Tilaustyönä

Tilaustyönä is a Finnish term meaning that a work is created on commission, i.e., at the request of a client or patron. The concept describes a work produced under a contract or agreed brief that sets the goals, budget, and timeline for the project. It is distinguished from works created as the artist’s or author’s own initiative.

The breadth of tilaukseen liittyviä töitä spans many fields. In the arts, paintings, sculptures, and other visual art can be commissioned; in design, graphic, industrial, or interior design projects are often executed to meet a client’s specifications; architecture and landscape work may also be produced as commissioned pieces. In literature, journalism, film, theatre, and music, commissioned works may include articles, screenplays, scripts, or compositions tailored for a specific purpose or event.

The process typically starts with a brief and a contract or written agreement outlining scope, milestones, budget, and rights. The artist presents concepts or sketches, iterates based on feedback, and delivers the final product by the agreed deadline. Payment is commonly tied to milestones. Rights and licensing are defined in the contract; the client usually receives a license to use the work for agreed purposes, while the author retains copyright unless a transfer of ownership or broader rights is explicitly stated. Moral rights generally remain with the creator irrespective of contractual arrangements.

Benefits of commissioning include a result tailored to the client’s needs and clearer project management, while potential downsides involve limitations on creative freedom, longer timelines, or higher costs.