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[+] Open the Meta Bar Tag: don't work for free. There are 7 posts tagged don't work for free. Open the Meta Bar to choose a different tag.

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pick.im - a startup in the open

Tools for Freelancers

11/11/09

My friend Andrew Hyde is pursuing a new venture in addition to all the other awesome things he does. It’s called: pick.im. He’s putting together some tools for the freelance market. If you’re a freelancer or small services business, you’ll want to keep an eye out on what he’s doing.

Openness
One fun aspect of his project: he’s decided to be very open about it. He’s started a blog where you can follow along. It’s should be fun to watch.

Also on twitter as: @yeahpick

Logo
Oh, and I might have had a little something to do with the logo… hehe.

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I agree. There are definitely some projects in that grey, “is it spec work?” area where it really comes down to a personal gut check: why am I doing this project?

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I feel that what makes spec work OK for me sometimes isn’t so much about the specific terms and pay and design requirements involved. It’s about why you are doing it. Is it for a friend? Is it for charity? Is it an exciting, fun project? Do you get enjoyment out of working on it? Do you need to find a creative release?

Jake Nickell, Some spec work thoughts

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10/14/09

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Andy nails it (yet again). If you’re used to using RFPs in other areas of your business, he puts forth some good reasons to not do so when contracting for professional work.

BONUS: “Treat any professional as a commodity and you will have effectively destroyed any chance for success.”

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Gentlemen do not associate with the kind of woman who delights in compelling men to fight each other to win her attentions. Everyone knows that her choice is not based on actual suitability and mutual respect, but rather on sheer competitive success in the arena shaped by her wanton ego. Such women are relegated to randy brutes, not gentlemen suitors. Respectable members of the community have slight regard and particular names for this sort of woman.

Andy Rutledge, The Trouble With RFPs

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09/09/09

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Excellent article by Jeffrey on the nuances in the pro/against spec-work arguments. I have to say that I’m with him. While we don’t do spec work as a policy, and I would never participate in sites like crowdSPRING, I can’t call it “evil” in a black & white sense.

What bothers me is when clients or designers thinks it’s either a) the only way to get into the biz or get value for your dollar or b) think that it’s the best way. Frankly, the answer is grey. It depends.

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What I’m hoping you will take away from this is an understanding that it’s normal to be confused, and it’s OK to not be sure of where you stand. The only thing that’s not OK to do is take a side without (1) fully understanding your position, in your own words, and (2) fully understanding the other side’s position and motivation.

Jeffrey Kalmikoff, It’s OK to be grey

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02/27/09

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DesignWeds:
Build A Better Portfolio

For those just getting started.

12/17/08

Maybe you’re just out of school (or even better, still in school). Or maybe you’ve been pursuing a design career for a while, but are trying to break into other areas. From my own experience, here are some ways to begin build out your portfolio and gain some valuable experience.

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The value of Canadian design

A well written, pointed rant on that four letter word: “spec”

12/16/08

I found this in the comments on undrln regarding my own recent article regarding why we don’t do spec work.

It’s a bit more ranty (read: more fun) than mine, and made me laugh:

“Or for even more fun, go to the doctor, and ask him to remove that hairy mole from your left elbow. Then explain that he should be grateful for the opportunity, as anyone with an exacto and some band-aids could have done it. If you want him to be really keen, tell him that he can put his name on the band-aid–it will be really great “exposure.””

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Why We Don’t Do Free Spec Work

…and why I don’t think it’s a good strategy for most creative businesses.

12/14/08

So, I got in an argument today. A fun argument, but an argument nonetheless. The argument was about spec work.

If you don’t get chosen? You get nothing.

For those that don’t know, “spec” work is work done, for free, under the premise that if the client likes your work, they’ll choose you for the account and you’ll get paid. If you don’t get chosen? You get nothing.

As much as possible, I don’t want this post to devolve into a general argument for or against spec work—there is plenty of that on the net. These are my arguments. You may disagree with them, but I want to address why we don’t do it. At all.

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