Comments on: Is Tim Ferriss acting like an asshole?

By: Chris Yakimov

Chris Yakimov — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:38:51 +0000

Awesome. Designers should NOT be working for free.
Thanks for nailing the thought down hard.

By: Kelly Nelson

Kelly Nelson — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:46:25 +0000

Here where I live this practice has become epidemic. The local "cool" French bakery,located in my largely artistic neighborhood, hosted a contest for the privilege of selling their merchandise with your design plastered all over their shit. My routine response has been quiet disapproval to these contests has now been replaced with public disdain. I've been met with much the same response as Tim's. The 'ole, "great exposure" response has my mind flashing with images of Dick Cheney and seeing a rather menacing shade of red. The motivation is pure and simple.... greed and no true appreciation for work. I've begun asking these businesses for spec work (e.g. cook me a specific custom cake at which point I'll eat and decide if I want to use your recipe so I can sell it myself.)

By: The best design articles of 2009

The best design articles of 2009 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:01:26 +0000

[...] Is Tim Ferris acting like an asshole? [...]

By: Spec-Work: Exploitation or Good Practice?

Spec-Work: Exploitation or Good Practice? — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:02:18 +0000

[...] Karjaluoto at his graphic design and branding blog, Ideas on Ideas wrote a post regarding Tim Ferris’ relaunch of his book, The Four Hour Work Week. In particular, he speaks [...]

By: Eric Karjaluoto

Eric Karjaluoto — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:15:26 +0000

No, I didn't do the same thing when Guy wrote his book, but it's not like I wouldn't have.

It's just that (contrary to what one might believe) there's actually more to my day than just writing articles about spec-work.

By: Choc

Choc — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:25:47 +0000

I'm fine if you want to rant on Tim Ferriss for sponsoring this context. It is your perogative. But did you post the same rant when Guy Kawasaki did the same thing for his book entrepreneurism, The Art of the Start?

I think this idea comes up in the entrepreneur genre. You may not want to enter the contest, but you may end up getting paid to adapt someone's submitted design. Is it so bad that you might help a new designer launch their career or, heaven forbid, actually use your technical skill to make a rookie designer's work printable?

By: Stephen A.

Stephen A. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:24:14 +0000

Tim's not an asshole, per se, he just wants to drive wages for ALL professions down as close to ZERO as possible, that's all. And if that means outsourcing every single job in America to slave-wage nations, then by golly, that's what we'll have to do - according to Tim. If that's what qualifies as "evil" then yeah, he's acting like an asshole, but just like the rest of corporate America.

By: Arthur Badger

Arthur Badger — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:38:15 +0000

I am not a designer, but I find this debate utterly fascinating.

I would ask all of you that are designers to ponder this question:

No one cleans toilets on spec, no one fixes cars on spec, no one flips burgers on spec. Why is that no one is willing to do those things on spec, but there are people willing to design book covers, logos, and websites on spec?

I intend nothing mean-spirited, and I propose it with all sincerity for your consideration.

By: Steven Moody

Steven Moody — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:52:33 +0000

Eric, my dream isn't to be a human-cog at McDonald's, so they would definitely have to pay for me to work there.

As for your offer, I have to decline for geographical reasons, but if you know of any San Diego agencies with a disposition similar to yours, I would be interested in the non-monetary benefits of such an offer.

By: Charles Brock

Charles Brock — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:33:49 +0000

In my 13 years of designing I've learned that people who approach you to work for free or with the promise of a payoff if it's successful are people who don't value what you have to offer. It is more often than not a bad experience and the end result is not anything you would want your name on or would want to be associated with. My policy now is to politely say no and that we would be happy to quote them a price if they would like.