I’ve been working as a freelance graphic designer for 30 years and at least half of my work has been spec work! I can count on one hand the bad debts I’ve had over the entire 30 years and the largest (AU$2000.00 about 15 years ago) was NOT from a spec job but a long term client that went bust.

All of my current clients were originally spec clients. My client base has been varied and has included Australian and Japanese companies (large and small) and of course lots of local small business.

i charge between AU$90 - AU$150 per hour but quote the job as an overall price which includes an amount for changes, admin etc, I never quote an hourly rate.

I think hourly rates are meaningless to most clients, designer “A” might spent 2 hours preparing say, a stationery set, and Designer “B” might spend 2 weeks on the same stationery set. Put yourself in the clients shoes and I bet you wouldn’t accept an hourly rate either.

My first spec work was as a student all those years ago and that spec work paid the rent and beer.

I’ve been sitting here at the end of the NO!SPEC campaign emails all this time and the constant spec issues only tend to piss me off. Yes, I’m hot headed anyway, adding fuel just makes it worse.

For my blood pressure, etc, I’ve backed away, leaving those interested to send out protest letters and try and educate those working or offering spec.

I know what you mean. We had to get pretty frustrated to finally put the time into getting this site going. It seems so logical, why does it have to be said at all? We earn a living by design. If we don’t get paid, we don’t eat.

The Australian Design org, DIA says it rather well. They cover design competitions as well as pitching — http://www.dia.org.au/content.cfm?id=245

Quoting: The proliferation of unskilled, unqualified, unprofessional ‘designers’ in an unregulated sector means that these individuals will almost certainly continue with pitching as one of the few competitive ‘advantages’ they have.

However for professional, qualified designers to fall into the trap of descending to their level and pitching when times are tough, is simply disastrous. If a designer simply gives away their expertise, or publicly seeks to undermine their colleagues, what possible reason can there be for their work to be valued in the future?

cat

I’ve had marketing people say essentially the same thing, don’t come up with a marketing plan on spec. Interestingly, remodeling contractors have the same problem. People ask them for ideas about doing the basement or remodeling a room, ask for details, then do it themselves. So most contractors won’t get specific about remodeling plans. Of course the people who ask designers to work on spec wouldn’t think of asking their attorneys to do that.

Clients, can’t love ‘em, can’t. . . well you know.

You just ramble right away. Sometimes I get discouraged at all the spec contests, so it’s very helpful and uplifting to hear from others.

Getting work - I’m not sure what you are looking for, but here’s a few that might interest you. Some are inhouse, others by project. I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet so if you find any that are ‘not quite right’ let me know.

http://authenticjobs.com/

http://www.createmagazine.com/job_bank.cfm

http://www.creativehotlist.com/index.asp

http://www.howdesign.com/jobs/

http://mnteractive.com/archive/category/jobs/

cat

As a small company still in the midst of getting properly organized, I’ve had to
resort to seeking clientele from unusual sources, such as the CraigsList sites.
I can’t tell you how many spec ads I’ve seen there. It’s truly amazing how many people think designers, illustrators, and artists in general are all bedraggled,
starving beggars who’ll do anything for the amazing opportunity of being able to
claim contribution to a 3rd-rate website or local magazine churned out from someone’s home PC.

It’s not even just the silly contests, but the loads of ads “seeking artists/designers/etc.” in which the issue of compensation is usually addressed to be “Free publicity” or “a share in this investment”, or “the chance to be published”.

Generally, they will try to cover this blatant unprofessionalism with such lines as, “Looking to break into the business?” or my personal favorite, “Seeking STUDENT designers”.
Which, of course, makes them even MORE sleazy. Not only are they trying to get something for nothing, but in thier bid to do so, are more than willing to exploit the eagerness and naivite of fledgeling artists and designers who are still wet behind the ears, and don’t realize that just because they’re fresh out of school (or still in school) does not mean that they should consider their time and effort worthless.

But I’m rambling, here… so let me just thank you, again, for trying to shed a little light on these cockroaches.

Dave D’Esposito
ArtMonkey Studios