No-Spec!
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- 31 Responses
- jfletcher0
in short, ignoring insults, I do support this.
- chz0
If you don't think doing spec work cheapens yourself as a professional designer or our industry so be it... It's pretty clear to me.
There was no insulting on my part v.4, if anything dirtydesign threw the insults with his post...
"The hump who posted this...
chriszawada.comdirtydesign
(Aug 24 06, 21:17)"If telling it like it is is insulting... then I'm guilty as charged.
- jfletcher0
Free design competitions are terrible.
I just got done with a conversation with a new visual designer on my team explaining visual design isn't subjective. As soon as you allow it to be run by opinion and be subjective, you devalue your job. Visuals design, and design as a whole is an objective discipline run on goals.
The problem is because all object have some level of design, there is often a lot of bad design, or people who think they can design. It’s a large education issue, but is slowly getting better. Although the dotcom bubble did nothing to help us.
- version30
hear hear v4. a man of many wise words
lvl_13
(Aug 25 06, 13:57)hmmm i dunno about that.
horton
(Aug 25 06, 14:11)how about a few wise words? can I at least get that ;)
- skelly0
getting paid = fun
working for free = not fun
- horton0
hear hear v4. a man of many wise words
lvl_13
(Aug 25 06, 13:57)hmmm i dunno about that.
- horton0
re contests (which is just like spec x1000 imho):
http://www.andyrutledge.com/rede…
Yes, it’s very definitely a joke on all involved. The problem is that the joke is also on the design profession as a whole. Every time one of these competitions is held, it tears a little more at the fabric of our profession. Every designer who participates in one of these competitions steals a bit more credibility from the true professionals in this industry.
The term “design whore” is not even applicable to the image that is thus created. Whores are professional and whores get paid. What do you call someone who doesn’t even have the self respect to expect or demand payment?
A designer? Say it ain't so.via here:
http://www.designers-who-blog.co…nice to at least see lots of discussion against this stuff.
- lvl_130
hear hear v4. a man of many wise words
- version30
Will I do spec work again?... no. If you don't support the idea that's cool... go about doing more spec work and cheapen yourself even more.
I should have known a legitimate cause would get shit on here.
chz
(Aug 25 06, 06:24)so you being a bitch and insulting about it is going to help?
why attempt to demean another because of a disagreement?
I find these actions more detrimental than any spec-work done by any designer or agency.
funny how we try to advocate comradery when in reality we are all competing for very similar work
your above statement probably has more to do with why work does not come your way than the ill effects of producing spec work
- ETM0
Seems like a very mixed idea of what Spec work is. To me, it's along the lines of when a client (prospect) wants you to create something for them, and that will be the criteria on whether they hire you or not. If they don't you're SOL for your time. Instead you should be hired based on your portfolio and reputation.
I don't feel most contests are an issue. I recall a huge issue in Vancouver recently because they held a contest for the 2010 Olympic logo. I don't feel that is really spec work. At least artists outside the largest agencies have a chance to showcase their work in events like this, rather than just a couple of the big firms doing it.
- lvl_130
i'm still going to stick by what i said originally. although you guys make valid points, i feel my points are just as valid.
i'm def. not giving you shit for standing up for what you believe in. like i said before, just my 2 cents.
- BANTER0
Well said Tim!
Only we can change the way things are, I'm suprised that more designers don't feel the same way.
- horton0
sorry but i had to stir the pot and bump this for another day... didn't have a chance to get reply last night.
why does everyone think designing youth culture stuff (like snowboards) is this ultimate creative luxury, and worth doing for free? never understood this.
the snowboard industry is HUGE.. like mega million$ every year. so why the hell should companies not be paying LARGE for the #1 selling feature of every board on the shelf; the topsheet artwork. they pay their teams huge salaries, simply because these guys are confident, know their worth and demand it.
and don't kid yourself, these companies know exactly what they're up to.. which is basically getting custom artwork and reprint rights for free, something that they were paying a lot of money for just a couple years ago. wtf is that?
design contests are a horrible nasty trend.. making our profession cheap.
- dirtydesign0
I do spec work to break away from the monotony of my day to day, client requested bullshit. Spec work allows me to actually be creative and do something that I like.
- chz0
dirtydesign, do you enjoy spec work?
Yes the Monson designs were done on spec many years ago, and yes I have done spec work in the past... I'm sure we all have at one point or another. The Monson designs were my turning point as I was promised more than I got, it wasn't worth the time I invested.
Will I do spec work again?... no. If you don't support the idea that's cool... go about doing more spec work and cheapen yourself even more.
I should have known a legitimate cause would get shit on here.
- kelpie0
surely this would be more to do with agencies pitching for proper work than a guy holding a competition to design some snowboards, no?
- blastofv0
well those last few posts are pretty defeatist
you guys really think it's fine the way it is now? good for the industry?
shouldn't the personal art and the professional design projects be separate efforts?
- northern0
There are always going to be clients that ask for spec work and designers/agencies that will produce it. It's just a matter of deciding if the investment is worth the prize.
- republik80
You will never "stamp" it out, and besides the creative freedom that often comes with such projects is welcomed.
- lvl_130
no offense, and i don't really condone spec work per say, but to be perfectly honest, "spec work" such as the monson snowboard contest, is really just an outlet for many designers to have all-out creative freedom to create something that they love...doing something that they love to do...on their own time. no gun to the head saying you have to do this. no client saying make the type bigger. no boundaries.
if people want to participate in this so called "spec work" then let them. what does it matter to you? YOU are really only as undervalued as YOU think you are. everyone else is just having fun, regardless if they get paid for it or not.
my 2 cents