Comments on: Common Design Scams http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/ Graphic Design Blog, Tips, Tutorials and Jobs Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:19:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: design guy http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-26316 design guy Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:46:20 +0000 http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/03/07/common-design-scams/#comment-26316 my early months after graduating I landed a job I found on craigslist, the guy had an office in LA, third floor in a nice small plaza with other businesses. The company had a few offices from, lobby to a conference room, long story short my first week I didn't see many people working there, is if they were all fired, there were a few but not as many as the place can hold, it turned out that the company was doing bad, and I was working directly with the boss to get some funds to pay for himself and the few other's, I got screwed because I trusted this place and the boss, he's free lunches and good feelings, he even signed me checks which bounced and I ended up owing the bank, he had also left for vacation and I had done some home work, I demanded my well earned pay and ended up getting more checks that ended up bouncing back a few days later, and me owing more money to the bank, I walked away second week or so of work, was not going to stick around for promise work/good checks and other lies. he's company needed me that I was sure off, but you can't do business for free, I had bills to pay as he himself. Luckily I learned early and I took that experience to future clients which helped me grow in regards to getting paid and just to be confident in continuing to do freelance, and let that be a turning point. don't work for free, if you want to boost up your portfolio do some design campaign/stationary, web page layout or poster/illustration whatever it is, just do it yourself on your own free time, but some fake brand and just add it to your portfolio, my portfolio has always had 50% invented work, and the other actual worked, has landed me many jobs. Most clients just want to see what your capable off, don't really care about education or background. Try quality and good attitude. much luck to everyone, hope that helps someone. my early months after graduating I landed a job I found on craigslist, the guy had an office in LA, third floor in a nice small plaza with other businesses. The company had a few offices from, lobby to a conference room, long story short my first week I didn’t see many people working there, is if they were all fired, there were a few but not as many as the place can hold, it turned out that the company was doing bad, and I was working directly with the boss to get some funds to pay for himself and the few other’s, I got screwed because I trusted this place and the boss, he’s free lunches and good feelings, he even signed me checks which bounced and I ended up owing the bank, he had also left for vacation and I had done some home work, I demanded my well earned pay and ended up getting more checks that ended up bouncing back a few days later, and me owing more money to the bank, I walked away second week or so of work, was not going to stick around for promise work/good checks and other lies.

he’s company needed me that I was sure off, but you can’t do business for free, I had bills to pay as he himself. Luckily I learned early and I took that experience to future clients which helped me grow in regards to getting paid and just to be confident in continuing to do freelance, and let that be a turning point.

don’t work for free, if you want to boost up your portfolio do some design campaign/stationary, web page layout or poster/illustration whatever it is, just do it yourself on your own free time, but some fake brand and just add it to your portfolio, my portfolio has always had 50% invented work, and the other actual worked, has landed me many jobs. Most clients just want to see what your capable off, don’t really care about education or background. Try quality and good attitude.

much luck to everyone, hope that helps someone.

]]> 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.

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