Comments on: Freelancer Pro Interview: Zac Gordon

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[...] Freelancer Pro Interview: Zac Gordon (freelanceswitch.com) [...]

By: Tim Orbanac

Tim Orbanac — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:49:49 +0000

My name is Tim Orbanac and I am one of Mr. Gordon’s students. I just want to start by saying that what he has done with the web program at Springbrook is absolutely amazing and unprecedented. He is an amazing person and educator. I had known of him since my freshman year (I am currently a senior). However, I never had a class with him until my junior year. I took his intro to web design class. I came into that class with zero knowledge of web design. By the time 4th quarter came around, I had a acquired my first paying client. I have been hooked ever since. My freelance career has been ever-increasing thanks to Mr. Gordon. He has led me on to clients and has provided jobs for me. He has been an amazing role model for me and I know that I will continue doing web design for the rest of my life. This man has taught me so much and I know that he is doing a truly amazing thing here at Springbrook. If only you could see the reaction of our latest not-for-profit project. There is nothing like providing a person with a great website when they provide kids with hope. It’s not about the money for us. It’s about making a difference in the web design world and making some rock-star websites!

By: Michael Dick

Michael Dick — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:50:53 +0000

I was fortunate enough to start web designing before high school so that by the time I hit high school I was freelancing (or trying to!). I think what Zac is doing is wonderful for our industry; he is teaching the future web designers of America how to build websites properly — while allowing them to get a head start in testing out possible business modals like Stuck mentioned.

Zac’s program is not about cutting costs, it’s about giving the students an early opportunity to get started. When I was in high school I was building websites for $200! Of course my clients were not large corporation; my main competition was “the owners nephew” who would do it for a Tenth of what I would have done it for!!

If you are worried that Zac’s students are going to steal your business than you are in this business? It sounds like you’re the one hurting things by being out of college, still being at a high school students caliber, AND STILL charging that much.

Any corporation business owner is smart enough to see the difference between a high school program and a full-time freelancer.

Again, what Zac and his program is doing is one of the best things to happen to our industries future, and I hope other colleges and high schools follow in his foot steps!

Great job, Zac; keep up the great work.

By: VertigoSFX

VertigoSFX — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:49:22 +0000

You, sir, are brilliant. I am 19 years old right now going to college for Graphic Design. In my high school years I was THE go to guy for web design help and all that. I was even with a team of students that designed and maintained the school’s website. Unfortunately when I left there wasn’t anyone left to pick it up. The Web Design teachers at our HS know a little bit, but most of them are in their 40’s and don’t have that interest to really get out there and learn more of what is going on. I wish we had something like this in which our teacher was an active member of the freelancing community and was actually out there doing what he/she was teaching!

I think you really have something great going and I wish you the best in the future because this could be something revolutionary…getting more students involved in design…because it is a heck of a lot better than working at McDonald’s…I learned that from experience. My first job (which I still have) was a web design job at age 16…I love the job and it is so nice having a decent paycheck as opposed to what kids get at fast food places and all that.

By: Zac Gordon

Zac Gordon — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:29:25 +0000

Thanks for all the feedback about the program that we are working on at Springbrook, especially about the pricing!

The pricing started off where I had students doing sites for free, but felt that they should be getting something in return. At the time, I thought it was a little unfair to the potential clients to charge them industry rates (several thousands of dollars) if the product they were getting may not have been on par with industry standard sites. It is not that the work is horrible, but think back to the quality of the work you did the first year you were making websites.

I took the pricing guide from this: http://wavestatic.com/blog/how-much-should-a-website-cost.

In hearing these comments about spec work, undercutting other web designers, and giving students a fair rate, I think that we will rethink our pricing schedule and business model for the Springbrook web program. It has been a learning process

I appreciate everyone’s feedback about how to best help high school web design freelancers.

By: Stuck Wickett

Stuck Wickett — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:12:27 +0000

Guys at my high school used to play with questionable business models all the time, it was no big deal.

By: Frank Lee

Frank Lee — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:37:30 +0000

Agree with Adrian. That just sounds wrong. And if the students are getting paid, would they have to pay taxes? I wonder what the legalities are with this. Either way, I would have to rank this a little below spec work in that it devalues the work we do. That is of course if they put out great work. If they put out crap then the $500 is justified.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:15:59 +0000

These students need to be taught the value of design. The last thing we need is another “1/10th of the price” web designer taking jobs away from people who charge a fair price for a fair service. Business is about an equal exchange of value for money. You’re not only doing your students a disservice but the entire community. Please rethink this goal of yours.

By: Per

Per — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:40:21 +0000

Good interview on a great site. Keep on posting and I’ll keep on reading and getting ideas! Cheers from Sweden

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:44:12 +0000

I see many Ads on craiglist.org where people are looking for somebody who could create a web site for the tenth of the price or even for a FREE. Now I know where to send them – at Springbook High School!