AIGA Position on spec work

Crowdsourcing is devaluing the design process and often paid nothing for the designer effort which is the AIGA strongly against it.

AIGA point out some form of spca work that every design should take aware: 

1. Speculative or “spec” work: work done for free, in hopes of getting paid for it
2. Competitions: work done in the hopes of winning a prize—in whatever form that might take
3. Volunteer work: work done as a favor or for the experience, without the expectation of being paid
4. Internships: a form of volunteer work that involves educational gain
5. Pro bono work: volunteer work done “for the public good”

AIGA also see the risk of crowdsourcing which client may get compromised quality of work and the benefit of designer might be exploit.

Source:

http://www.aiga.org//position-spec-work/