Standing against free pitching

While the free pitching argument has rumbled on for some time, it gains even greater importance in light of the predicted recession.

If the industry is to cope any better this time round, we must endeavour not only to avoid free pitching, but also to resist the temptation to participate in “underfunded” pitches, which are equally damaging to our professional standards.

We know that pitching has never been more prevalent and for the three or four agencies in the line-up which don’t win the project, it can prove a costly gamble.

Put ethics to one side, this is a commercial issue, where the prize is so often a one-off project.

We must, therefore, stand together to achieve a reasonable level of fees for pitches, if we are to succeed in limiting the effect lost pitches have on our individual businesses and, ultimately, on the design industry itself.

We are told that clients have begun to appreciate the true value of design – it is our responsibility to put a realistic price on that value.

John Blackburn, Blackburns

Amanda Connolly, Coley Porter Bell

Bruce Duckworth, Turner Duckworth

Chris Griffin, PI Design

Jonathan Ford, Pearlfisher

Andy Knowles, Jones Knowles Ritchie

Simon John, Ergo

Marcello Minale, Minale Tattersfield

Richard Murray, Williams Murray Banks

David Rivett, Design Bridge

Glenn Tutssel, Tutssels@Brand Union

Bill Walsgrove, Coleman Planet

Mark Wickens, Wickens Tutt Southgate

mobrien@dircon.co.uk