Ten Reasons

An analytical essay on this topic is in progress at no-spec.

The piece is being written by no-spec editors. While it is being finalised, here are nearby resources on the site:

• Spec Work - why unpaid pitches are still a bad deal in 2026.
• AI and the Designer - where generative tools belong in a working practice, and where they do not.
• Rates, Contracts, Scope - how to charge fairly, contract clearly, and scope defensibly.
• The Professional Record - the arguments, decisions, and history of the profession.

An eleventh reason

Work produced on spec leaves no provenance behind it, which is the reason the Proof of Work pillar exists. Start with portfolio provenance and version history as the design record.