Icsid says stop free pitching

21 February 2011 

The professional practice committee of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) has issued a statement to industrial design consultancies and their clients condemning the practice of free pitching, in which design work is presented as part of the process to win a contract.

Icsid says the committee has “discussed at length the challenges faced by professional designers who are required to pitch their creative work without charge in order to bid for and win contracts”. Its conclusion is that unpaid pitching is “detrimental to the integrity of design work”.

Here is the Icsid statement:

“Icsid believes strongly in the value and economic benefits of design and that designers should be fairly compensated for their work. Icsid is committed to discouraging pitching involving unpaid design work and recommends that designers should retain the ownership of such intellectual property when working in this way is unavoidable.

“The committee advises not only industrial designers to take note of this statement but for corporations and employers operating in such a manner when attempting to engage industrial designers to recognize the impact on the profession and how it devalues creative work in general. Unpaid pitching undermines the professional standing of the industry and, undoubtedly, reduces the strategic reach and integrity of design.

“For industrial designers unavoidably facing this practice in the course of their work, the committee advises that they seek professional legal advice in relation to the protection of their intellectual property.”

For more information on the work of the ICSID Professional Practice council click here.