[caryjames]

Hi everyone: I am in the middle of an interview process for a major company. They have asked me to design an item with their design aesthetic in mind and provide the CAD files to show how I can create to match their core values.

I also plan on providing Maxwell images showing how I can create photo realistic renders of the CAD files.

I am not very worried about them not hiring me and then using my designs, however I would like to protect myself as much as possible.

Have any of you run into this before? And if so how did you handle it? I am wondering about first emailing myself the designs or possibly talking to a trademark and patent lawyer but do not really feel like spending a lot of money which I suspect I will as soon as I call a lawyer.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[jvanmetre]

Caryjames-

Are they paying you for the design and/or are they evaluating your skills with a design challenge?

I personally wouldn't get too hung up on making claims on designs at such an early stage...remember, employment is, in part, a dance between two parties. Do you like them...do they like you...can we work together and would you like to see each other again?

It's always good to think about the IP aspect of your work, if you are in the U.S. I would put in tiny print on drawings/renderings a © 2009 (your name or company name). They'll get it and it costs you very little.

Good luck!

jvm

[caryjames]

Thanks jym- Yes it is sort of a design challenge so to speak, just to make sure that I can design to their aesthetic. I wouldn't expect this company to do anything shady at all they have a very good reputation in the jewellery world.

I would not want to make this into an issue with them, I just thought that if there was something simple that I could do to protect the design then I would.

Thanks and I will do as you say with the copyright logo!
Cary

[Bubbaloo]

I think if it was me, with it being a job interview, I wouldn't risk putting anything on the drawings/renders. What if it offends them?

"Whoa, he thinks we're going to rip off his design. "

Show good faith and a little trust in them and they will probably recognize it. What's the worst that could happen? They steal your design, don't hire you, and you sue them for $$$?

[caryjames]

Good point Bubbaloo! I really don't think it will be an issue so I won't bother making it one, I do trust them so that isn't an issue. Thanks for your comments
Cary

[Mihai]

Just remember, it was Brian Looneys advice and he lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma

[ivox3]

Cary, this dialogue comes about pretty frequently here. I always say basically the same thing .... lol..

Give more than you get. Don't be worried about being ripped off --- from my perspective, it's somewhat of an honor to be ripped off. I doubt that would ever happen, but if it did, ..then check your options legally, ..or just move on entirely. At this point you at least know what type of company you were dealing with. It is my estimation that most companies are looking at talent from a bigger picture -- if you design something successful, ..they're not content with a single design, but are probably interested in more of where that came from and that means creating/nurturing a positive relationship with you. It equates to dollars --- they're not stupid.

Just take a rudimentary approach for protection (poor man's patent -- zip'd file to oneself) and then just a signature type watermark is fine. You don't have the time for an official patent nor would you want to spend the money. Nobody is going to get in a tizzy over some image marks if the work is first rate.

good luck with this ....

[Bubbaloo]

Just remember, it was Brian Looneys advice and he lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Come get some.

[Eric Lagman]

Cary, this dialogue comes about pretty frequently here. I always say basically the same thing .... lol..

Give more than you get. Don't be worried about being ripped off --- from my perspective, it's somewhat of an honor to be ripped off. I doubt that would ever happen, but if it did, ..then check your options legally, ..or just move on entirely. At this point you at least know what type of company you were dealing with. It is my estimation that most companies are looking at talent from a bigger picture -- if you design something successful, ..they're not content with a single design, but are probably interested in more of where that came from and that means creating/nurturing a positive relationship with you. It equates to dollars --- they're not stupid.

Just take a rudimentary approach for protection (poor man's patent -- zip'd file to oneself) and then just a signature type watermark is fine. You don't have the time for an official patent nor would you want to spend the money. Nobody is going to get in a tizzy over some image marks if the work is first rate.

good luck with this ....

Chris is right on the money "no pun intended" I would not worry about it. If you want the job bad enough just do what they are asking and dont worry about it. A small watermark or signature would not hurt, and make sure to keep a copy that is date marked for your records.

I got asked to do something similar for a job type interview right out of school for a company that designed ceiling fans. They had me do some sketches of fans. I was sort of interested, because right out of school you are desperate for any kind of experience. The competition is so intense sometimes just to get your foot in the door and experience on the resume can make you chase positions you may not consider an "ideal design job."

So I spent a few hours I sketched some fans with no criteria given to me whatsoever from the potential hiring company. Long story short I never heard anything back from them, and I did not really care what happened with some silly fan sketches I gave them. In the end though I found the right job that fit me and my career is going in a good direction 9 years down the road.

Usually company's that hire like this have people making the hiring decision who don't really know how to evaluate a creative person. This is not always the case but is true more often than not. If they truly understood design they could look in your portfolio, assuming you have one, and get an idea of whether or not you can do the actual work. If you dont have an expansive portfolio yet this might be why they are requesting this. I can look through work samples and tell right away if someone is up to the task of doing a certain type of design work. The more important thing and harder to figure out sometimes is if a persons personality is a good fit. If it sounds like a fun place to work give it a shot and see what happens! If you want something bad enough you will get it even if does not work out this time

[kami]

Hi.

What an interesting topic with good responses!

I also would not worry that much... I guess you don't invest several weeks of work into this, so a loss wouldn't be too grave? I think the chances are very small for this to happen, if the company has a good reputation.
And even if they do steal your work in an obvious way, you can always make out an invoice and charge them the hours you've worked on the design. chances aren't small that they would prefer to pay the few hundred dollars in opposite to legal mesures.

but you should add a name and year to all your images. (without a (c))
maybe in a nice font and nicely designed. make it part of the image!
this way, they can relate the images to a person, if the'll print it.

greets and good luck,
kami

[mtripoli]

What CAD package are you using? Usually there is a place for this information (designer, date, project) in the software. Just fill this info in and don't say anything about it. Most people wouldn't bother to look for this info. If they do see it it is nothing out of line to input this info. I don't know of a single instance where when the title block was filled in with "DWN BY:" anyone gave it a second thought. Same goes for the renders; bring them into Photoshop and fill in the info for it. In this case you can watermark the image so that it is not seen by the naked eye as well as imbedding the info. I think if you don't "shove it in their face" it's a moot point.

[jvanmetre]

I'd just reiterate...at such an early stage of a job interview, I wouldn't get too hung up on protecting a design...however, if you think about it, the idea of putting a watermark or copyright notice on any drawing is really protection for both parties.

One could also argue that a company might think a designer naive (which we all know is not the case with MW forum members ) for not including such information...and just as easily be a turn off.

Agreed, interesting topic.

jvm

[kami]

btw: most artists sign their piece of art