I praise asiaparttime.com for the devotion to freelancers/part-timers, for posting timely articles that are relevant especially in asian context. Having a site like this with contents that are close to home is a nice change.

The effort on giving a heads up to freelancers against scams and fraud is plausible.

Scammers’ M.O. is by taking advantage of starting freelancers/fresh graduates whom is in dire need for that extra income or a job. These scam companies are spoiling the industry.

Now this is the point where what I’m saying is going down hill.

Scam companies/websites posting bogus jobs indeed tarnishes the field of creative endeavors for freelancers, however, it is but one of the factors; not as damaging on what is really ruining the industry: spec works (speculative work).

Spec works are legitimate jobs, offered via open tender system in which freelancers are supposedly to bid–with their skill sets/experience and expected payment–in order for them to secure the job.

These are offered by legitimate companies/persons/organizations, whom exploits the same vulnerability spots of freelancers as scammers does, by having top-notch works done for them in exchange for undeserving compensation on the freelancer’s part.

This business practice had done far significant damage to the creative industry. In comparison to scam/bogus work offerings, which are a sure, quick, merciful death, this, is the opposite.

Professional graphic design/writing is about creating custom solutions, not cookie-cutter concepts.

I’ve read an article at this site that mentioned about a situation where freelancers/part-timers are to raise what they charges.

Ironically, while other commodities such as oils, personal/professional expenses, utility bills experienced price hikes, the payment/rate for graphic design work are declining and, are getting worse by the year. Where and what are the economic sense in that? Does it makes sense to you?

A bid for a freelance design job is no longer about who can provide better solution fitting for specific problems, it now had solely turned into who can offer the cheapest.

Should this scenario are sketch-able in visuals, we are looking at a scene of an auction taking place that sounds like this:

Auctioner: “Do I hear 3 dollars? Yes, 3 dollars to the gentleman. Now we’re offering at 2, Do I hear a 2?”

Buyer: “A dollar and 50!”

Auctioner: “A dollar and 50, the price is now a dollar. Do I hear a 80 cents?”

Buyer: “50!”

Auctioner: “Sold! The item is now closed for auction, to the lady for 20 cents. Thank you very much.”

In a bizzare POV if the pricing in freelance graphic design keeps declining at this rate, in the future, we are looking at a prospect of freelance designers/writers offering their services for free, much to the cringe of companies saying: “What–free?! Can’t you at least discount it a bit more?”

I enclosed this with saying while browsing through the classified ads at asiaparttime.com, I’d say quite a number of the offers posted were a spectacle to behold. I’m surprised such offers are allowed, here out of any place.

For instance, “magazine quality articles”–that “require”–”research” for, wait for it – RM20 and design job for RM50 PER—a COMPANY–LOGO @ Intel.Props. @ Identity. And there I was, thinking the world had ran out of surprises.

So I reiterate, what I’m saying here perhaps, is out of place–though, it is at utmost importance.

Say no to Spec!

I did a search on NYSE’s company listing directories, there’s no such companies listed.