Many times we’ll see jobs posted that ask us to come up with a design spec for a project even before the client agrees to pay us or even hire us. We know that this is a growing practice & can be a major bone of contention within the design community. The fact is, it takes time to come up with a design & these hours are traditionally billable hours to our paying clients. We have found that there is a bit of an “under-current” when it comes to the valuing of a designers work or talent. No, we don’t have a medical degree, certifications, or licensing… some of the creditials that people or businesses think that are valuable & worth paying for.

Between the two core staff here, we have 3 college degrees: a BS in advertising design, a BFA in illustration, and a BS in business. We also have several certifications in web design and most recently a certification as a Creatively Fit Coach.  We also have over 70 years of combined experience working in both the public & private sectors. We have held art director & creative director positions and have managed departments that created artwork for organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, and Hewlett Packard. In addition to our experience & credentials, our business has won numerous awards—both for our business & as individuals. You would think that with this knowledge that there would be the respect and our clients would acknowledgement that our pricing is fair and worth it.

I could go on & on, and I know that you are probably saying to yourself that what I am writing today sounds like a rant, but it’s not. Our clients and business colleagues know this about us and we invite you to call us to set up an introductory 1-2-1 so we can share what we know and to help you with your creative needs.

So, to wrap up my short commentary, I thought I would share a couple of humorous posts that were forwarded to me by a colleague that they spotted on Craigslist (this is what started my “rant” :->)

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We’re all pretty tired of being asked to work on spec, work for a low fee with the promise of more work, and that sort of nonsense. These two ads appeared on the S___e Craigslist:

Need Photographer (originally posted March 10th)
We are a 5 person construction company and need to update our website and brochure with NEW images of our staff. We would like to give an opportunity to the right photographer to take our company images. Ideally we need a formal and an informal picture, also a landscape shot of our company vehicle. Basically these pictures will help us get off the ground and renovate our website. If you do a good enough job on our company portraits then you will ideally be awarded a future PAID contract to take pictures of our job sites (once we get a job!). We will want to have the rights to be able to use the photos on our website and brochure/print media. You will get a boost to your portfolio!

Experience in corporate photography along with a portfolio is a MUST or your email will be disregarded. We are looking at scheduling the shoot within the next week so be prepared to move fast!

And then a clever photographer posted the following:

Need Construction Crew (originally posted March 12th)
We are a 5 person photography company and need to update our photography studio and shooting space with NEW office spaces for our staff. We would like to give an opportunity to the right construction crew to build our new company digs. Ideally we need a formal and an informal working space, also a landscape crew for our out side shooting area. Basically these structures will help us get off the ground and renovate our old space. If you do a good enough job on our company building then you will ideally be awarded a future PAID contract to build structures of our photography clients (once we get a job!). We will want to have the rights to be able to exploit you as we see fit just for credit and a great job! You will get a boost to your structure building skills!

Experience in corporate building along with a portfolio is a MUST or your email will be disregarded, after all beggars can be choosers. We are looking at scheduling the construction within the next week so be prepared to move fast!