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No 'speculative' design here
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What is designing "on spec"?
Quite simply, this term refers to any design work that is carried out on a speculative basis. Often, clients will request that a designer creates a set of designs for them to review before they actually commit to using that designer's services. To put this another way, it's design work for a client without any guarantee of payment or contract.
What's so bad about that?
It requires the designer to commit time and resources on a project for which he or she may not get paid. We think that's very unfair, not just for design companies such as Creativiti, but even more so for freelance and self-employed designers.
But let's say I want to buy a suit from a shop - they'll let me try all the styles on before I have to pay for anything. What's wrong with trying before I buy?
You're thinking of "off the shelf" products, which are no part of the creative industry. We focus on designing custom solutions to meet your needs. If you wanted to buy a bespoke suit, and you commissioned a designer to create one for you, you'd interact with that designer throughout the design process, and once it had been fully created for you, you would have to pay for that designer's time, resources and efforts. We think it should be no different in the creative industry.
But what guarantees do I have that I'll like the finished product?
As in any industry, there are always bad apples, but the vast majority of those who work in the creative industry take their profession very seriously. A good designer will always work closely with the client throughout the design process, so that anything that the client doesn't like can be addressed long before the project is completed. That's why there is just no reason for designing on spec, when the design process is so interactive.
I'm still not completely convinced that designing on spec is a bad thing for me...
A good designer, such as we at Creativiti, will try to get to know his or her subject, and then design and create a product in close cooperation with the client that will truly meet the needs and requirements of the project. When designing on spec, it is simply not possible to do that.
In demanding that a designer create a set of designs on spec, the client is effectively saying 'this project simply isn't important enough to hire a professional who will take the time to understand my situation and goals and who will invest the time and resources needed to create a truly suitable solution'. If that is truly the case, then any good designer won't want to get involved with your project anyway.
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If you invest in a designer's time and place your confidence in their abilities, they will work closely with you to create a custom solution to meet your needs and requirements, and to help you achieve your goals.
If you demand work on spec, they simply won't have the means - or the will - to produce their very best work for you if they have no guarantee that you won't simply take their ideas and walk away with them without payment.
Ultimately, designing on spec produces poor results for you, and is unfair to the designer, and that is why Creativiti wholeheartedly supports the NO!SPEC campaign.
To find out more about NO!SPEC, please click on the logo on the left.
Please note: this will take you to an external site.
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