Free work
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- designbot0
If you are going to do free work, why not focus it on your own art and creative expression? I think you are kind of crazy for doing anything free (no offense) unless it's a favor to a very close friend or something similar. Turn the tables and wouldn't you feel a bit strange asking someone or having someone spend lots of their valuable time on making something free for you? I have friends who are artists and I would never ask them to paint something for me for free, in fact I would get alot more joy out of buying one of their pieces. It shows that I respect their work, and their craft.
I dunno, just thinking out loud I guess, but I do wonder if it "cheapens the industry" when people do work for free. I think it does, personally.
- ********0
My thought is that in most cases, when you are doing free work, you tend to get work that you wouldnt get if did get paid for it. It gives your opportunities.
Doing your own work can be good but some times it lacks merit. Also, I am a guy who cant start my own project or very hard to. When there is an objective, I tend to really get on it.
And, when you usually do free work, they give you more creative freedom.
- designbot0
I'm just curious, what good work is going to come from a person or company who can't pay you? (not trying to be an ass, just curious)
I think people will take as much as you give them....so in other words, if you don't give them free work, they won't expect it. I still am troubled by the thought of somebody asking to get any kind of design work done free, unless you know them on a personal level.
- grassroots stuff, non profits, amateurs? could be art, charity, politics and that********
- grassroots stuff, non profits, amateurs? could be art, charity, politics and that
- ********0
Small to big. Some cool brands, some lesser known. It really depends. They usually offer very small amount, if I feel that its worth it or fun enough, I just say for free.
And most cases, it would turn in to paying gig after.
- ********0
"And most cases, it would turn in to paying gig after. "
In some cases i mean
- rzrffglyr0
I think it's good to clear up who you could or shouldn't be doing free work for. The small internet radio station that is run by a group of volunteers but has a design that could be improved, sure. If you're a DJ and this can mean connections and breaking into an industry with portfolio work, then more reason. The same can be applied with volunteer-run sites/groups that may fall into any hobby of yours. If you skateboard, I'm sure there are a ton of smalltime sites or communities that could use revamp.
On the other than, companies and such that are established and you just want to do work for them, so you offer free work, or they ask for some... really think of what you can get in return from a barter, or if you should even go through with it. Also don't sell yourself short if they have money, or if a site redesign can improve their business if they sell items. If they can make money from what you're doing for them, then maybe rethink doing work for free - or at least doing something minimal.
There are a lot of things to consider. You need to see how you want it to benefit you and if it's worth it. Also try to get a feel for who you are going to be working for, because I would hate to do free stuff for a douchebag.
I know, I've said free a lot, and that probably makes some people cringe each time. The point is sometimes there is room for some free work that can benefit you in some way or the other. But most of the time, don't do it, because you need to make a living.
If you ONLY freelance and don't have an office job fulltime then I would probably say eff free work in most cases. The free work I've done was because it had its own benefits I could get out of it, and it wasn't going to hurt me financially.
- good points, I do hold a FT job , so I pick and choose the free workBattleAxe
- sea_sea0
hi dinky! :)
- designbot0
The thing that solidified my stance on this, was going to craigslist trying to find extra freelance stuff. You have (almost) nothing but people/businesses trying to exploit designers and get free work while dangling the carrot of "gaining experience" or "free advertising", bunch of bullshit. I have to think that the reason there are so many of these posts on craigslist and elsewhere is because at some point, these folks have gotten free work out of somebody. I even had a few people tell me (after multiple emails and hours of my time) that they "couldn't pay me up front, but once the business takes off it's going to be huge" blah blah blah....what if they fail miserably? Then all the work I did end's up in some digital trash can, and I never get paid, sweet.
If you were doing some type of charity work, cool. But the work that you are talking about above, there is no reason why they can't pay you. I think the truth is that they don't WANT to pay you.
- ********0
Lots of brands out there who make lots of money but cheap. I am willing to do it because I am a brand whore.
In most cases, its through someone I know, mainly as a favor.
- Hey, do as you will man. Just wanted to give you my prospective :)designbot
- Of course. Thats what I was asking. Different perspectives.********
- jamble0
The cost of living combined with a new baby and wife to support means I only trade my time for cold hard cashola.
- Scotch_Roman0
I'm with jamble. Being self-employed and only four months into it means that for me, giving work away right now is basically taking money out of my mortgage.
I have no philosophical opposition to free work though. It somehow lets you maintain more dignity than heavily discounted work.
That being said, I just sent out a proposal for a restaurant ID today, and took out a 30% discount... simply because he's not used to hiring designers, because I want to break into that business (one of a few business niches around here that still seem to be doing OK), and because this guy owns three other restaurants that are in dire need of rebranding.
Perhaps when the stream of cash flow gets stronger and I've got more money in the bank, I can afford to do more free work.
- Oh and hello, Dinx :)Scotch_Roman
- Oh hello. How are you. I am fine thanks. Nice weather we are having.********
- ha, is that your stock response?Scotch_Roman
- Scotch_Roman0
This reminds me Dinky, what are your other monikers? Are you JourNYC?
- ********0
I do agree, if you are self employed, I would agree that it would really hurt financially but if there was project that could lead to more or a nice portfolio piece, would you do it?
And no.
- tparsons0
Always doing my artwork in the background for FREE until some decides to buy it. And on Wed. 1PM HST you can join in for the fun here http://www.twitter.com/bzsaw
- Scotch_Roman0
^ To answer your question, yes I'd crank out something that would be a good portfolio piece for free, as long as I was getting enough income to pay the bills.
I'm glad you're not JourNYC. That guy (or girl) is like sand under the eyelids.
- ********0
Would you get sand in your eyelids if you were to swim in the ocean?
- Nope, not unless you faceplant on a sandbar.Scotch_Roman
- < Speaking from experience.Scotch_Roman
- tparsons0
sometimes if you're in shore break like this:
- ********0
I never swam in ocean as an adult or a teen. I did once as a child. It was a long summer I recall. I had a beach ball which I could not inflate. No one was willing. The flood of fallen stars washed ashore. I wondered if this was the final resting place when stars fell. I didnt it then but it was start of something very disturbing.