Why do so many businesses think that asking a designer to do work without compensation is an acceptable practice? Is it acceptable to buy a meal, eat the whole thing, and then refuse payment because of dislike? I think not. Maybe that’s not the best example, but I fail to come up with any good examples to prove the opposite. I recently ran across the No!Spec website, and thought I would share. It has a few good articles explaining why spec work is bad for all parties involved.
For a long time I’ve felt that design projects are the responsibility of both the client and designer. It takes accountability on both sides to properly communicate the business needs and requirements of a project, as well as develop an appropriate interpretation. The only way this can happen effectively is through an open relationship where expectations are discussed, ideas are hashed out, and processes are planned — before any pixels or pencils are pushed. Clients, if you want great results, please take the time to get your projects started of on the right foot, and don’t request speculative work.