Design Board | The Evil Side Effects of Spec Work

There is a riot going on. It’s about amateur designers diluting the pool of advanced professional work. It’s a great controversy really. Some designers think that spec work is a great way for amateur designers to get a foot in. A way for them to learn the trade and to develop the skills they need in order to score a job at some big shot design firm with  crap load of cash as salary. Then there’s the other side. The side that thinks the amateurs destroy the designer landscape with second grade designs and ideas.

I found a clip from 2009 SXSWi where a group of designers discuss the matter in front of an audience to try and figure out what is good and what is not. Being a designer myself I don’t really see the issue in the “professional designers” view to be honest. If they are afraid to lose jobs to second grade, inspired and dedicated designers then I guess they have to step up their game and do better. Work hard and prosper. That’s what it’s all about. No one has gotten right just sitting on their butt doing nothing. Bottom line…

However, I can understand some points they have and what they are about. But, again there is nothing that says “second grade” designer can’t deliver the same high quality work just as any other professional designers. Besides, how is an amateur to get in to the design industry without being able to get any experience? In my ears it just sounds like a brat’s loss of work and money. (Sorry for being so rude)

Check out this clip and tell me what you think? Is spec work that bad and what is the purpose of it?