My Stance On Design Tasks

Why I Oppose Art Tests and Design Tasks

With over 15 years of experience in design, including 10 years focused on consumer product design, I have built a comprehensive portfolio that showcases my skills, creativity, and versatility. I have managed a team of designers and contributed to the success of multiple brands through my creative direction and trend research. My work speaks for itself, and I expect my body of work to be the primary basis for assessing my qualifications.

My Stance Going Forward

Art tests and design tasks for senior-level designers are unethical. Moving forward, I will no longer participate in unpaid art tests or design tasks. Here’s why:

• My Portfolio Speaks for Itself: I have an extensive portfolio that displays a wide range of products I’ve designed. This body of work should be sufficient to assess my fit for a role. If you would like further evidence, feel free to reach out to me and I am more than happy to put together a bespoke portfolio of previous work that may align with your brand/products better. After all, not everything I’ve done is on my website.
• My Time Has Value: These tasks can require hours, if not days, of work to complete, taking time away from paid projects, personal creative pursuits, and other priorities. The opportunity cost is significant. I have spent years honing my craft, and I believe that asking for unpaid work devalues the time and effort I have invested in my career.
• Potential for Exploitation: In some cases, companies may use the submissions to generate ideas or even finalize designs without compensating the candidates who created them. This is a misuse of a designer’s expertise and intellectual property.
• It’s Not Normal: Tasks and tests are not part of other industries’ hiring practices. Would you ask a surgeon to do some test stitches on you? Would you ask a builder to build you a test wall? It’s absurd that we have normalized this practice for creatives.
• Fair Hiring Practices Are Possible: There are many ways to assess a candidate’s fit without resorting to unpaid tasks, such as reviewing portfolios, discussing past projects, and conducting thoughtful interviews.

Open to Paid Opportunities

If a design task is absolutely crucial to your hiring process, I am open to discussing a paid freelance project at an agreed-upon rate. Alternatively, I am also open to temp-to-hire arrangements that allow both parties to evaluate fit within a professional, compensated framework.

A Call to Action

To companies and hiring managers: Respect the expertise and time of the designers you seek to hire. If you value creativity and experience, demonstrate it by compensating candidates for their time or by relying on their existing body of work. Requiring design tasks when a designer has more than a decade of experience only proves that you don’t know how to properly vet the candidates you’re looking to hire.

To my fellow designers: Know your worth. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries that protect your time and professional integrity. Our skills are valuable, and it’s important to advocate for fair treatment in the hiring process.

I remain open to creative opportunities with companies and clients who respect my work and my time. Together, we can build partnerships based on mutual respect, trust, and fair compensation.

Just Say No To Design Tasks!