Articles
Written by professionals in the field, these articles are both insightful and educational. We hope you will gain valuable information that you can use in your support to saying NO! to spec.
The articles to the right (An Analogy, Design Contests, Just say NO!, Ten Reasons and What is spec?) are mostly NO!SPEC specific.
Speculative Design – is it a fair game?, By Patrick Monro MCSD
Patrick talks about the 2010 Olympic Emblem Design Competition
AIGA: Design competitions and speculative work
Part of the AIGA Client’s Guide to Design, this article gives a real world example of how a large company can choose a design firm by requesting work from a number of agencies while offering appropraite compensation, instead of asking for speculative work.
AIGA: Spec Can Be Beaten
The debate between client and design firm over speculative creative rages on. Clients ask for it knowing that despite the opposition to it they are likely to get it. Designers and agencies curse at the request, acquiesce, then curse again at the debasement and the outcome.
The Credibility Gap
It should have been graphic design in Canada’s finest moment: A logo created for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games that would be seen by millions of people worldwide. Instead the method in which the logo would be chosen ignited a howl of protest from professional designers from Hong Kong to Halifax.
Designorati: Coping with Clients who use your concept without paying
A client has taken your concept design and hired someone else to execute it for less money. The client is reaping the benefits of your talent and skill, but you’re still eating generic mac n’ cheese. What recourse do you have? Pariah S. Burke will tell you.
About.com: Spec vs Pro Bono
About Desktop Publishing Guide, Jacci Howard Bear, explains the difference between pro bono and spec work and how a contract comes in handy in both situations.
The Geek Guide: A Few Words about Working on Spec
Bob Schmidt on The Geek Guide, explains 5 ways to handle spec work in the web design field.
Jeffry Zeldman Presents: Don’t Design on Spec
One of the many (too many) stories about spec work and its consequence on the designer and the client.
Be a Design Group: This Week’s Four Letter Word: SPEC
Be a Design Group illustrates the perfect example of how a designer who accepts spec work is saying to his clients that his profession is worth nothing.
Sound Thinking: Beware of Spec Work
An interesting way to fight spec work using … spec work. Beware Spec Work. One size does not fit all!
RGD: To Whom It May Concern
RGD discourages clients from selecting designers through spec work, free work as a pitch for new business. We encourage designers to contact us when clients ask them to engage in spec work or to send a copy of our standard letter on the detriments of spec work. “To Whom It May Concern;” A letter from the Executive Director of RGD Ontario outlining some reasons why using speculative guidelines are damaging for graphic design communicators and potential business clients alike (download available).
LogoLounge: Vancouver Olympic Games Identity
The one olympic contest where even the winner wound up losing. As a result of the controversy surrounding the 2010 Vancouver Olympics logo design contest and others that preceded it, the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada no longer allows any member participation in open design contests for commercial purposes on speculation, either as an entrant or a judge.
Tapp-d!
Tapp-d! Different short articles and useful aids for graphic designers, from the perspective of One.
ideasonideas: Value of Canadian Design
When the Department of Canadian Heritage posted the details for their web design competition, Ideasonideas.com responded with a challenge of their own – to ask the people at Canadian Heritage to do their job on spec. They also provide examples of why spec is not a professional practice.
Spec Work and Mail-Order Brides
In a very clear, succinct way, Robert with Freshly Squeezed Design describes, in layman’s terms, why spec work is a gamble for both designers and companies.
Doing Work on Spec
Andy Budd presents his take on why working on spec is not worth the ROI.
Spec Work Arithmetic
Using Las Vegas logic, the author explains how working on spec is nothing more than a sucker bet.
Working on spec is a disturbing — and growing — trend
“This is nice, but we were hoping you could show us some examples of what our stuff is going to look like.” Welcome to the wonderful world of speculative work. Useful tips to avoid their tricks.
Should Spec be Pitched?
If you’re a large design or advertising firm, or thinking of working with one, read this. Paul-Mark Rendon explains the pitfalls of pitching creative work on spec.
Why most design firms won’t do spec work
The title says it all in this short, to-the-point article.
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 1)
Why using spec work to find a new designer/agency isn’t always “what you see is what you get”. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 2)
How spec work costs agencies AND clients. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 3)
How using the lowest common denominator (ie, spec work) limits your options as a client. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 4)
Why agencies that say NO! to spec really are your best option. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
United Way and Speculative Work
The United Way of Greater Toronto recently posted a “Call for Submissions” on their web site, basically inviting thousands of design professionals worldwide to compete for the honor of redesigning the organization’s “50th Anniversary” logo (without any compensation for their time and creativity) – clearly a speculative work type of a scenario.
Wild Pitches
Procurement or strategic sourcing initiatives for marketing services. It’s a trend that is influencing the way marketers choose promotion agencies. Procurement-driven reviews often tend to focus on the bottom line rather than the worth of the bidding creative. This new emphasis on money has agencies wondering if hard accounting will drive out creativity.
will gain valuable information that you can use in your support to saying NO! to spec.
The articles to the right (An Analogy, Design Contests, Just say NO!, Ten Reasons and What is spec?) are mostly NO!SPEC specific.
Note: the links below take you out of the NO!SPEC site.
Simple Simon Sees, by Lisa Duty
A very well written article outlining how managing finances in the design industry works in reality.
Speculative Design – is it a fair game?, By Patrick Monro MCSD
Patrick talks about the 2010 Olympic Emblem Design Competition
AIGA: Design competitions and speculative work
Part of the AIGA Client’s Guide to Design, this article gives a real world example of how a large company can choose a design firm by requesting work from a number of agencies while offering appropraite compensation, instead of asking for speculative work.
AIGA: To Spec or Not to Spec
AIGA shares responses written by various AIGA chapter presidents regarding spec work and design contests.
The Credibility Gap
It should have been graphic design in Canada’s finest moment: A logo created for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games that would be seen by millions of people worldwide. Instead the method in which the logo would be chosen ignited a howl of protest from professional designers from Hong Kong to Halifax.
Designorati: Coping with Clients who use your concept without paying
A client has taken your concept design and hired someone else to execute it for less money. The client is reaping the benefits of your talent and skill, but you’re still eating generic mac n’ cheese. What recourse do you have? Pariah S. Burke will tell you.
About.com: Spec vs Pro Bono
About Desktop Publishing Guide, Jacci Howard Bear, explains the difference between pro bono and spec work and how a contract comes in handy in both situations.
The Geek Guide: A Few Words about Working on Spec
Bob Schmidt on The Geek Guide, explains 5 ways to handle spec work in the web design field.
Jeffry Zeldman Presents: Don’t Design on Spec
One of the many (too many) stories about spec work and its consequence on the designer and the client.
Be a Design Group: This Week’s Four Letter Word: SPEC
Be a Design Group illustrates the perfect example of how a designer who accepts spec work is saying to his clients that his profession is worth nothing.
Sound Thinking: Beware of Spec Work
An interesting way to fight spec work using … spec work. Beware Spec Work. One size does not fit all!
RGD: To Whom It May Concern
RGD discourages clients from selecting designers through spec work, free work as a pitch for new business. We encourage designers to contact us when clients ask them to engage in spec work or to send a copy of our standard letter on the detriments of spec work. “To Whom It May Concern;” A letter from the Executive Director of RGD Ontario outlining some reasons why using speculative guidelines are damaging for graphic design communicators and potential business clients alike (download available).
LogoLounge: Vancouver Olympic Games Identity
The one olympic contest where even the winner wound up losing. As a result of the controversy surrounding the 2010 Vancouver Olympics logo design contest and others that preceded it, the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada no longer allows any member participation in open design contests for commercial purposes on speculation, either as an entrant or a judge.
Tapp-d!
Tapp-d! Different short articles and useful aids for graphic designers, from the perspective of One.
ideasonideas: Value of Canadian Design
When the Department of Canadian Heritage posted the details for their web design competition, Ideasonideas.com responded with a challenge of their own – to ask the people at Canadian Heritage to do their job on spec. They also provide examples of why spec is not a professional practice.
Spec Work and Mail-Order Brides
In a very clear, succinct way, Robert with Freshly Squeezed Design describes, in layman’s terms, why spec work is a gamble for both designers and companies.
Doing Work on Spec
Andy Budd presents his take on why working on spec is not worth the ROI.
Spec Work Arithmetic
Using Las Vegas logic, the author explains how working on spec is nothing more than a sucker bet.
Working on spec is a disturbing — and growing — trend
“This is nice, but we were hoping you could show us some examples of what our stuff is going to look like.” Welcome to the wonderful world of speculative work. Useful tips to avoid their tricks.
Should Spec be Pitched?
If you’re a large design or advertising firm, or thinking of working with one, read this. Paul-Mark Rendon explains the pitfalls of pitching creative work on spec.
Why most design firms won’t do spec work
The title says it all in this short, to-the-point article.
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 1)
Why using spec work to find a new designer/agency isn’t always “what you see is what you get”. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 2)
How spec work costs agencies AND clients. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 3)
How using the lowest common denominator (ie, spec work) limits your options as a client. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
The Dangers of “Spec” (Part 4)
Why agencies that say NO! to spec really are your best option. From the blog of Boston-area agency, GoBig!
United Way and Speculative Work
The United Way of Greater Toronto recently posted a “Call for Submissions” on their web site, basically inviting thousands of design professionals worldwide to compete for the honor of redesigning the organization’s “50th Anniversary” logo (without any compensation for their time and creativity) – clearly a speculative work type of a scenario.
Why no one wins creative pitches
We know that the best visual design occurs as a result of understanding the organisation’s strategy, their customers and competitors. It’s never something that can really be achieved before engaging with the client. The best that an agency can do is intelligently ‘stab in the dark’, looking at brand style guides, and choosing some alluring stock photography.
If you have questions or suggestions, contact us.
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