March/April of this year saw the launch of the NO!SPEC campaign. Since then, I’ve come across a number of confusing posts using open source interchangeably with spec. So, to clarify the spirit of the campaign, I’ve put together a short rundown on what working on spec is, and isn’t. What the NO!SPEC Campaign is, and isn’t.
Spec is not:
Pro bono
Open Source
Industry Awards Contests
Spec is:
Working on the SPECulation of getting something of value in return.
The NO!SPEC Campaign is not about:
Taking the fun away from what we do.
The NO!SPEC Campaign is about:
Educating designers so they can make educated choices.
The NO!SPEC Campaign is not about:
Coming up with a lot of tight rules to stifle the client / designer relationship.
The NO!SPEC Campaign is about:
Educating the public on ethical business practices.
Still confused? Then please stroll through the roundup of the latest blog posts and articles below.
Bloggers Speaking Out Against Spec
Creative pitches are toxic
By Andy Budd
Redesign Competitions: looking for a commitment or just a roll in the hay?
By Andy Rutledge
Wikipedia and Bowing to the Brand
By Mark Boulton
Shooting oneself in the foot and other truths about designing on spec: An interview with Carmen von Richthofen and John Furneaux of the RGD
By Kevin Broome
Will The Real Style Shady Please Stand Up?
By James Mathias
Why I Don’t Work “On Spec”
By Roberta Rosenberg
Designing on spec - bad for you, bad for us
By Creativiti
Answers Against Contests and Spec Work
By Robert Wurth
Dear Prospective Client:
By The Stapler
NO!SPEC - Just Say NO!
Matt Davies
Getting Paid
By Athyrius
The Road to Hell: Now Paved with Innovation?
By Michael Bierut
The Biggest Challenges Facing Independent Designers (I)
By Sean
Spec Work Hurts Graphic Designers
By Mary Rayme
Designers Speaking Out Against Spec
It’s time to check spec at the door
By Neil Tortorella of Tortorelly Design
Design Contests Are Dangerous For Your Business
By Robert Wurth, Creative Director, Freshly Squeezed Design
When a “contest” is not a contest
By Jeff Fisher, Engineer of Creative Identity, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives
On Contests, Contention and the Creative Process
By the team at NO!SPEC
Why We Don’t Make Speculative Presentations
By Creative Business
Why Speculation Hurts
By Robert Wurth, Creative Director, Freshly Squeezed Design
Why Speculative Work is Unethical
By Habib Bajrami
In Their Own Words: Why These Designers are Against Speculative Design Competitions
By Catherine (cat) Morley
A Design Analogy
By Tom Stephan
A Winning Strategy: Industry awards as a marketing tool
By Jeff Fisher, Engineer of Creative Identity, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives
Just say NO! to Spec Work (Why Spec is Bad and other stories…)
By Tamar Wallace
Ten Reasons to ponder
By Neil Tortorella
What is ‘working on speculation’?
By Elisabetta Bruno of ThinkCreation
Visit Creative Latitude: Cat’s Fancy: Designers who Blog: NO!SPEC Campaign to read what bloggers Eric Karjaluoto, Elisabetta Bruno, Piers Le Seure, Tamar Wallace, Danita Reynolds, Debbie Millman, Robert Wurth, William Alexander, Steve Douglas, Michael Surtees, Kevin Broome, Jeff Fisher, Daniel Schutzsmith, Lisa Duty, Mark Bixby, John Klein and Susan Kirkland have to say about spec.
Check out the Designers who Blog NO!SPEC crusade blogroll.
(Thanks for the nudge Darren)
Technorati Tags: contests, design, Designers, NO!SPEC Campaign, open source, spec
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