Hey Natacha! I understand you feel that way which is why it’s so unfair some companies do this because you’re at a disadvantage in this situation.

The short answer is: yes, the exact same principles apply to “newbies.” The only difference is an experienced designer can expect a higher pay than a less experienced / student designer. But both deserve compensation for the simple reason it is work we’re talking about here. Could anyone “from the street” simply jump in and solve the assignment with the understanding and result you could? I doubt that (unless they’re a designer.)

There are companies out there willing to hire designers without requiring them to work for free so the question becomes how long can you potentially last, financially as well as mentally. Only you can answer that. I don’t want to dictate what you should do, I think you should do what your gut tells you. We all fuck up and there’s a lot to be learned from our mistakes. But maybe try negotiating a compensation for your time? It doesn’t have to be much but the important thing is showing them you believe your time and effort is worth at least more than absolutely nothing. Because it is!

Perhaps the real question you need to ask yourself is if that’s the type of arrogant company you want to work for? Because it really is a dick move.

I really hope this helped you in some way. And thank you for reading!