No!Spec : Signature #281
I became signature #281 in the No!Spec petition against speculative work, whahoo! Begone, spec!
We, the undersigned, are against speculative work and presentations for the following reasons:
Spec work does not guarantee compensation for the designer or an appropriate solution for the client. It is an unprofessional practice because it takes away from a designer’s time and billable projects.
The very nature of spec work virtually ensures that clients will not get well-researched or executed solutions.
Spec work does not contribute to the overall image or branding of a client because it is often sought out for one-off pieces - it actually serves to dilute the brand, which can be extremely harmful to the client.
In addition, spec work devalues the communication design profession. It reduces communication design to a commodity, rather than to a specialized service.
Sincerely,
Heather Castles
Pingback by blog.illustrationcastle.com » FAQS | Is it ok to send sketches of ideas to greeting card companies?
November 12, 2009 @ 8:07 pm
[…] Question: Is it ok to send rough sketches or designs to publishers instead of finished illustrations? Answer: Yes! Art directors don’t mind receiving roughed out ideas, be it sketches or digital mockups. Some art directors even prefer this, as if your design is picked up, they can have you illustrate the final artwork to their greeting card specifications and/or even make any minor adjustments to the design before you start on the finals. Sending roughs is also good for you as the illustrator, in that you avoid working on spec, spending time illustrating artwork with only a chance it will be purchased. To protect your ideas when submitting to various companies, just be sure to include a © Your Name on your designs. […]