Very irritated with startup company and lack of compensation

gia_g21 · 03-11-2010, 11:47 PM

Well I suppose it is a good lesson. Jobs are very scarce so when a startup company asked me to come in as an interactive designer to work with a video designer I jumped at the opportunity. I met with them 3 times and ALL three times no discussion of compensation was discussed but they implied it would be there. The last meeting was ridiculous because the "boss" asked both me and the video guy to come in on a sunday very early for 2.5 hours to discuss a project. For 2 hours and 15 minutes they were only speaking to the video guy and what his part would be within the project. Then the last 15 minutes they decide that i would be creating an interactive flash drag and drop quiz. I believe they did not know what they needed from me or what flash was capable of so it was a huge time waster on both sides. Then they ask me to practice a demo flash drag and drop and I understood that they would want to see a working demo. I did it and sent them a link even though they still had not talked about pay. It was functional and it was a DEMO. They have not replied to my email in which I very politely asked if paper work could get under way for the project to be official. Their conduct of not even informing me whether they want me to continue with the project is so unprofessional and it feels like such a waste of my time. I want to maintain a high level of professional conduct but I also feel that they should at least know that this is absurd. They are a startup software company and probably have no strong ties to the graphic design community but still... a graphic designer's reputation is very important. What would you guys do?? I'm new at this and maybe this idealized notion of what a client relationship should be is non-existent.

PrintDriver · 03-12-2010, 01:27 AM

Unfortunately the industry is such right now that if you are just starting out you are more likely to be taken advantage of. Your first mistake was doing the work without a contract of some sort. Not having this contract shouldn't stop you from billing them for the demo time. And the meeting time if it involved project development talk. You might put something in there to the tune that no transactions are final until the fee is paid. If not paid, all copyright in provided materials revert back to you.

Or some such. I'm not a lawyer.

Is the demo something you can afford to lose and write off as a life lesson? Cuz if you do bill them, and they pay it, they may consider it theirs and write you off.

gia_g21 · 03-12-2010, 01:40 PM

Well the drag and drop demo was quite simple and yes I could just write it off as a lesson but I would like to at least inform them that they should know what role they want a designer to be in within their project instead of whimsically asking one to come in 3 times ( total:5 hours) and asking for a demo etc and then not contacting them after. I want to write an email (they don't even have an open business phone line) basically but could this hurt my just budding reputation? It would be polite, professional, but an assertivement assessment of the situation. I just wonder if this could be interpreted as "oh she's hard to work with" because no one will understand the complete situation. Even if the email is polite but assertive.. would the design community think it was unprofessional?

Cahenz · 03-12-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gia_g21

What would you guys do?? I'm new at this and maybe this idealized notion of what a client relationship should be is non-existent.

First off, I'm sorry that your first ventures into the business are so negative. It's a cruel world. It's tough for creatives during good times in the economy. During a recession, it's a feeding frenzy. Parasitical jackasses like the people you're having the misfortune of working with won't hesitate to take advantage of you. They knows it's a tough market for designers, they know you're somewhat new to the working world and they think (THINK) they can push you around.

Don't let them. This goes for everyone in the creative industry. Don't do a lick of work until you've nailed down compensation. If it's a freelance project, don't start the project until you've received a deposit. It's better to not work than to work for free.

gia_g21 · 03-13-2010, 02:07 PM

The more I think about it... they were showing me spec files that other designers had done.. That should have tipped me off.. They also outsource all of their actionscript coding to India which perplexed as to why they would want me involved in the project anyhow. They had a video/motion designer come in and they wanted me to do basic actionscript coding based around the motion designer's type animation design with the quiz. From his portfolio the guy is a wonderful video designer but UX design was really not his forte nor did it even exist in his work (only video projects no web or interactive design). I contributed some ideas not a ton but still... My input big or small has been incorporated overall. It sucks to know that if they release this software and make a ton of money off of it.. it was only because they brought in designer after designer took their ideas and most likely gave these ideas to some coder in India. From the spec files shown, I believe they had at least 4 designers before me. Just speculation but I think their overall product design will be a pastiche of all of the interactive designers involved whom I know did not get paid and then the video designer who will get paid. It would be difficult to make a case because they took a little here and a little there.. However, they are completely void of creativity and aesthetic so without leeching some here and there they would have nothing design-wise. I think the best thing I have learned here is don't do anything for free. What a lame way to learn it though

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PrintDriver · 03-14-2010, 01:37 PM

I'd still send them a bill.

TypoBrad · 03-22-2010, 04:24 PM

I'm really glad you posted this for everyone's education.

You met with them three times without discussing compensation? Did you think it was in bad taste to discuss money? I don't get it.

I discuss compensation on the phone before I meet with a prospect.

Compensation was implied? How's that working out for you? It's called "leading you on."

If a client is not OK with your rates, don't bother working with them or meeting with them...You are not a good fit. It's business, you don't have to work with everyone that contacts you (in any economy).

Send them a bill.