Design Sanity Tip – Choose when to work for free wisely

So it’s going to happen. Someone will approach you a design and ask you to do some work for free. Well, design isn’t free. So why do these people think it’s ok to ask you to do something for free. No one ever approaches a doctor and asks them to do some free surgery, and no one approaches a Walmart clerk and asks them for free stuff… On second thought, that last one probably happens every day.

But still, we’ve all been burned before, and we work hard for our money, so hard for it honey. Here’s a quick list to help you determine if your next freebie will be worth it.

1. You’re building your portfolio

   This is the most obvious solution, but here’s the kicker; you determine this, not the client. It’s not for the person giving you the project to say whether or not this would be good for you. Give your portfolio a good looking over, and if there is an area where you feel you’re not strong, then go out and grab yourself a freebee, and explain to the client your plans to use the work.

2. They intend to pay later (and they actually will)

   Here’s one that’s really hard to figure out. You’re going to have to take your emotions out of this one. If the person simply “doesn’t have the money right now” they’re probably no good. We’ve all been burned by this before. Besides if the client doesn’t have their finances together, they probably aren’t going to be easy to work with when it comes to revisions and updates. Instead search for people who involved in organizations, have fall back plans, and are working with more than one person. All are signs that there is group-vested interest.

3. You need to learn something

   When you need to pick up a new skill, sometimes you can bite the bullet and work for free. Learning a new program or technology is always more clear when you have a real life situation to use it in. Also, chances are that if this is your first project of this type, you’re not going to produce something that’s world class. Don’t we all have a document out there in someone else’s hand that we’re not proud of?

4. You actually believe in the cause

   If this is an organization that you believe in, works as a non-profit, or backs up something that you really feel is important to your life and the lives of others, you can consider working for free. But if you do, limit your scope and agree upon exactly what will be done ahead of time. These types of people/places are big on the phrase “One more thing.”

5. It’s a huge opportunity

   Every once in a while, a project will come along (if you’re lucky) that has potential to be the next big thing. It’s an obvious truth, that at one point, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Microsoft, and other all were at a point where people were working just under the belief that their idea would change the world. In very few cases, that’s actually true. Choose these projects wisely, and believe in the people you’re working with.

6. It’s good for your career

   Sometimes working for free, or “doing a professional favor” can help build reputation with an organization. It can also give you the chance to work with people you normally wouldn’t, and gain your exposure outside of your normal realm. It’s a small incontinence to work for free in these cases, especially if you can leverage the visibility and networking to score you a better position in the long run.

There’s a few more scenarios, but the biggest take away from this is to work for free when there’s a benefit that goes beyond money. And honestly, if you can get paid while doing any of these things, by all means do. A designers gotta eat right?