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Editor’s note: This is the second story in a six-month-long collaboration we are doing with the Interior Design Confederation Singapore (IDCS) to examine how the industry can up its game.
Are you guilty of giving away your designs for free?
We all know the arguments for doing it – but is it really right?
Obviously not.
Exasperated by the ubiquity of this practice, especially in the industry design industry, practitioner Ed Mun posted on social media in July last year that we should “say no to free design”.
Originally intending to start a movement in Malaysia, where he is based, Mun was amazed by the positive response he received not just locally but around the world.
On 1 August 2021, he officially launched the #NoFreeDesignMovement globally.
We catch up with him to find out more.
This issue has been ongoing for years. What compelled you to stand up and champion it?
The “No Free Design” issue took root over five decades ago as our humble plea to the public. There were talks and roadshows; however none of them had any significant lasting action. Therefore, I decided it is time to bring this issue to the people’s attention by organising a movement.
This means action and this action means it is time to do as we say. Talking does not work anymore. I have been hustling in the interior design business for 35 years and am grateful I have made it this far. For anyone to get to where I am today, this road requires so much sacrifice, pain and suffering. Based on my observation, not many designers can make it out there. But since I am almost retiring, I therefore decided to give back to my own industry.
I started by creating videos on this issue and to my amazement, they reached a lot of people who then became my followers on social media. When they connected with me for advice on how to sustain their business, I realised many were facing revenue issues because they were doing work for free to secure a project – and that has a negative domino effect.
Giving away designs for free leads to:
- Unsustainable income
- Negative business conduct
- Disrespect towards our profession
- Stolen intellectual property
It brings down our own value and creates a negative impact on the creative industry. Sad to say, creative professionals are the only ones still doing this, or being asked to do this.
How is the movement structured?
We have set up a non-profit organisation, FIND, which stands for Forum of Innovative Design Association. It bears the tag line #nofreedesignmovement to support this cause in Malaysia. We are also establishing FIND in other countries and appointing heads there. The head of every country’s chapter will then build their own network of members, while creating awareness of the issue. Events will be organised to gather sponsors and funds to develop more materials to educate clients and designers.
We are privileged to be working together with global associates, including IDCS, which shares our passion for this issue. To date, we have a total of 30 countries that have started chapters and are actively participating in our movement. We hope to double the number this year.
What can designers do to participate in it at the grassroots level?
First, sign up with FIND. Either take the lead as head of your country’s chapter or contribute as a member. Together, we can create more awareness together.
How exactly do designers say no to doing work for free, without having the fear of missing out?
Understand that you have the right to say no. Giving free designs is not sustainable for yourself or your business. Look back at history and you will realise history has taught us not to do so. Eradicate that sense of entitlement created by doing this. Wake up and reframe your way of thinking. Gather the courage to say no.
How do you plan to educate clients to not ask for free design?
We will demonstrate that a designer’s journey to become a professional comes at a cost. Therefore, to ask us for free designs is disrespectful. To make our movement stronger, we urge all associations governing the creative industry to collaborate with FIND to create a healthier and more sustainable profession together. If no action is taken, things will go downhill. A lot of times, this is demand driven and we must not neglect this part of the equation.
What is your ultimate goal with this movement?
It is to reinstate the justice in our profession to be more just. Our industry must be a just place where all designers get paid, where we reinstall and rewrite the rules on how people see us.
Editor’s note: We are aware that this is also a prevalent, disturbing issue in the architecture industry and are willing to offer editorial support to any individual or organisation who is keen to champion it.
