Hear that? No? It’s the huge web design uproar, caused by a (relatively) innocent post down there at Carsonified blog. It’s the sound of designers clashing their lightsabers mice tablets, asking for blood, waiting for revenge, twisting their thumbs pointing down.
Ok, I do kid, but seriously people, what’s the whole fuss?
For those oblivious, Keir Whitaker of Carsonified posted a blog post, calling designers to well, design a holding slide for the upcoming FOWA event, without being paid of course but earning your place on the screen, complete with URL or Twitter username. It was supposed to be an innocent design competition, supposed to be fun.
It’s not anymore.
Web-des superstars like Paul Boag and Mark Boulton cried foul at this contest. Along with other designers, they insist that this is spec work and people should not invest time at it, if they’re not getting paid. I’d say, alright, I’m the first one to claim that free is dead, but seriously…
Is it so important?
It’s supposed to be a simple design competition, the likes of which we’ve seen countless times on the interwebs so far. Why the revolution? Why demand money for such a simple (in my simple eyes) task? Either you like the idea and you do it, or you don’t like it and you don’t. Is this whole 130 comments thing really necessary?
I’d be more critical on Carsonified for their latest spamming failure, but this? Come on people. Where’s the fun in being a web designer anymore?
