“Need Cheap Graphic Design Work”

“Logo Design Contest!”

“Looking to add to your portfolio/experience?”

“This should be a quick job if you are competent in graphic design…”

These are a very small selection of the endless phrases/job headlines that people use to achieve cheap graphic design work to even free graphic design work. I couldn’t count the amount of times I encounter this daily, in my search for graphic design work as a freelancer. This article serves as an informational rant (which has been done before by others, but would like to add to the dialogue), that has surfaced from my personal experience of audacious requests that people have for freelance graphic designers. With tips for both clients and freelancers that will hopefully spark a change in the profession.

There Is No Such Thing As Free or Cheap Graphic Design Work

Let’s start this off with this idea, “There is no such thing as free or cheap work”. When clients post jobs with hopes to find free or cheap graphic design work, it is insulting to us as freelancers. The work may in the end be free or cheap to you as a client, but to us it certainly is not.

The effort we spend looking for jobs in multiple places, communicating with clients at all times of the day, updating our portfolio/websites, etc. as well as the graphic designing part that you sought after isn’t free or cheap. It costs us our time which goes unseen and is quite valuable. Also there is the money we spend on design software, design tools (notebooks, tablets, stationary), a computer, computer accessories, etc. If all of this isn’t free, then why should people be able to get free graphic design work? Here’s the answer: they shouldn’t.

Want To Add To Your Portfolio/Experience?

F*** No! I mean, if it isn’t for free graphic design work than yes I would. When people use this as a way to reel in fresh freelance graphic designers and graphic design students I get the urge to throw up. Offering to act as resume experience for a student is great, but not being able to pay them doesn’t correlate very well. If your company was worth putting on a resume, then maybe you would have a sufficient amount of funds to compensate them for the hardwork they put in for your sorry company.

Students are looking to expand their knowledge and experience through work that pays them this knowledge as well as moneys. By offering them no pay, you are devaluing the profession as a whole and showing to the new and upcoming graphic designers that maybe this space isn’t for them. In turn, acting as a dream killer.

Asking Freelancers to Submit Mock Ups Before Hire

This is entirely BULLS***. Asking freelancers to participate in contests (thanks 99designs) or to submit mock ups before being hired is ridiculous and disrespectful. It shows that the hiring party has a lack of respect for the time that we freelancers put in, as well as the skills and the profession as a whole. Freelancers put a lot of thought, research, and labor into these contest designs and mockups with empty pockets to show for afterwards. Sometimes, nobody is awarded the job or hired when the hiring party just outright steals the design ideas. This kind of tactic used by people to achieve free graphic design work is absolutely disgusting. The kind of people that do this are probably the same people that eat an entire meal at a restaurant and decide after eating it all that they didn’t like it, so they bitch and moan for a refund.

Let’s take a look at this in a different profession to get a better picture of this absurdity. Let’s say I wanted a house built and I post a job asking for general contractors to construct me a house. But I tell them, “Build me the house first and if I decide I like it, then I will pay you. Also I have 10 other general contractors doing the same thing so you have competition”. I know what you are thinking. This sounds straight up stupid, I know. But despite this being at a different scale of work, the principle stays true throughout.

How would you like it if you didn’t know if you were going to be paid for your work? Again, there is no such thing as free or cheap graphic design work. This kind of thing is actually called “spec work” which can be learned more about by clicking here: No!Spec

Let’s Change The Way We Treat Graphic Designers

Let’s treat graphic designers with the same respect that we do any other profession. That is, respecting them by expecting to pay them for any type of work completed. Freelancers choose to do freelance work because it is what they love to do. By changing the way we find and conduct business as graphic design freelancers and clients, we are able to increase the value of the profession as well as the compensation towards freelancers. To hopefully something that can be lived off of for a larger amount of the freelance population. Creativity is a valuable resource, let’s treat it as such.

As promised, here are some tips to both freelancers and clients to hopefully transition towards this change, and give freelancers the respect, value, and recognition they deserve.

Freelancers:

Don’t respond to job postings that ask for any type of free work or enter design contests

Pick an hourly rate you think is parallel with your set of skills, charge this amount confidently and consistently

Update your website/portfolio often to showcase your work. This is to give future clients a better taste of what you have to offer

Utilize contracts to lay down the rules for number of revisions, deliverables, payment, etc.

If you don’t use contracts, use watermarks and try to negotiate up front payments to avoid idea theft

Share this article and the many others like it on the web. Share it with fellow freelancers, people you see taking advantage of freelancers, and everyone else

Clients:

Don’t post jobs asking for any type of free work or host any contests for designs

Don’t expect to be cheap for quality work

Picture yourself in the freelancers shoes

Give freelancers detailed briefs on what you are looking for

Maintain a high level of communication and respect

Don’t ask for too many revisions without expecting to pay more

Respect the freelancers profession as if it were your own

Also check out this website, Freelancers Union, a great cause towards the betterment of freelancers: FreelancersUnion