Comments on: Common Design Scams http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/ Graphic Design Blog, Tips, Tutorials and Jobs Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:19:57 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ergin http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-14627 ergin Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:48:57 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-14627 nice tutorial... nice tutorial…

]]> By: Adrian http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-12128 Adrian Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:59:10 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-12128 Just last week made a pitch to a potential client for a web development job. I work as a freelance web design/developer very small fry. The prospects wife suggested I provide an example design and then make a decision as to wether they would hire me to develop their website. This is first time this has happened to me, but politely explained the amount of time and effort invested in the design phase of any project. The wife was shuffled from the office and the prospect is now a client. Don't under value your skills. There are some people out there that will say to themselves "If he'll do that for free, what else can I get out of him?". Just last week made a pitch to a potential client for a web development job. I work as a freelance web design/developer very small fry.
The prospects wife suggested I provide an example design and then make a decision as to wether they would hire me to develop their website.
This is first time this has happened to me, but politely explained the amount of time and effort invested in the design phase of any project. The wife was shuffled from the office and the prospect is now a client.
Don’t under value your skills. There are some people out there that will say to themselves “If he’ll do that for free, what else can I get out of him?”.

]]> By: Design Arad http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-12102 Design Arad Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:22:34 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-12102 It is almost impossible for a young creative professional not to hit a few scams at the start of his carer, it does happen in other professions too. One of the most important lesson is to learn when to say "No" and drop the client/project, even if you have invested some time into it. Another common problem for freelancers is the "scope creep". It appears most frequently on the long projects. It has a huge potential for money loss. It can be avoided with a proper project management and a methodical way of doing work. It is almost impossible for a young creative professional not to hit a few scams at the start of his carer, it does happen in other professions too.

One of the most important lesson is to learn when to say “No” and drop the client/project, even if you have invested some time into it.

Another common problem for freelancers is the “scope creep”. It appears most frequently on the long projects. It has a huge potential for money loss. It can be avoided with a proper project management and a methodical way of doing work.

]]> By: 50 Must-Read Resources For Incredible Web Design http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-12061 50 Must-Read Resources For Incredible Web Design Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:40:29 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-12061 [...] Common Design Scams [...] [...] Common Design Scams [...]

]]> By: John Boyd http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-4615 John Boyd Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:14:29 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-4615 Be warned. Get a Freelancer.com is the worst for these types of scams. Whenever you see an ad or post requesting design samples flag them to be removed or boycott them. Let's unite to stop the exploitation designers. If we refuse to work for sub standard wages the industry will reward all of us. If we keep low balling to get work sure we may get more but we'll have to do 5x the jobs to make a living. This hurts all of us. Yes this includes India and the like. John www.johnwboyd.info Be warned. Get a Freelancer.com is the worst for these types of scams. Whenever you see an ad or post requesting design samples flag them to be removed or boycott them. Let’s unite to stop the exploitation designers. If we refuse to work for sub standard wages the industry will reward all of us. If we keep low balling to get work sure we may get more but we’ll have to do 5x the jobs to make a living. This hurts all of us. Yes this includes India and the like.

John
http://www.johnwboyd.info

]]> By: chris http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-4397 chris Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:40:07 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-4397 Nice post! Gino and I were going over this just yesterday. Ironic that there was a recent post on the matter. Haha. The that I have known for a while tried to get me to do cd album covers for free so that I would get "recognition" and get my name out there. HAH! Wasn't he wrong. (Dropped the client ^_^) ~chris Nice post!

Gino and I were going over this just yesterday. Ironic that there was a recent post on the matter. Haha.

The that I have known for a while tried to get me to do cd album covers for free so that I would get “recognition” and get my name out there. HAH! Wasn’t he wrong. (Dropped the client ^_^)

~chris

]]> By: Anurag Sharma http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3965 Anurag Sharma Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:41:54 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3965 This is a very well written article. I truly believe that designing has been more commercial now than artistic. Most of the clients look around for "cheap" designers. And definitely the reasons mentioned are absolutely right, especially the 4th one regarding the Indian designers. I am an Indian designer myself and have seen people stooping too low to get work from clients. It is pathetic to see this happening. I personally don't take up cheap works, unless I am in a real need of money. The effort is simply not worth the effort or, no offense, even the client doesn't deserve that kind of effort at times. This is a very well written article.

I truly believe that designing has been more commercial now than artistic. Most of the clients look around for “cheap” designers. And definitely the reasons mentioned are absolutely right, especially the 4th one regarding the Indian designers. I am an Indian designer myself and have seen people stooping too low to get work from clients. It is pathetic to see this happening. I personally don’t take up cheap works, unless I am in a real need of money. The effort is simply not worth the effort or, no offense, even the client doesn’t deserve that kind of effort at times.

]]> By: Kofi Ansah http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3749 Kofi Ansah Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:02:28 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3749 I'm a beginner at web design and i currently did something simple for my website... a Flash website.. real simple because i'm new to web design, even though I am alright in Flash and quite good in Photoshop. Anyway, This 16 year old guy from German somehow cam accross my website and saw my msn contact in my contacts page.. He added me on msn and asked me if he could use one of my old website layouts i don't use nomore.. Not knowing about this scam and since i didn't need that old layout, i didn't hesitate and offerd him my layout in PSD format but then told him not to use it but to look at it and dom something similar with his own style.. Well, I guess he didn't listen to that.. He then later on kept on bombarding me to help him with designs and to fix some premade flash websites he downloaded to use for his page because he doen't know anything about flash... he basically depended on me to do his work and website for him free of charge.. I think last week or so he came back wanting me to fix a Flash site for his friend but I told him I can't do it.. and if he wanted a Flash website, he should learn tutorials like I did and became familiar with the program.. and since then, he's not been able to ask me to do anything for him ^_^ Next time, I'm charging ;) Great post by the way.. Regards, Kofi I’m a beginner at web design and i currently did something simple for my website… a Flash website.. real simple because i’m new to web design, even though I am alright in Flash and quite good in Photoshop.

Anyway, This 16 year old guy from German somehow cam accross my website and saw my msn contact in my contacts page.. He added me on msn and asked me if he could use one of my old website layouts i don’t use nomore.. Not knowing about this scam and since i didn’t need that old layout, i didn’t hesitate and offerd him my layout in PSD format but then told him not to use it but to look at it and dom something similar with his own style.. Well, I guess he didn’t listen to that..

He then later on kept on bombarding me to help him with designs and to fix some premade flash websites he downloaded to use for his page because he doen’t know anything about flash… he basically depended on me to do his work and website for him free of charge..

I think last week or so he came back wanting me to fix a Flash site for his friend but I told him I can’t do it.. and if he wanted a Flash website, he should learn tutorials like I did and became familiar with the program.. and since then, he’s not been able to ask me to do anything for him ^_^

Next time, I’m charging ;)

Great post by the way..

Regards,
Kofi

]]> By: Mark http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3670 Mark Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:17:13 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3670 You need to bring a really big and scary guy named "Guido" with you to the client meetings who only grunts in monosyllables. This can help facilitate the client to pay-up. Or else.... Then I believe the craft will regain the respect it deserves. You need to bring a really big and scary guy named “Guido” with you to the client meetings who only grunts in monosyllables. This can help facilitate the client to pay-up. Or else….

Then I believe the craft will regain the respect it deserves.

]]> By: Cory http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3459 Cory Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:47:34 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3459 How very true this post is. As a freelance designer and also a national sales rep. with a major printing firm I see this all day everyday.... from friends, from clients (current and potential). It is like being wrongly convicted of murder and then going out and bargain shopping for a lawyer. Okay maybe not that severe but still for many companies having a dynamic design to create a presence in the business world is the difference in that businesses life and death. So why would someone want to go out and get the cheapest possible. There is a really good article in a Printing Trade magazine that talks about firing bad clients because they cost you more money and sales than keeping the good ones and much the same is this article. It is better to kick these "want something for nothing" clients to the curb... even though they might pay right now in the long run you could get 10 clients to replace the one bad one. Because as we all know the ones who want it for nothing are usually the ones who want it redesigned 100 times. How very true this post is. As a freelance designer and also a national sales rep. with a major printing firm I see this all day everyday…. from friends, from clients (current and potential). It is like being wrongly convicted of murder and then going out and bargain shopping for a lawyer. Okay maybe not that severe but still for many companies having a dynamic design to create a presence in the business world is the difference in that businesses life and death. So why would someone want to go out and get the cheapest possible.

There is a really good article in a Printing Trade magazine that talks about firing bad clients because they cost you more money and sales than keeping the good ones and much the same is this article. It is better to kick these “want something for nothing” clients to the curb… even though they might pay right now in the long run you could get 10 clients to replace the one bad one. Because as we all know the ones who want it for nothing are usually the ones who want it redesigned 100 times.

]]> By: soul_reaver_222 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3426 soul_reaver_222 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:43:57 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3426 its really tough to start out as a designer, you get to do some jobs for free.. but you can always find a good client.. its really tough to start out as a designer, you get to do some jobs for free..
but you can always find a good client..

]]> By: Gino http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3415 Gino Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:22:51 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3415 I'm glad you guys liked it, I thought it was pretty funny too. =) I’m glad you guys liked it, I thought it was pretty funny too. =)

]]> By: nataJane http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3397 nataJane Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:42:22 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3397 This little cartoon is awesome! My husband is a graphic designer... we know how it goes... Too funny. This little cartoon is awesome! My husband is a graphic designer… we know how it goes… Too funny.

]]> By: Kimberly James http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3378 Kimberly James Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:49:04 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3378 This is a great post. I've been designing for a few years, but only recently went completely freelance, and boy it doesn't take long to start getting screwed over. One of my first clients and one after her decided after completion to go to paypal and get their money back..or half anyway. It seems you can do that easily over there. I learned real fast not to give any files until I get final payment. I got burned a few times. Currently I have a client wanting to hire me to do her a site, and since she just wanted a small simple site, I agreed to do it for $600..I know, bad choice. I actually just got an email this morning from her stating she was uncomfortable with my contract, and felt that she could incur additional costs. Now, the only thing in my contract that would be additional is Flash (billed separately by the hour), her not paying on time (I charge a small interest in my contract for that, but have never had to use it), or large scale changes after the site is finished and her 6 months of small updates are up. I do charge for ongoing SEO...I mean, I'm not continuing to do SEO for free. What do you guys think. This is a great post. I’ve been designing for a few years, but only recently went completely freelance, and boy it doesn’t take long to start getting screwed over. One of my first clients and one after her decided after completion to go to paypal and get their money back..or half anyway. It seems you can do that easily over there. I learned real fast not to give any files until I get final payment. I got burned a few times.

Currently I have a client wanting to hire me to do her a site, and since she just wanted a small simple site, I agreed to do it for $600..I know, bad choice. I actually just got an email this morning from her stating she was uncomfortable with my contract, and felt that she could incur additional costs. Now, the only thing in my contract that would be additional is Flash (billed separately by the hour), her not paying on time (I charge a small interest in my contract for that, but have never had to use it), or large scale changes after the site is finished and her 6 months of small updates are up.

I do charge for ongoing SEO…I mean, I’m not continuing to do SEO for free. What do you guys think.

]]> By: Bruno http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-3373 Bruno Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:48:51 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-3373 Great cartoon! Which i could say i had never been taken for a fool. But of course, i have. Great cartoon! Which i could say i had never been taken for a fool. But of course, i have.

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