What is “free pitching”? And why you won’t find us doing it.
In the dynamic world of graphic design, there's a practice that’s been a source of contention for many professionals: free pitching. It involves creating design concepts or submitting work for a project without any guarantee of payment, and it has sparked debates within our industry since the first stone was chiseled in the cave.
The most common experience we’ve had over the years, is clients asking us to provide ideas or sample work to make a decision about whether they’ll engage us further. But why do many designers, including ourselves, choose not to engage in free pitching? Spoiler: it’s pretty much the same reason why you wouldn’t ask a builder to build your house and only pay them if you liked it.
The value of creativity: Design is not just about putting together colours and shapes; it's a thoughtful process that requires skill and expertise honed over years and years. By engaging in free pitching, we risk devaluing the creative work that goes into each project. It's important to recognise and respect the value of our craft.
Time and resources: We invest significant time and effort into understanding our client's needs, brainstorming ideas, and bringing concepts to life. When we participate in free pitching, we're essentially giving away our time and expertise for free. This not only undermines our profession but also takes time away from other clients who we’ve committed billable time to.
Quality over quantity: In a competitive market, clients may request free pitches from multiple designers to choose the best concept. it gives them a preview and the reassurance that they’ll love what they’re paying for. However, this approach often prioritises quantity over quality. By focusing on creating numerous concepts for free, we find compromise in the depth and quality of our work. As a bespoke studio, we believe in a thorough briefing process that helps deliver high-quality solutions tailored to our clients' needs, and that requires time and dedication.
Fair compensation: Design is a profession, and like any other profession, it deserves fair compensation. Engaging in free pitching perpetuates the notion that creative work should be cheap or even free. By standing firm on the principle of fair compensation, we advocate for the value of design and the importance of investing in quality work.
Building meaningful relationships: We’re not just the hired help, we’re your creative partner, and we want to be that for a really long time. Respectful client relationships are built on mutual trust and understanding. When clients expect free pitches, it creates an unequal dynamic where the designer is seen as a commodity rather than a valued piece of the solution. By establishing clear boundaries and expectations from the outset, we foster healthier and more collaborative relationships with our clients that move us from a transaction to a relationship.
What you can expect from us:
When you’re investing any amount of money in your business (especially if you’re new to engaging a professional), we understanding that a try-before-you-buy situation can put your mind at ease. However there are a few things that we do to reassure our clients that ours is a partnership of listening, feedback and flexibility.
We ask a lot of questions: We want get to know you and your business. We want to know why you get up in the morning, who you serve, and why you love it. Bring us on on the journey! This helps us make micro-decisions on your behalf even before you’ve seen the first draft, and ensures the work that we create for you is an extension of your voice and operations.
We listen: You’re not a professional graphic designer, so we completely understand that sometime it’s hard to put your feedback into words, or you can’t quite put your finger on what you need to. We listen intently, and ask questions to draw out what we need to land on the perfect solution. We provided multiple opportunities to connect throughout the lifespan of your project, as well as up to two rounds of changes to put the icing on the cake.
We keep working: If we give you a design that doesn’t tick the boxes for you, we keep working on it. If you’ve changed your mind, that’s ok too! Our thorough briefing and scoping process means that we all know where the goal posts if we haven’t kicked the goal, or they need to move.
There are no awkward conversations: Have a question about money, or are worried you’ll offend us because you don’t like the colour we’ve chosen? We’re open to tricky conversations because we’re a team.
Portfolio examples: In life, you choose to shop somewhere that’s just your style, or eat at a restaurant where you love the food. Engaging a graphic designer is no different. We have a wide ranging portfolio that showcases our unique style, and allows you to get a feel for whether it’s right for you and your project. We’re happy to provide examples of similar projects, and then give yours the same time and attention it deserves.
Our decision not to free pitch is rooted in a commitment to upholding the value of creativity, respecting the time and effort of designers, prioritising quality over quantity, advocating for fair compensation, and building respectful client relationships. By standing firm on these principles, we not only elevate the standards of our profession but also contribute to a more sustainable and equitable design industry.