Society of Graphic Designers of Canada
GDC’s policy on spec work
The code of ethics of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC), prohibits its members from engaging in speculative work.
Spec work and why it is a harmful practice
Doing work on spec amounts to providing design work for free (or for a nominal fee) as part of a pitch for new business. Uninformed clients mistakenly believe that requiring spec work as part of their search and selection process for a graphic designer or design firm is a good business practice. Spec work is universally condemned as an unethical business practice by responsible designers and design organizations around the world.
Spec work:
- is exploitative and unethical, a demand for free design work without guarantee of compensation, offers no future economic potential,
- can lead to infringement of intellectual property rights (copyright and moral rights),
- devalues the profession of graphic design and leads to negative competitive practices,
- is also discouraged by allied professions such as the advertising industry, and
- is unlikely to meet a client’s marketing and communication objectives.
Spec work threatens the integrity and work ethic of the graphic design profession. Neither the designer nor the client benefit from spec work. Designers who work on spec cannot do justice to the design brief and are unlikely to conduct the research and analysis needed to produce their best work because they have no guarantee of remuneration. Their abilities to act as professional consultants, partners or members of a client’s strategic communications team are not used.
How to select a graphic designer or design firm
- Develop and advertise a Request for Proposal (RFP) to include information about the project background, your objectives, the scope of the work, time requirements, proposal requirements (tasks, deliverables, designated team members, timing, budget, relevant experience and client references).
- If you are certain you require a presentation of creative ideas from more than one graphic designer or design firm, we recommend that you pay a fee to each competitor. The amount should be equivalent to what a reasonable design fee and expenses would be for a similar project under normal circumstances.
- If such a payment cannot be justified for your project, or if you require the work to be done pro bono, then choose a graphic designer or design firm by obtaining referrals from colleagues, reviewing portfolios and checking client references.
- These selection guidelines apply to both for-profit and non-profit business entities, and for both paid and pro bono projects.
(Text adapted from content supplied by RGD Ontario, with permission.)
More information
National Secretariat
Society of Graphic Designers of Canada
Arts Court 2 Daly Avenue
Ottawa Ontario K1N 6E2
Call Toll Free 877 496 4453
Local Tel 613 567 5400
Fax 613 564 4428
Email: info@gdc.net