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keysersoze145 · 08-02-2006, 07:19

I've had some bloke approach through my portfolio asking me to do some work on a website. He asked if I could provide some samples and a bid for the work.

As I work full time and not freelance I'm not really used to this sort of process, I just wanted to see what people's opinions were about producing designs for free to try and get a job.

I'm also a bit concered he's going to plagiarise my work.

Limbo · 08-02-2006, 08:11

It's all part of the game - give him an idea of your competency and creative thinking. If he likes your designs and chooses you - niceonce. If he doesn't and goes else where you'll have ammo for then next pitch. If he plagarises your work sue him.

cam · 08-02-2006, 09:17

i'd only do it if i thought it was a client I really wanted.

otherwise, your portfolio should be proof enough of what you can do

Limbo · 08-02-2006, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by cam

i'd only do it if i thought it was a client I really wanted.

Yeah - this is very true

ksudesigner · 08-02-2006, 17:40

Your portfolio should be sample enough for a client to choose you. My old boss would always have me provide samples when we submitted bids for jobs, and on more than one occasion we were declined the job but later we saw things that were VERY close to the ideas and concepts we provided. So my advice is to never do something like this (which is referred to in the industry as working on-spec). Think of the time you'll spend doing the samples...they aren't going to compensate you for that time (unless you get the job, then you can include it in your bill). I don't know about you, but my time sure as hell isn't free.

pgo · 08-02-2006, 21:37

How experienced are you? If you work full-time, presumably as a designer, and you've been doing so for a while, you've got no need to prove yourself beyond your portfolio.

d*d · 09-02-2006, 04:32

free pitching is something you should never need to do idealistically, but if you think the job/client is worth it then my advice is to stipulate that you get to present the work face to face, it'll make sure your ideas get across and it'll put you in a better position than those who just email/send their stuff.
Make it plain that you retain in copyright for the pitch work.

pixelpyro · 09-02-2006, 04:39

Beware the free pitch - you can never be sure

keysersoze145 · 09-02-2006, 06:36

Cheers for the advice, I've decided against doing the free samples. I'm just too busy at the moment with my full time job and building a new portfolio that I wouldn't be able to do a decent job on them anyway.

velizio · 09-02-2006, 07:10

Time is money.

Unless this is a fairly large organisation that would look good on your client list then I don't see a point in putting in the time for little or no guaranteed return. You could be spending time with a serious client who has already decided they like your level of creativity, and be earning some good money from it too.

Limbo · 09-02-2006, 07:34

do you get a good feeling about this client?

keysersoze145 · 09-02-2006, 08:08

Not really, the bloke doesn't seem too on the ball and didn't really give me a great indication of what he wanted.

mark_b · 10-02-2006, 12:14

i'd probably steer clear then. The client should be able to see the standard of your work, so from looking at it, will be able to understand grasp what it'll be like.

pedge · 10-02-2006, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by keysersoze145

Not really, the bloke doesn't seem too on the ball and didn't really give me a great indication of what he wanted.

I've done this once before and the customer wasted so much time it was untrue; the 'brief' changed several times and in the end they decided to put it 'on hold'.

If you really think its worth it, and they seem to have their head screwed on and are giving you answers quickly and concisely then go for it.

If they're umming and ah'ing, not quite sure what they want and need prompting then my advice is to steer clear unless you've nowt else to do.

New business start-ups are the worst; some are ok and focused because they're putting a lot into it (time & money) but others seem to be done as a hobby so there's no comittment (and probably no money either).

jdk · 12-04-2006, 11:17

Make sure you win the pitch, then charge it all into your costings.

Easier said than done I guess, there was a great article in Digit a month or so back about 'The Free Pitch'

08-02-2006, 07:19	#1 (permalink)
keysersoze145 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London (oh joy) Posts: 86	Pitching for free? I've had some bloke approach through my portfolio asking me to do some work on a website. He asked if I could provide some samples and a bid for the work. As I work full time and not freelance I'm not really used to this sort of process, I just wanted to see what people's opinions were about producing designs for free to try and get a job. I'm also a bit concered he's going to plagiarise my work.

09-02-2006, 04:39	#8 (permalink)
pixelpyro Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 658	Beware the free pitch - you can never be sure __________________ feel the heat.

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08-02-2006, 08:11	#2 (permalink)
Limbo On yer bike... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,951	It's all part of the game - give him an idea of your competency and creative thinking. If he likes your designs and chooses you - niceonce. If he doesn't and goes else where you'll have ammo for then next pitch. If he plagarises your work sue him.

08-02-2006, 09:17	#3 (permalink)
cam vague™ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 5,126	i'd only do it if i thought it was a client I really wanted. otherwise, your portfolio should be proof enough of what you can do

08-02-2006, 17:40	#5 (permalink)
ksudesigner Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 21	Your portfolio should be sample enough for a client to choose you. My old boss would always have me provide samples when we submitted bids for jobs, and on more than one occasion we were declined the job but later we saw things that were VERY close to the ideas and concepts we provided. So my advice is to never do something like this (which is referred to in the industry as working on-spec). Think of the time you'll spend doing the samples...they aren't going to compensate you for that time (unless you get the job, then you can include it in your bill). I don't know about you, but my time sure as hell isn't free.

08-02-2006, 21:37	#6 (permalink)
pgo i'm done, son Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,262	How experienced are you? If you work full-time, presumably as a designer, and you've been doing so for a while, you've got no need to prove yourself beyond your portfolio.

09-02-2006, 04:32	#7 (permalink)
d*d Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 2,977	free pitching is something you should never need to do idealistically, but if you think the job/client is worth it then my advice is to stipulate that you get to present the work face to face, it'll make sure your ideas get across and it'll put you in a better position than those who just email/send their stuff. Make it plain that you retain in copyright for the pitch work.

09-02-2006, 06:36	#9 (permalink)
keysersoze145 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London (oh joy) Posts: 86	Cheers for the advice, I've decided against doing the free samples. I'm just too busy at the moment with my full time job and building a new portfolio that I wouldn't be able to do a decent job on them anyway.

09-02-2006, 07:10	#10 (permalink)
velizio Motivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 70	Time is money. Unless this is a fairly large organisation that would look good on your client list then I don't see a point in putting in the time for little or no guaranteed return. You could be spending time with a serious client who has already decided they like your level of creativity, and be earning some good money from it too.

09-02-2006, 07:34	#11 (permalink)
Limbo On yer bike... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,951	do you get a good feeling about this client?

09-02-2006, 08:08	#12 (permalink)
keysersoze145 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London (oh joy) Posts: 86	Not really, the bloke doesn't seem too on the ball and didn't really give me a great indication of what he wanted.

10-02-2006, 12:14	#13 (permalink)
mark_b Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 34	i'd probably steer clear then. The client should be able to see the standard of your work, so from looking at it, will be able to understand grasp what it'll be like.

12-04-2006, 11:17	#15 (permalink)
jdk Multimedia Guru Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Halifax, UK Posts: 34	Make sure you win the pitch, then charge it all into your costings. Easier said than done I guess, there was a great article in Digit a month or so back about 'The Free Pitch'

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