Comments on: This week’s 4-letter word: SPEC

By: Jitendra

Jitendra — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 18:22:50 +0000

Hmmmm. The question is do we refuse spec work in face of the competition, big or small, doing it all the time and get speced out of business? If anyone has a credible solution apart from a stiff spine and a virtous face, please, please let me know. Of course my sympethies with all speced out guys.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:16:41 +0000

What a bummer. At least you stood your ground. And a nice compromise worked out as well. I have my own spec work story, which turns out like all the rest (who DOES get the job?), and I’m a freelancer. The lesson was well-learned and I won’t forget it. I like the story of the spec house! Thanks, it’s my laugh-out-loud for the day!

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 25 Feb 2005 18:25:05 +0000

Hey Drew. I feel your pain. We actually "retired" and account a few years back that had switched Marketing Managers. and with that switch came a different tactic when working with the ad agency. We had to provide "spec" along with 2 other agencies for EVERY single job. after 2 of those instances...we had a conference call and cut the cord. We had found out that they had not only gone with a lesser priced company for the one of the jobs we had spec'd - BUT they had also used our concepts while having the other company implement them totally unethical. here is a site I found that has some good points about why designers should not feel one ounce of guilt by turning away spec work. AMEN. http://graphicdesign.about.com/cs/workingfromhome/a/specwork.htm here is another bit about why it is more dangerous for graphic design companies and solo designers to do spec work in comparison to larger ad agencies doing the work (they have more to lose whereas the larger agencies have much more to gain - this really sheds light on how larger agencies can get away with this and make potential clients and clients continue to believe that requesting Spec work is ok): http://www.creativelatitude.com/neils_newbies/neils_newbies_11_04_spec.html

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 22:26:06 +0000

The behavior of the client to expect SPEC work of outside designers is reinforced by in-house designers, like myself, having to fulfill these requests frequently. Of course I’m getting paid a salary to satisfy these requests, but the expectation is nutured!

Also, anyone notice a little show on HGTV called Designer’s Challege? It is the definition of SPEC work. Three Interior or Landscape designers compete for the same job by presenting fully realized concepts before the client decides who to go with.

By: Drew Davies

Drew Davies — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:58:43 +0000

Thanks to all on the comments. Anyone else out there found any other great resources on the topic of spec work?

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:32:48 +0000

Interesting links and discussion. I have not run into spec work per se since I work for an in-house design department for a software company. However, the overarching values Clinton mentioned, of branding “ourselves as ‘thinkers’ rather than just artists that make things pretty” hit straight home. Now…how can I do that? That’s my new quest.

By: Clinton Carlson

Clinton Carlson — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 00:03:43 +0000

My sympathies Drew. Its unfortunate that so many view our work in the manner they do. They only see what is on the page as where we assist them. How do we as an industry or as individual companies begin to brand ourselves as “thinkers” rather than just artists that make things pretty. Communication engineers maybe? Whatever the term, it seems we need an approach that can begin to push the view of our profession in this direction. To shift our perception from puting ink on a page or pixels on a screen to dealing with communication, thought and interaction with viewers.

Anyway, glad you got a days pay out of it. And hope you atleast got a prototype “carrot peeler” out of it.

By: JonSel

JonSel — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:00:21 +0000

mirroring what the advertising profession does: mountains and mountains of spec work. Giving away free work.

At least the ad agencies have the media-buy segment where they make money. That’s the real business for them. But design studios don’t have that option; marking up printing is hardly the equivalent.

Nice try, Drew. At least you gave it the good fight.

By: nate

nate — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 19:27:05 +0000

Yeah Brad, I’m sure Bennet and Adrian can (and will) describe in detail the plus/minus relationship we have with those ads. If they keep the site up in a non-obtrusive way I’m fine.

Now, I’d give a buffalo nickel to find out who that Other Company was (I have a few ideas in town for those who may stoop to that). It’s very unfortunate, and if one or two firms start answering to Spec Work calls, then potential clients start expecting it, and then you end up with the Design profession mirroring what the advertising profession does: mountains and mountains of spec work. Giving away free work. It’s just awful.

By: Brad Brooks

Brad Brooks — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 19:20:03 +0000

Oops! Sorry for the double post. mi speling iz verry badd.