What is Spec

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.

Where the definition goes next

The 2026 form of the request is the generated mockup; spec work in the AI era walks through it, and AI-generated logos explains what the client who took the free one actually owns. See the Proof of Work pillar.