Should I Work For Free?

Just a little Monday morning design humour to cheer you through the weekend blues and into the working week.

A designer’s sense of humour is typically dry, very dry. Call it a vocational side effect or, more simply, a basic survival skill but either way – the wryness gets us through the working week of not so atypical conversations on the subject of speculative work. Brooklyn based letterer and graphic designer, Jessica Hische, oh talented lady of the Daily Drop Cap has yet again entertained and inspired us with her Should I Work For Free? Flowchart.

Exactly as she cites, and in keeping with some core graphic design principles, this flowchart is both humorous and practical! Should I Work For Free? Flowchart is available in bright 5-colour letterpress print to decorate your studio in, you can buy it here or, for webby types, view the full online version by clicking the image below.

And for those of you wondering what our views on Should I Work For Free? are: there’s very little we don’t share with Jessica’s opinion on the matter in the main. Essentially, you’ll have to make gut decisions on a project-by-project basis. Sometimes you’ll be right and other times folk will take the proverbial… you’ll just have to call whether you want to earn karma coupons in lieu of payment or if it’s just BS. Remember the saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!” – and this applies to a LOT of the promises of bigger picture rewards you’ll be bombarded with.

Designer’s, just like everyone else, all have bills to pay (shock, horror!) BUT if you can help out a friend or small not-for-profit who genuinely need your help – why not.