anyway, I am a designer in a software development company, and I product all the web design, in addition to all graphic design, what bothers me that we do include “simple screenshots” with every proposal, and no matter how hard I try to convince our management that this is wrong, they come back to me saying this is how business goes, we have to compete with others, and I shut up! is there anyway I can evade doing two-days simple screenshots for proposal that might never be won?

Thank you for your email, I’m glad your friend recommended us.

I understand you’ll want to see what we have in mind for your project before you commit to spend money with us. I understand that it’s normal for companies to put time and therefore money into bidding on projects and sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don’t.

I also appreciate you might want to get two or three designers to bid on the project and choose which is the best fit. I realise this is duplicated work which somebody must pay for and if I won’t do it, somebody else will.

I also understand that as a non-designer, non-graphics, non-visual person, you’ll find it hard to judge us solely on our existing work. You’ll feel much more comfortable if we produce some outline drafts and an initial concept for your project before you commit to spend money with us.

Naturally in our industry, it can be difficult to protect work which we do for a pitch, and this is a risk we take when putting ourselves forward for a job. Of course, if we feel that you’re simply trying to rip us off we won’t do business with you. On the other hand, we generally think most people are honest, so we give most people the benefit of the doubt.

I look forward to meeting you and discussing your requirements in greater detail so we can come back to you with some ideas.

Have a great day,

Potential Designer.