Agency work in folio?
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- doctor0
Good point, gramme.
- gramme0
@ lvl13: I am not, nor have I never been the "bad boy" type. Professionalism and sound ethics are of the utmost importance to me. I don't enjoy burning bridges, and I wish I didn't have to do that in the past. But I did it because there were no legal constraints to prevent me, and because without the work I did while employed at _____ design firm, I would've had almost no portfolio to speak of. And I had a family to look after. I couldn't sit idly by and let my former employer hamstring my ability to get work.
There was actually one project from that job that I was really proud of, but it was bound by NDA. I stood by my word and to this day haven't shown it to anyone, either online or in person (besides my wife).
If they had only asked me not to show two or three projects, I would've gone along with that. But what they were asking was that I refrain from showing 90% of the decent work done in my career. No dice.
- rson0
I have never been asked to remove anything. Always give the agency credit and all the people involved. That is what I try to do.
- jamble0
I've been asked to remove folio stuff I've done for agencies in the past simply because my site ranks well in search engines and sometimes better than the agencies who I've worked for and they didn't want potential clients thinking (despite me being clear about my role on projects) I was the one who "did" the work on my own rather than as a contractor.
If I liked the agency, I'd remove it to keep the relationship and option of future work, if it was one off or I didn't expect to work for them again, it would stay unless there was a legal req. Doesn't happen that often though. Just apply common sense .
- doctor0
I'm thinking that showing finished, publicized work shouldn't raise any eyebrows, when all due credits are given.
- forbes0
I have had threatening emails from CD's to remove work from my folio in the past. they made me sign an NDA in order to start work at their company! i never did get my terms of employment contract either...
like joshtrix says, your work is your worth and you are legally entitled to show work you have done, a solicitor can argue in your case that not being able to show work in your folio is stopping you from getting work. NDA's never stand up in court anyway...
- joshtrix0
Your work is your worth, so any agency that doesn't let you show it are fuckers (unless its NDA related or not gone live yet).
The main problem people have in my experience is past employees pretending they did more than they actually did. Ie. working on a ferrari project cutting out assets and calling themselves an art director.
Also only put screens/designs in you had a major part in doing, I've had designers put things in their portfolio that I designed, just because they 'worked on the project'.
All common sense, but worth noting anyway.
- a_c0
Look up 'Restriction of Trade'. It is ok to display work in your folio.
- hektor9110
I wish I could post some of the work I've done from agencies.
- monNom0
Credit, but don't link to the agency.
You don't want to start showing up in their referrer logs if you're not certain they're okay with the posting.
- clearThoughts0
Credit and link to the agency.
- meffid0
4. $$$Profit
- meffid0
Ask.
Put the work in.
Link the agency.
Link the work.
Credit them and your role in the project.
Credit other freelancers, the photographer, etc if they have a folio, link it.
- bokse0
other side of issue: we hired a guy, he was told beforehand about NDA. got himself fired pretty quick but put the sensible stuff in his public folio anyway, he immediately was asked to remove it asap but didn´t react. had to resort to lawyers to threaten him into submission. really no need for that, but no choice but to enforce b/c the agencies would be on the hook themselves if their client would mind...
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idea: why not just be professional - if a client objects, regardless if agency or direct client, regardless if you agree with the reasoning, just don´t do it. simple.
- bokse0
"I've never understood – why would an agency tell you not to show work you did?"
the simplest scenario would be that they are bound by NDA themselves
- identity0
its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission
- ding ding ding.DrBombay
- I asked permission, but then ignored their response because it wasn't reasonable. :)gramme
- (Nor was it legally tenable).gramme
- what are you on about gramme. you always speak of burning bridges and being the bad boy. you throw caution to the wind?lvl_13
- it's called being responsible, while keeping it respectable. it's the nature of the beast.lvl_13
- You're missing a big part of the story. I never was, nor am I, the "bad boy."gramme
- Before going on my own, I worked for a firm that refused to allow me to show work I did there on my site.gramme
- There were no NDAs in force, and I signed away none of my rights. So I ignored them.gramme
- It was a hard decision, and I didn't enjoy burning that bridge. I mentioned it again here because a lot of designers don't know their rights.gramme
- Don't know their rights. So, to your comment, professionalism and ethics are very important to me.gramme
- fair enough.lvl_13
- plausible0
as long as you state clearly who the agency were and what your role was it shouldn't be a problem. but you get dick agencies that don't even like that though.
- gramme0
@ i_monk – unfortunately it's not uncommon for agencies to have this attitude. They feel that they earned the client relationship, the work came from their studio, and the people working at said agency are merely capable bums warming seats.
I'll echo what others said about checking anything you may or may not have signed regarding self promotional rights. If you're in the clear, ask the agency if it's cool to show the work, so long as you use your own images and give proper credit. If they say no way jose, then you can (1) go along with that or (2) decide it's a bridge worth burning for the sake of your career. Because at that point they really have no legal recourse. I mean, they could sue you, but they probably wouldn't because it's expensive and their case wouldn't hold up in court, not at least in the U.S.
- set0
Just mention it.
- duhsign0
if you don't what will you have online?
Play nice and smile a lot and MAYBE they won't send the lawyers after you ; )