Obama Solicits Designers to Work *Unpaid* on ... Job Creation Poster!

[Thornysarus]

Oh, the irony:

Obama Solicits Designers to Work - Unpaid - on ... Jobs Poster | Tim Dickinson | Rolling Stone

[40ozGraphics]

I don't know, it's not like a for-profit tee shirt company running a contest. The solicitation was targeted at people who have been involved in Obama's campaign in the past - people who have already contributed. I've done pro-bono work for non-profits that I feel inclined to support and it hasn't undercut my ability to make a living as a designer. I received this solicitation and chose not to participate because I was busy doing other work. The solicitation didn't come from Obama (as the article's title declares) but from his campaign committee.

[Shemick]

Shitty time to be named Scott Walker... in WI anyway.

[hartman]

Shows just how little the general public appreciates / understands what we do.

I don't know, it's not like a for-profit tee shirt company running a contest. The solicitation was targeted at people who have been involved in Obama's campaign in the past - people who have already contributed. I've done pro-bono work for non-profits that I feel inclined to support and it hasn't undercut my ability to make a living as a designer. I received this solicitation and chose not to participate because I was busy doing other work. The solicitation didn't come from Obama (as the article's title declares) but from his campaign committee.

Pro-bono work is fine. But this isn't a soup kitchen. It's a campaign with $60 million on hand asking for free work. It's just frustrating. Also, just because doing free work doesn't hurt your ability to make a living as a designer doesn't mean it doesn't hurt our industry. If you do a job for free, it means someone else isn't getting paid to do that job.

[40ozGraphics]

Actually if I don't a job for free for a cause that I choose, it's not going to get done or it's going to get done by someone who isn't really a designer. Believe me, I understand the issue. I think this particular instance is trying to tap into an activist sensibility rather than a professional designer sensibility. I think the line exists there between this sort of thing and a "design contest" that pits designers against each other to come up with a marketable product that the designers won't even benefit from. Remember when Judge asked folks to submit designs to protest the politics of the Wisconsin Scott Walker? That issue is about jobs too.

[lil_tuffy]

I think you're missing the point, Scott. Not paying someone to create a poster with an intended message of paying people to work is kinda fucked up.

[l.stalions]

I agree with Tuffy. Wow, that's the first time and maybe the last time I will ever type that.

[weaponsofmassdesign]

My local AIGA chapter had a bunch of folks debating on whether or not it was considered spec work. When the person that originally started the conversation was pointing out how messed up the concept of not paying some one to design a poster that would help people get jobs. Wound up taking a long time for the original point to get re-established.

[weaponsofmassdesign]

Interesting read on the matter here:
Obama Solicits Designers to Work - Unpaid - on ... Jobs Poster | Tim Dickinson | Rolling Stone

[40ozGraphics]

I see the supposed irony - I get that. But I think if you look at the situation more closely and understand that there is a history of art and activism and politics, you'll see that that they are trying to tap into that. They aren't placing a help wanted, they are calling on activists to get involved. I know people who have done payed work for this campaign and others. They employ a lot of creatives and pay well and on time. This is just something else altogether.