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This whole @ArtcaffeKenya situation got me thinking about the last web design project I did with @Magunga and how he& #39;s been consistent from the jump and what needs to change now.
Thread
Thread
The year is 2014 and I had a real estate client who was launching a new property, I pitched a full branding package that included a website, photography, and copywriting... for those who thought this thread was about how @Magunga used to design websites, I& #39;m sorry
I needed a copywriter so I walked into @Nailab and met @potentash (S/O btw @potentash tutafutane after corona) and I was given Magunga& #39;s number. I did a project overview via WhatsApp and he agreed to meet so that he could see the properties and do his thing.
These were the days before his WhiteCap/best life phase, when his name started with a small m. Tall(ish) lanky fella, fresh from uni. Dude said he quit law to write but not as a straight up journo, he saw his niche then. I& #39;m just glad his dreams came true but I digress
So we arrive at the property and let me tell you, dude is thorough. He proceeds to take photos, squeezed cushions, opened drawers. He truly experienced the property and he said he has everything he needs, now it& #39;s just to meet the owner, let& #39;s call him Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith is from those families that appear on tender documents (or doesn& #39;t) so he wanted to negotiate with every service provider directly. Magunga and I agreed on a price. Two prices actually, one base price and the one you start with... because Kenya.
Mr. Smith begins the meeting by regaling us with stories of how he had to import the grass at $350 per sq foot from Dubai and how long it took to grow and whatnot. He goes on and on about this grass.
Truth be told, the 1/2 acre garden looked really good and he had a right to be especially proud of it.
The more he went on, I realized 2 things. Number one, I had undervalued my services and 2. Magunga shouldn& #39;t make the same mistake.
The more he went on, I realized 2 things. Number one, I had undervalued my services and 2. Magunga shouldn& #39;t make the same mistake.
It& #39;s at this moment that I knew Magunga is a real one. When he was asked for his price, Magunga increased his asking price by about 50%. We both instinctually knew this had to happen. I& #39;ll go into why later on but remember this word "Value".
The haggling ensued but we didn& #39;t go below the original asking price and the sad part of this whole affair is that Mr. Smith was ok with the new price in principle but he just absolutely had to reduce his fees by 5 thousand shillings.
In the end, we agreed and @Magunga proceeded to write beautiful words.
So, the point of this whole story is that much like Mr. Smith, the concept of value eludes @ArtcaffeKenya.
So, the point of this whole story is that much like Mr. Smith, the concept of value eludes @ArtcaffeKenya.
When a company commissions creative work in furtherance of their overall business objectives, that pricing should be driven by the value of that work to the business. What business outcome would this work generate? That& #39;s the question.
e.g. Mr. Smith doesn& #39;t love grass, the value of the grass was directly tied to the value of the properties that he& #39;s selling. If he can market the properties as having a playing area, it means he& #39;s broadened his potential market to include multiple child households.
Now that said, I& #39;m sure the good people at @ArtcaffeKenya are probably wondering why so much acrimony about this well-intentioned initiative? Why don& #39;t people see that this will help
Reason 1. Reputation - the internet is like the North, it remembers! If you don& #39;t fully address PR debacles, much like this one, they snowball and you (continue) lose public trust.
Reason 2. The value of creative work you& #39;re giving is not commensurate to the compensation. Yes, the gallery profile is great, the free coffee gimmick is gimmicky but the branded cups will have a beneficial financial outcome and that should be shared with the designer.
If you forget everything else I& #39;ve said, remember this, @ArtcaffeKenya if you really mean to help Kenyan creatives during this Covid-19 period, all people are asking you to do is put your money where your mouth is!
