About

An analytical essay on this topic is in progress at no-spec.

The piece is being written by no-spec editors. While it is being finalised, here are nearby resources on the site:

• Spec Work - why unpaid pitches are still a bad deal in 2026.
• AI and the Designer - where generative tools belong in a working practice, and where they do not.
• Rates, Contracts, Scope - how to charge fairly, contract clearly, and scope defensibly.
• The Professional Record - the arguments, decisions, and history of the profession.

The fifth pillar

In September 2026 we added Proof of Work: provenance and authorship for designers, from the evidence a designer keeps to the disclosure clause a contract should carry. It is the practical half of the argument the other four pillars make.