There are two things that can (rightfully) drive a web designer insane with rage: 1) Clients who refuse to pay, and 2) Scumbags who steal your work and pass it off as their own, especially for profit. A local central coast company, KV Web Solutions, appears to have done both to a coworker of mine.

From her blog:

Today I noticed that the DeviantArt gallery page of a design I was never paid for is showing up on the first page of search results for "Kritz Trucking." While I'm more than willing to drag KV Web Solutions through the dirt for charging $2500 to the client for my work, then refusing to pay me for the design comps, I do feel bad for Kritz Trucking that its clients are now aware of their association with greedy, shady and dishonest business owners. Kritz doesn't really deserve to suffer the embarrassment that KVWS should take responsibility for - although they should feel ashamed for signing off on Koll's horrible "new" design mocks.

It now appears that Kritz Trucking has been updated with a design of their "own" - which appears to be my color palatte and layout re-purposed (in a really bad way. Why did they kill my nice work? I'm relieved my name isn't in the footer credit line). I think the saddest part about this is that KVWS really needs a designer. Chris Koll & Co. would benefit so much from working with a recent graduate or someone who is keeping current with CSS and user experience trends. This is the sort of thing that pains me; when a company with as poor a portfolio as KVWS can stay in business, while immensely talented freelancers are struggling for design work in San Luis Obispo county. The guy charges $2500 for a basic site. He can afford a good CSS book. I wonder when Koll is going to start designing like its 2010? ...perhaps when he stops relying on Dreamweaver Extensions to do his programming for him.

Already an incredibly bold move, but what more could you expect from a company whose co-owner, Jose Barragan, writes such captivating emails as this:

"wELL THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING FIRST YOU WOULD MEET TO DISCUSS THE DESIGN THEN YOU WANTED TO ON USE EMAILS. YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT AND NEVER PROVIDED THE FILES YOU WERE SUPPOED TO BE CREATING. NOW YOU SLANDER MY COMPANY WE COULDNT USE YOU DESIGN CAUSE YOU WERE ASKED TO DO! AND LOOK AT THE DAMN SITE IT NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOUR DESIGN. ITS A DATABASE DRIVEN PHP SITE WICH YOU DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO CREATE SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIT AND AS FAR AS PAYMENT YOUR $60 FOR NOT COMPLETING THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO DO IS NOTHING I HAD TO HIRE A REAL DESIGNER TO COMPLETE WHAT YOU COULDNT DO! SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR A SPOILED BRAT THAT NEED WORK BUT WANTS TO CALL THE SHOT THEN BLOW ME OFF. I WAS EVEN GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR $60 UNTIL THIS BS .. NOW YOU NEVER GET ANYTHING FROM ME.. GOOD LUCK!!!"

He has also apparently threatened legal action:

"the web is a beautiful thing.. it alows people to take screen shots for evidence. slander is not leagal and you need to have evidence to back it up. I however a have a signed contract and in court that goes a long way. posting false statements along with names, email addresses and other information without having proof is illegal and you actions will be dealt with legally"

I for one am eagerly awaiting Mr. Barragan's next move, assuming he can find an attorney who's willing to work without having first secured some means of compensation. While I certainly wouldn't want to get into any legal trouble calling Jose Barragan or Chris Koll of KV Web Solutions thieves who run their business by stealing work and turning it for profit by charging unsuspecting clients large amounts of money, I... I forget where I was going there.