“Do me a favor?”
It’s what makes every Graphic Designer cringe, once they hear that question. It usually means: “Wanna make me something for free?”
I know I’m going to offend some people who read my blog here that I know in person, because they’ve asked me to do such things. Which is fine. I’ve done them. But I really want to lay this out on the table for everyone else.
You don’t know how many people think I can “whip up” something in no time. It doesn’t take a short while to come up with a design piece that I’m proud of. It takes a lot of thought, and energy to come up with some really different pieces. I just don’t have ideas for your wedding invitations or christmas party floating around in my head. I mean, I don’t need to be a negative nancy (ha!) here, but seriously? If I wanted to be a freelancer, I would’ve been. But I’m not.
Another thing. Just because we’re friends, doesn’t mean that I am going to work for free, or even give you a discount. My work takes a lot of time, and a lot of times I don’t like to freelance based on the rates and trust me. It’s quite high. Especially since I’ve been a Graphic Designer for 5 years. While I do work full time 5 days a week at my job, and while it doesn’t feel like work at all and I truly do enjoy what I do. I just want people to think before they ask someone such a favor.
For instance, I worked on design project as a humerous joke. Sent it to some people. Weeks later one of the people on that mailing list asked me to re-create the exact same thing, with different images. I can’t elaborate on it too much because a few people I know read this blog and they’ll know who I’m speaking about. But what was involved in that project was a lot of manipulation inside photoshop. It took HOURS. I’m not sure how many people really and truly understand that.
I just had to let that out there. That’s one massive absolutely huge pet peeve of mine.
To leave you with a little humor, I found this image online. “Should I work for free?”. Most of the time the answer is no— lol.
[Start in the middle + click to enlarge]
Almost as annoying as asking the neighbour you only half know to do your taxes for you, for a piece of gum. Sure I’d take up on that offer, since I’m addicted to gum (only while sitting at a computer) but I mean c’mon the least you can do is return the favor and give a nationwide insurance review for my little white car. I know, that last paragraph made no sense. It’s not supposed to. Today will be my 5th day at CrossFit. I’m losing my mind. I drank the kool-aid. Addicting.
