There has been some hubub recently about spec work and it’s detriment to the design community.  I would say this can apply to many vocations, but a good quick overview of the concern can be seen in the following article, or in more detail from it’s host site.   It is definitely a subject to consider seriously.

original article

Just say NO!

Just say NO! to Spec Work (Why Spec is Bad and other stories…)

By Tamar Wallace of TAMAR Graphics

Spec work is defined as producing a piece for a potential client with no guarantee that your work will be chosen and/or paid for.

When put that way, spec work just doesn’t make sense. I mean, doing the work in the hopes of maybe getting paid for it? Who does that? No one outside of the creative community, that’s for sure. Yet this is becoming a common practice throughout the design industry, and companies are just preying upon the young and inexperienced.

read the rest of the article here.