i just wanted to post a word of warning to other freelance designers out there after i have had my fingers burnt by uk superstore ASDA. they approached me to submit some concepts for their christmas 2011 ranges. i submitted my tree and bauble designs (above & below). things went well and they asked me to mock up a whole selection of products for them which i then had couried to their head office in leeds to the buyer for festive/fireworks. after they recieved all the samples everything went silent and the buyer in question would suddenly no longer take my calls or answer emails - they were always in meetings or out of office. i was dismayed at this attitude because all they needed to say was 'thanks but no thanks'. then as i supsected they released a tree and bauble collection for christmas that to me sort of looks like a pared down version of my concept. its no so much them using me for design inspiration that hurts but the fact that they just cut me dead. its so rude. so i would warn anyone against sending their concepts to this company and advise you to be careful if you are approached by them.
my designs above - and Asda's actual xmas collection below.
6 comments:
Wow, that's a complete rip off of your work! I worked for a gift stationery company in the UK and Waterstones copied some of our products too (that we actually supplied to them!). They eventually removed the products and since then we always submitted products with some legal text about how the designs etc belonged to us. Cost a bit of money consulting lawyers but worth it in the long run as this type of abuse by Corporates keeps rearing it's ugly head.
Can you sue them for copyright infringement? That's what we would do here in the US! Looks to close for comfort to me!
i just want to warn others about the unscrupulous behaviour of the buyers at asda. and hopefully future freelance designers will be extra cautious if they are invited work with them.
Oh, this has made me SO mad & sad for you! You deserve better!
I am fuming! :(
Hi Marie
Id seriously submit this to http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/
You can see how many large corporations rip off smaller artists.
Very sorry to see what happened to you. I can't understand why they didn't use your original work - so much more beautiful. Of course the only answer is money. Thank you for the warning.
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