It’s called spec work, or maybe it’s a company deciding to have a “design contest”. But no matter what you call it–it’s bad for business. No matter the promises, Spec work is working for free. Clients want to try you out to see if you’re a good fit, but they don’t want to pay for the privilege or for your time.
Some studios don’t even mind going into a Spec situation, the argument is that you can land some pretty big fish working this way. In this day and age, when we’re appalled that some factory owner in a third-world country will pay his workers fifty cents a day, it amazes me that companies in Canada can ask for free work from freelancers and studios without batting an eye. Really?
If you’re a designer, you’ve got to say no to Spec, it hurts your industry. If you’re a client, are you willing to work for free, because my driveway is all snowy and I’d like to see how creative you can be?
