Spec Work

[pixelita]

Since I've seen so many posts lately complaining of web masters who've run off after asking for demos and comps, I've decided to post some helpful links about the practice of spec (speculative) work and why it is frowned upon in the design community. Enjoy.

AIGA Position Statement on Spec Work (with downloadable form you can post on your own web site):
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/position-spec-work

The No-Spec Initiative:
http://www.no-spec.com/

Jeffrey Zeldman on Spec Work:
http://www.zeldman.com/daily/0104h.shtml

Why Most Design Firms Won't Do Spec Work:
http://www.articlealley.com/article_27358_3.html

The Dangers of Spec Work:
http://vwcc.blogspot.com/2006/03/dangers-of-spec-work.html

The "Free Pitch" Practice:
http://homepage.mac.com/cpaul/iblog/C583638847/E1192500731/

Why Clients Ask You To Work On Spec:
http://thinkcreation.net/blog/?p=178

Spec Work Arithmetic:
http://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/001804.html

Doing Work on Spec?
http://www.core77.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002939.html

Spec Work Versus Pro Bono:
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/freelance/qt/spec_probono.htm

Spec Work: Good or Bad?
http://www.devlounge.net/articles/spec-work-good-or-bad

The Dark Side of Designing on Spec:
http://meryl.net/2006/10/02/the-dark-side-of-designing-on-spec/

And finally, if you feel you must engage in it:

Protect Your Spec Work on the Web:
http://www.concepthue.com/blog/2006/12/04/protect-your-spec-work-on-the-web/

[IRN101]

How many of these posts/topics must we suffer through? :cool:

Why spend all the time trying to change the designers? Seems like working would be a much better use of time than preaching about how "evil" spec work is. Better than that, teach peple how not to be so desperate.

Like these webmasters that steal a design or something are actually going to do anything with it. They are so pathetic and have such pitiful business practices that they never stay around. The website goes away and so do they.

To me all this nonsense over "no spec work" is like running around screaming "don't be stupid and put your hand in the fire!".

This is an incredibly simple concept that any designer needs to learn. But it isn't the one you are pitching. It isn't about spec work. it is about client selection and taking pride in your work and not working for just anyone.

The real question is, how do you get involved with someone like that in the first place? Are you just taking any job?

I stand by my decision to do spec work for certain clients before they've hired me. And I have never been burned.

[pixelita]

1. How many posts like this must you suffer through? I don't know. I think that's up to YOU. There IS your browser's "Back" button and that big "X" after all. Don't like it? Don't read it. :cool:

2. I didn't post this for me. If you read it at all, you'd have caught that hidden first sentence:

Since I've seen so many posts lately complaining of web masters who've run off after asking for demos and comps, I've decided to post some helpful links about the practice of spec (speculative) work and why it is frowned upon in the design community.

Providing a set of links is hardly preaching.

[IRN101]

Yeah but there have been multiple topics about this... One is sufficient.

OK, I believe you, you aren't on a mission. 90% of your posts aren't about the evils of spec work.