reluctant ramblings

Papamoa beach, NZ.

A lot of what I do I give away. I don’t make a big song and dance about it, there’s just some of what I do for less than it costs me, or free. I enjoy having the discretion to do so - its a privileged position.

So, a while back, I was asked to “free pitch” on some work - high profile work that would have been fun to get. But, there was a problem. It’s the “free pitch” part that’s wrong. “Free Pitching” is where you put your best ideas to a potential client, along with the work of other designers, in the hope of winning the job. It’s bad. An organisation is saying “Do the hard creative work for free, and we’ll choose the one we like”. Its bad for a bunch of reasons, but mostly its bad because its unjust. You’re being asked to work for a week or more for no pay unless you win the beauty parade.

I declined the invitation, but I just know that an inexperienced or desperate few will have submitted work, in the hope that they get the job. But only one will.

(there - I’ve vented.)

Now, that’s what I call “Working Under the Hood”.

or at least, the closest I’ve been to one. Its apt, though. Thanks to Cheryl for using this on a book cover!