Quince Lead Creative Role interview questions

I was asked to complete a 9-part case study with a 48-hour turnaround during a working week, which is already unusual for a leadership role (this kind of quick turnaround is typically more common for sample assignments of 1-3 hrs, and this was two extensive spec projects). Originally, candidates were told there would be a live walkthrough, which was critical context for deciding what lived in the work itself vs. what could be explained in conversation. That step was canceled after submission, meaning there was no opportunity to present thinking, share POV or insights, and explain strategic decisions. As someone with nearly 20 years of experience, I never would have agreed to substantial speculative work without a clear process or mutual time investment and good-faith evaluation. Asking candidates to produce brand-level strategic consulting work in 48 hrs (what would typically be a weeks-long $20k project) in an interview context, then canceling the crucial walkthrough conversation that distinguishes the ask from pure free labor, is highly unprofessional and exploitative. Further, what was framed as a purely executional case study, was then judged against a completely different set of unstated criteria. The feedback contradicted the brief provided. They cited specific deliverables that were never requested, including components that would require access to internal data like audience segmentation and brand metrics, and wouldn’t be reasonable nor possible under the timeframe and brief contraints. As a creative hiring manager myself, I was surprised HR allowed this process to proceed without the promised walkthrough. It is unethical to demand 15+ hours of free creative labor without that reciprocity. Normalizing this practice genuinely poses risk to IP theft for creatives at this altitude. Creatives: before agreeing to any unpaid assignment, double-confirm the process, timeline, and expectations. Advocate for clarity, fair review, and respectful use of your time.