Are you a web designer/developer? Or maybe you have hired a web designer to design a website or logo for you before. Then I'm quite sure you have encountered SPEC.

What is SPEC?
SPEC or Speculative work simply means work that has been requested but there is no agreement on the fee yet.

This problem is usually experienced by those in the web creative field especially those who just graduated or are new to the field.

An example of SPEC - Someone requests a designer to design a few set of logos and will only pay if he/she likes the designers work. 

You might ask why is this wrong. Don't you have the right to pay only when you like the work? Well let me tell you something, you don't do that in the 'real' world. You don't go into a hair salon and pay only if you like the result of your hair cut. You don't go and have dinner at a restaurant and not pay for it if you don't fancy the food. But that is what is happening in the web designing business.

Please spare a thought that we web designers/developers are trying to make a living. Another classic excuse people like to give for not paying is that it gives the designer 'exposure'. Well this 'Exposure' ain't gonna pay the bills.

I hope this article of SPEC has educated you on the wrongfulness of SPEC. I do hope you spread this article to your friends and family.

So next time you want to hire a web designer/developer for your multimedia solution and want to go the 'SPEC route', take a moment and think would you do a job for free? And to my fellow web designer/developer brothers and sisters, SAY NO TO SPEC!

Til next time. Au Revoir.