinking much about the benefit the client was getting.

Eric,

That’s a good case in point. Your idea could easily be re-worked into something similar, yet different enough so the client believes they don’t have to pay you.

By: Eric Buist

Eric Buist — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:22:28 +0000

I have done some spec work, looking back it might not have been the best call. I put about 6 hours into designing a banner ad for a web-based company. I was very proud of it, but I never heard if they chose anyone, nor did I ever see evidence of them using new banner ads. The style of the site did change though…

I often wonder how many designers have their good ideas taken via spec work and implemented in another way…

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:48:50 +0000

I am prepared to finish my degree in Integrated Mktg Communication in the next four weeks – I’ve had a client project for the last three months that’s required a lot of work in the way of executive summary, creative brief and a substantial amount of creatives (print ad, web banner, social media outlets, etc). Usually, the client can opt to keep our work if he so chooses and we have to release all of our designs to that person at the end of the term but I can’t help but feel like, academic or not, that client should compensate us for creative work. Since spring of 2007, I’ve worked with two companies creating various types of pieces for commercial use. While I don’t think you can ever stop building your portfolio I am aware of what it costs and what it takes to make a great piece.

With that said — I don’t feel comfortable letting any designs out of my hands school or no school. Because we are students I don’t think that makes our time or design efforts less valuable. Those of us who have taken the initiative to constantly improve on our own time and have been fortunate to be employed to use this skillset shouldn’t hand over anything like that willingly. I’ll take the grade and my work back home with me.

By: David Airey

David Airey — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:19:56 +0000

Michael,

Thanks for continuing the discussion through your blog, and you’re very welcome for the platform here.

To the others who commented — Vicki, Kevin, slee, Jim and Rachel — thanks very much for taking the time.

By: Rachel Goldstein

Rachel Goldstein — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:57:19 +0000

If I was an outsider, and not a designer, I could see both sides of the point. Unless you are a student, a recently graduated student, really hard up for a job, or just bored to death, I don’t think you should ever take speculative work. It can be a huge waste of your time and time is money. The reason that I say that it is okay for students or recently graduated students is that they still need to build up their portfolios and this is a great way to do it. Even if a student doesn’t get the job, he can still use the mock-up as a portfolio piece…so it is a win-win situation.

Thanks for posting.
Rachel
AllGraphicDesign.com

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:51:47 +0000

Most professional designers I know will happily not only put together an informative (and usually well designed) quote for any potential client, but will also go as far as to offer a free consultation, and often put together a custom package outside of their portfolio of previous work that is similar to the job at hand to demonstrate their abilities in detail. Most designers I know will present this package in an attractive well designed manor, and usually put plenty of unpaid time into this presentation solely because of their meticulous detail oriented nature. Many of these designers will even brainstorm and conceptualize on the spot with their potential client to give them an idea of their interpretation of the project, and exhibit their creative efforts. It’s been said before that the conceptualization process is extremely underrated, unacknowledged and under-appreciated aspect of the design industry and this type of spec work is a perfect example.

This offer is essentially a logo design contest, and should be acknowledged as that by the client. It only becomes unprofessional when it is advertised as a legitimate business opportunity.