Using design students to do work....

[designmea]

Im very interested in finding out whether any of you would or have used a design student to do some work for you business? For example, a graphic design student to design your website or marketing material..

Students are much cheaper than professional services and can produce some high quality work, so it makes sense to me for businesses on a small budget to go to them.

What are your opinions?

[DavidT]

I do think this is not a bad idea at all... but some things to consider.

It really shouldn't be used to purely exploit students. I have seen a design school due this (in my opinion) but taking commercial paid work and running it as class projects.

Design students really do need to build up their portfolio with quality work, and real jobs can help a lot with this.

I think so long as you treat them fairly, pay/reimburse them with what is fair and reasonable for what they do... it is worth considering.

I must also add... I think a design student is also someone that has decided to learn and understand the aspects of design. Quite a lot out there today have fallen into it through playing with software and templates, and really don't understand the deeper levels of commercial design (though they can usually make things "look pretty").

Best of luck!

David Toohey
The Accountants Circle
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[JustOneUK]

Originally Posted by designmea

Im very interested in finding out whether any of you would or have used a design student to do some work for you business? For example, a graphic design student to design your website or marketing material..

Students are much cheaper than professional services and can produce some high quality work, so it makes sense to me for businesses on a small budget to go to them.

What are your opinions?

Out sourcing some work either abroad or to a student can save you money, it can also lose your money for you. Frankly it's a risk you take. It's better to work with people/companies with a proven track record/expansive portfolio etc than it is to use a student.
Ultimately you would want the right skill sets for the right job, so you wouldn't want a design student writing the copy for your marketing material?..you'd be wanting a copy writer, and a web designer to build you a fantastic functioning, well SEO'd website that converts well into profit, not necessarily a pretty one

My ½cent
James.

[designmea]

has anyone on this forum actually used a student to do some work for them before? What was your experience of it?

[sharpendtraining]

I think that extra care is needed when dealing with students. Yes they are likely to want a reference from you etc so are likely to do a good job.

On the flip side, a student is ummm a student, so they might dissappear one day with your work on their laptop to go off and be a nun or a monk.

Nothing against students - just an exercise in risk management.

We have had students do some work for us. It was free although we paid £100 towards some postage they needed.

They did a good job. Like all things, it was a pick and mix. For instance, you could tell bits of the final report were written by different people and the quality varied.

We wanted them to do some more, or rather, students from the same course to do some more but getting in contact with the tutor was next to impossible so we ditched it.

[DoItNow]

I'm sure there are plenty of students out there who are very talented, and perhaps on their way to becoming leaders in their field. But beware that you understand the abilities of the students you intend to use. There is a good reason why students are cheaper, and that is because of their limitied experience - you tend to get what you pay for when hiring somebody to do professional work.

[Eagle]

Some related advice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

[DoItNow]

Originally Posted by Eagle

Some related advice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Not quite a student issue, but it's a very good example of standing your ground when the big guy wants the small guy to work for peanuts.