Abstract The costs of designing and producing electronic information products include two important elements not often investigated: production time and worker satisfaction. These aspects of preparation of videotex databases were examined through interviews of industry professionals and a case study. Professional designers and administrators were interviewed to estimate frame production rates and to assess job satisfaction. In the case study, a team created a database of 1273 frames. Average frame creation times were 7⋅2 min (text), and 10⋅1 min (text plus graphics). In both studies, job satisfaction came principally from the challenge of working in a new medium. The results suggest: (a) premonitory planning is essential for design and production; (b) frame production depends upon several discrete task elements; and (c) the tension between creativity and productivity is significant for those who produce electronic information products.