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Business How to Run a Web Design Business Sales and Pitching Speculative Design

Hristo Krassimirov
Hristo Krassimirov
22,654 Points

What does exactly "speculative design" mean?

Hello. Can enybody explain to me what exactly means "speculative design"? Thanks

2 Answers

Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,148 Points

Basically, it means you do design work, before you even have an enforceable contract to get paid on. The client comes to you and says, we might go with you, but we're not sure, so based on that, you are speculating that you might win the bid, so you do up the design for the client to show them you're worth it. They can still turn away, and the design you did for them you won't be paid for.

Instead, you should have a portfolio of past projects that speak for quality and design style, and let a client choose you based off past projects.

Stephanie van Doleweerd
Stephanie van Doleweerd
3,075 Points

Another reason to turn down spec work is that the client may decline to work with you, then take your ideas and pay someone else less money to implement them. I've seen this happen more than once. Don't give your intellectual work away for free; it's still work, just like ditch digging or driving a truck.

That's really true. i had this experience before. In Hong Kong, there has a lot of companies always do that... :(