Comments on: How To Say No To Spec Work Requests http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/ This is the blog of freelance web designer Grace Smith, with thoughts on design, technology and social media. Along with interesting links and articles, freshly served from Northern Ireland. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:58:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: Graham Pilling http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-22750 Graham Pilling Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:14:01 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-22750 Nicely summarised, and the template document is a great little resource. Dealing with Spec Work is something that every designer will have to face at some point, and the more we can educate both clients and new designers on the matter, the better. You may be interested in something I recently wrote when a potential client asked me to 'sponsor' them by delivering free work: http://armyofcats.posterous.com/the-currency-of-opportunity-exposure Nicely summarised, and the template document is a great little resource.

Dealing with Spec Work is something that every designer will have to face at some point, and the more we can educate both clients and new designers on the matter, the better.

You may be interested in something I recently wrote when a potential client asked me to ‘sponsor’ them by delivering free work:

http://armyofcats.posterous.com/the-currency-of-opportunity-exposure

]]> By: Roger Marlowe http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-21778 Roger Marlowe Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:15:30 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-21778 Hi Grace, I'm with you 1000%. Unfortunately, the whole industry of web design and programming has fallen prey to outsourcing. You're in competition with vast numbers of Indians and Chinese who will happily work for $2/day. We all thought we saw a pot of gold when we were working hard for our CS degrees but who knew that the Internet itself contained the solution to its own tech worker scarcity. Stand fast! Good luck. R Hi Grace,
I’m with you 1000%.
Unfortunately, the whole industry of web design and programming has fallen prey to outsourcing. You’re in competition with vast numbers of Indians and Chinese who will happily work for $2/day.
We all thought we saw a pot of gold when we were working hard for our CS degrees but who knew that the Internet itself contained the solution to its own tech worker scarcity.
Stand fast!
Good luck.
R

]]> By: Heather http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-20127 Heather Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:41:49 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-20127 Hi Grace, Quite a number of Wordpress professionals have been repeatedly targeted by a spec work offer. He's a seriously dodgy character who specifically trawls Wordpress communities under the fake identities of various busty blondes (no joke) looking to recruit WP professionals. The full details are at the LinkedIn Wordpress group at http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=154024&type=member&item=20875170 The group is well worth joining! Hi Grace,

Quite a number of WordPress professionals have been repeatedly targeted by a spec work offer. He’s a seriously dodgy character who specifically trawls WordPress communities under the fake identities of various busty blondes (no joke) looking to recruit WP professionals.

The full details are at the LinkedIn WordPress group at
http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=154024&type=member&item=20875170

The group is well worth joining!

]]> By: rob torres http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-20120 rob torres Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:06:12 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-20120 I'm right there with you Grace as we would never even consider becoming involved in such projects. The sad news is there are "designers" out there who still jump at any bone a potential client waves at them which is what makes this trend so difficult to eradicate... As for your response, this is only my opinion based on my own style of dealing with similar situations but I probably wouldn't have gone that direct. My reasoning: If Mr. X was as polite and considerate as you suggest, he probably meant you no disrespect and quite frankly didn't realize how ridiculous his request was. I would have thanked him for the opportunity, and simply explained in my own language that the arrangement he is suggesting isn't something I'm comfortable with... With emails being, well emails that level of directness could come off as a bit of a slam to him leave a negative opinion of you with him. Had you spoken by phone, he would have heard you lovely speaking voice so that same message wouldn't have been quite so cutting;) Just my opinion Grace, you know you rock! -rob (digital reaction) I’m right there with you Grace as we would never even consider becoming involved in such projects. The sad news is there are “designers” out there who still jump at any bone a potential client waves at them which is what makes this trend so difficult to eradicate…

As for your response, this is only my opinion based on my own style of dealing with similar situations but I probably wouldn’t have gone that direct. My reasoning:

If Mr. X was as polite and considerate as you suggest, he probably meant you no disrespect and quite frankly didn’t realize how ridiculous his request was. I would have thanked him for the opportunity, and simply explained in my own language that the arrangement he is suggesting isn’t something I’m comfortable with…

With emails being, well emails that level of directness could come off as a bit of a slam to him leave a negative opinion of you with him. Had you spoken by phone, he would have heard you lovely speaking voice so that same message wouldn’t have been quite so cutting;)

Just my opinion Grace, you know you rock!

-rob (digital reaction)

]]> By: Just Say No: How to Turn Down New Projects | Fringe Focus http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-19861 Just Say No: How to Turn Down New Projects | Fringe Focus Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:51:34 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-19861 [...] How To Say No To Spec Work Requests – Grace Smith [...] [...] How To Say No To Spec Work Requests – Grace Smith [...]

]]> By: Peter Simcoe http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-17867 Peter Simcoe Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:26:18 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-17867 Hi Grace, Great to see this article here. It does require some thought in how to respond to these requests and your advice seems good. I've also written an article about speculative work which touches on some of the same ideas.....I always get concerned about the terribly precious way designers can portray themselves and so aim to quietly avoid speculative work rather than make a big point of it. I ve been burned several times by spec work back in the day so I learned the hard way and I always ensure that I treat people I work with in the same way I expect to be treated. You can see my article on this subject at: http://www.design-design.co.uk/speculative-design-and-you/ Would you like to add that to your list? I would be quite keen to link to your article from my site and you can write a comment on it if you want or I ll add it for you. thanks, Pete Hi Grace,

Great to see this article here. It does require some thought in how to respond to these requests and your advice seems good. I’ve also written an article about speculative work which touches on some of the same ideas…..I always get concerned about the terribly precious way designers can portray themselves and so aim to quietly avoid speculative work rather than make a big point of it. I ve been burned several times by spec work back in the day so I learned the hard way and I always ensure that I treat people I work with in the same way I expect to be treated.

You can see my article on this subject at:
http://www.design-design.co.uk/speculative-design-and-you/

Would you like to add that to your list? I would be quite keen to link to your article from my site and you can write a comment on it if you want or I ll add it for you.

thanks, Pete

]]> By: Michael Byers http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-17865 Michael Byers Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:05:27 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-17865 Not sure if you've seen this but it's a great protest to people wanting free work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE Not sure if you’ve seen this but it’s a great protest to people wanting free work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

]]> By: Eric Leitzel http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-17863 Eric Leitzel Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:13:39 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-17863 Great article. I appreciate the standards you set for yourself. I've had to develop similar standards. Usually the client just needs a little education, and once they understand your position they change their approach, but not always. Great article. I appreciate the standards you set for yourself. I’ve had to develop similar standards. Usually the client just needs a little education, and once they understand your position they change their approach, but not always.

]]> By: Happy Blogging: Suggestions for Your Design Blogroll | PixieGirl Blog http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-14543 Happy Blogging: Suggestions for Your Design Blogroll | PixieGirl Blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:03:40 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-14543 [...] How To Say No To Spec Work Requests [...] [...] How To Say No To Spec Work Requests [...]

]]> By: Laurent JOUVIN http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/how-to-say-no-to-spec-work-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-13596 Laurent JOUVIN Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:42:59 +0000 http://www.gracesmith.co.uk/?p=4901#comment-13596 I like that Teri! Very funny. I might have to use your line with the next person that asks me to spec a job. I like that Teri! Very funny. I might have to use your line with the next person that asks me to spec a job.

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