NO!SPEC Campaign

NO!SPEC
NO!SPEC

Background of the NO!SPEC Campaign: February was coming to a close, I swore I’d take a needed break. Yet, on the 24th (more than a little miffed over yet another forum discussion about spec jobs), I posted my thoughts on a graphic design discussion forum … and so the saga began. By the 25th, Elisabetta Bruno suggested “Why don’t we …”

A committee of 20 passionate designers was formed to develop the NO!SPEC Campaign. Some offered to research, others to write copy and submit articles, some brainstormed the design angle. I threw in a offer to design the site, then my FastCoconut team-mate, Jeanette (Jay) Wickham, and I worked through the following weekend creating our very first WordPress Theme. Jay coded, I handled the bits and kept her company via Skype. We worked insane hours, at times clocking 17 per day. For those of you in the design industry, not an uncommon drill.

Hands-on Web Hosting offered to sponsor the bandwidth (thanks Conor!), as well as the domain names .net and .org.

In addition, top Illustrator Von Glitschka from Glitschka Studios, worked overnight creating two powerful “NO!SPEC” posters to promote the crusade (thanks Von!).

Part way through the process, the United Way had the unfortunate luck of presenting their spec logo contest to the world, to which I responded with the post Things that suck.

For the month of March Designers who blog will feature bloggers who take up the NO!SPEC gauntlet. The most interesting posts will be presented at Creative Latitude: Cat’s Fancy: Designers who blog.

To find out how you can help the NO!SPEC crusade, visit NO!SPEC.

From the about:
Say NO! to Spec: In an effort to educate Visual Communication Designers and those who use their services, on the damaging effects caused by spec work and spec-based design contests, a group of designers from all over the globe banned together, fueled by passion and a lot of caffeine, to bring NO!SPEC to the public … It’s time to take a stand! And with the international support of NO!SPEC, we ask that you please join us in promoting professional, ethical business practices by saying NO! to spec.

NO!SPEC is by: Catherine (cat) Morley, Jeanette Wickham, Tamar Wallace, Elisabetta Bruno, Danita Reynolds, Piers Le Seuer, Erin Harris, Robert Wurth, Alina Hagen, Von Glitschka, Conor, Dawn Burgess, Neil Tortorella, Tom, Mark Astrella, Bill Schuhle, Dagmar Jeffrey, Chris Tomlinson, Brian Rollins, Michael Miller, Rob Gough, Dana Chrysler and Calvin Lee.