dealing with clients
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- rasko4
so I have supplied three logos to a client as stage 1. Needless to say, they ignore my suggestions and decide to pick up a part of some custom type on my least favourite and now use that as basis for development on stage 2. bollocks :(
Having already championed the other two as faves do I now express my concern about their choice, considering they are basically beginning to design the logo themselves, or should I just go, "sure, I'll work that up for you"
I was pretty happy with the direction on the other two, one of them in particular and could really see it working across other material.. What they are asking is imo going to be typical and naff, basically they are merging to letters from the name, into a logotype. No founding concept.
bolocks I thought this was going to be a nice one :(
- honest0
clients are like kids, give them too much choice or too little choice and you got yourself a problem and half the time you're right but they just don't want to know. THEY WANT TO OWN YOUR DESIGN and MAKE IT THEIR OWN!
I hate it but what can you do? Roll with the punches or commission a hit with the anti-client militia...
- kelpie0
Hi, that would be me, I'm particularly enjoying my work these days too.
- Bluejam0
show us the stuff first
- Baskerville0
only show them work you're happy with, is the lesson to learn here.
- uberdesigner_0
just phone it in and cash the check. I mean, why would you even care what the end result is?
- honest0
only show them work you're happy with, is the lesson to learn here.
Baskerville
(Sep 6 06, 05:23)I hate it when they say they need to show their boss the crap version to compare with the nice one and end up going for the crap one in the end. Does my 'ed in it does
- nosaj0
Never give them an option you don't stand behind. It seems to always backfire.
You want a way out - have them reviewed by a focus group of designers and share the results with them.
- rasko40
yep it's typical, cant show you right now I dont have the files here..
- Gucci0
well put nosaj
- rasko40
sometimes its tricky to supply three concepts you are 100% happy with due to budget considerations, and its not that I think the logo is bad, the others were preferred, the client is now cutting apart what was given and inputting their own ideas. This is my issue.
- Bluejam0
"the client is now cutting apart what was given and inputting their own ideas."
bottom line, it's their identity. it might not be what you would like it to be (based upon a knowledge of graphic design and the business of practising it) but is, as Frank once said, "that's life".
move on, it's only a sodding logo anyway.
- rasko40
there sure are a lot of 'yes-men' on NT.
- soda0
there sure are a lot of 'yes-men' on NT.
rasko4maybe.
I prefer jaded.
Cynical.Oooh, weathered. that's my favourite.
Bank the money, give them their pissy logo and then go on holiday.
- _salisae_0
if you want to be satisfied with the applied logo i suppose you'll have to work a little more to make the best of the direction they're leading you in.
i think it's worth the extra time.
- honest0
"the client is now cutting apart what was given and inputting their own ideas."
"I DO NOT RUN A FUCKING SALAD BAR, PICK AND MIX AGAIN AND I'LL STAPLE YOUR FUCKING TONGUE TO THE DESK."
or...
"Ok, I'm not sure if it'll work completely but I will see what I can do..." (since I want to keep the client)
or..."(answers on a postcard...)"
- Bluejam0
there sure are a lot of 'yes-men' on NT.
rasko4
(Sep 6 06, 06:23)'experienced' is a much better description.
- rasko40
sounds like you have bad experience.
- Bottlerocket0
How desperate are you to keep the client. Sounds like you're ripe for doing something outlandish, like telling the 'way it is'. Who knows, it might just fucking work.
- Bluejam0
sounds like you have bad experience.
rasko4
(Sep 6 06, 06:49)haha...
- tommyo0
My partner and I always had problems like this. So we were chatting one day and came up with a slightly unorthodox approach and it really really works. To this day we've yet to have anyone complain. We've gone back and forth a few times between the old 'present 3 logos' and our new way and every stinking time the old way backfires on us with the problems you're having.
New way:
- Charge more ($1500 for the project)
- Provide ONE logo in a well thought out proposal. Including mocked up logo on business card, full explanations of the mark and we tell a bit of a story behind the identity. Also we usually include a page in the presentation dedicated to the marks limitations,We come up with three to four marks, but we will only present them one at a time. Only once have we had a client ask to see 'more'. I think the main thing is that we used to just assume that the client would see the story behind each mark. They don't. So when they get to see a fully thought out presentation explaining everything about the mark, get to see it in use and experience it's potential they'll usually fall in love.
In contrast when you provide 3+ choices you usually can't sit down and explain each choice, then the client has too much choice. Kind of like if you go to a bar and three gorgeous ladies walk up, you know you can only have one...you'll inevitably start getting picky to get the 'right' one...unfortunately with design they'll feel like they can mix and match boobies (mark), faces (type) and personalities (color).
Cheers!