On Altruism in Design
The backlash against spec work in the design industry is, as I see it, justified.
We are legitimate producers of value, and those contributions need to be reciprocated and respected.
I get that. I agree with that.
But let’s not forget the role that altruism, volunteer work and community involvement play in legitimizing our practice, as well. We are all working for a day when there’s a balanced relationship between those commissioning work and those creating it, but bearing our teeth at the scent of every contest will only spite ourselves in the end.
Let’s not forget that fighting for a more reasonable perception of our works requires only that we be judicious in our sharing, not dogmatic.
The backlash to the recent Obama Jobs poster contest has found me surprised. Not so much the lack of participation – I get not everybody has the time or interest to volunteer their time to a national campaign – but for the vitriol.
Despite it being odd that they’d ask for volunteer work on an economy-driving campaign, this promotion makes no bones about being strictly non-paying. They’re not soliciting assets with a lure for a potential return – they’re saying the return is in the involvement itself.
If we can’t ever share our talents without financial compensation without risking our industry’s legitimacy, then I question the viability of the legitimacy we think we’re protecting.
My dentist travels overseas annually to provide care for those who can’t ever come close to affording it. Lawyers provide pro bono work on a regular basis. Professional athletes participate as amateurs in the Olympic Games. All of these are respected and well-compensated professions.
I will know our industry has achieved the respect it desires when we can greet a promotion like this not with agitation, but indifference.
Or, possibly, altruism.
5 Responses to “On Altruism in Design”
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Very good post with good points. I agree that it’s very important to volunteer our services to things we believe in, and your doctor analogy is a great point. When it comes to the Obama poster request, the reason I responded with a respectful “No” is due to the fact that it is not a request for humane causes, but for a political campaign, and by submitting a design it becomes 100% property of the Obama campaign. This is not a civil request by the United States government for poster designs promoting Job growth. It’s requesting promo material for his re-election which I feel should be the responsibility of those in charge of his campaign. I hope that makes sense, and again thanks for the post, I completely agree that we should not be dogmatic.
@Ben Thanks for the response and especially the clarification. I have to admit, it was my mistaken impression that this was a campaign put out by Obama’s presidential office, not his presidential campaign.
I’m in full agreement that there’s a big difference between submitting something to the greater good (where it’s owned by “all of us”) and signing away rights to an individual or organization.
Point well-taken on the notion that it’s not just about compensation, it’s about ownership!
“Vitriol” is such a great word. Well put, Samuel and Ben, too. I don’t support or participate in design competitions personally, but I don’t assume that I can speak on behalf of every designer out there. Whining about a competition, or berating the people asking for participation, or those participating, is not productive. If your intention is to garner respect for the design community, well, you’re not doing us any favors.
My take on this specific campaign: take it or leave it, and don’t act like you speak for everyone.
I think the campaign was clear about the terms. If someone feels very strongly about re-electing the President and has time/effort/skill that they want to give away, why not? Each of us could stand to give something away, not expecting anything in return, for whatever cause we personally believe in.
Anyone who doesn’t feel strongly, or feels quite the opposite, should consider exercising a little tact, respectfully decline, move along and do something meaningful.
I see how you are concerned about being able to volunteer for a worthy cause. But spec work is not volunteering. Volunteering is donating time that will (should) be utilized by the cause you deem worthy.
And I think it’s rather relevant that you ask, since you are volunteering your time so generously to help AIGA Portland build our new web site. In fact there was similar concern when we asked for volunteers last year. I actually wrote a rather lengthy response to the difference between spec work and pro bono here:
http://aigaportland.org/news/aigas-stand-spec-work-vs-pro-bono
@Billy That’s a relevant post for sure.
I’m trying to understand why people are so quick to call this spec work – the AIGA defines it as “work done prior to engagement with a client in anticipation of being paid.”
As they’re very clear about the poster campaign not being pay work, how does this still apply? Or for you, is it less an issue of compensation and more an issue of the work possibly being used or not?