Designing or photographing “on spec” means to work without guarantee of payment. Some people think it’s an acceptable way to build a portfolio or snag a client who’ll pay for other jobs down the line. Other people say that accepting spec work is a disservice to yourself and all creative professionals.
I’m keeping my views quiet for a while so I don’t dampen the conversation, but I will say this: Love it or hate it, spec work can be risky for both you and the client.
Now it’s your turn. Go to https://creativepro.com/article/60990/comments and tell me your opinions and experiences. After that, check out the excellent links below.
- Spec Work and Mail Order Brides
https://www.freshlysqueezeddesign.com/pulp/archives/24, by Robert Wurth - To Spec or not to Spec
https://www.aiga.org/content.cfm?CategoryID=105, by AIGA chapter presidents - Design Competitions and Speculative Work
https://www.aiga.org/content.cfm?ContentID=468, writer unidentified - Coping With Clients Who Use Your Concept Design — Without Paying
designorati.com, by Pariah Burke - Spec Can Be Beaten
https://designforum.aiga.org/content.cfm?ContentAlias=_getfullarticle&aid=1155318, by Blair Enns - Simple Simon Sees
https://dotsmarket.blogspot.com/2006/03/simple-simon-sees.html, by Lisa Duty - Don’t Design on Spec
https://www.zeldman.com/daily/0104h.shtml, by Jeffrey Zeldman - The NO!SPEC Web site
https://www.no-spec.com/ contains many helpful articles and further links
This article was last modified on December 17, 2022
This article was first published on November 7, 2006
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