Wisdom
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- gramme
This guy knocks it out of the park. Some practical guidelines on design professionalism. A long but good read.
- baseline_shift0
Really nice and well written.
I'd love to see how he singles out members of a board or team and gets them to accept responsibility. The only time you can get a hold of and work directly with the ultimate decision maker is with small clients like local retailers or consultants. How can you possibly eradicate the 'team' or 'board' mentality from the big corporate environment?
- Tell a board to pick one decision maker to work with directly, to make decisions on behalf of everyone, and you will be laughed out.baseline_shift
- you will be laughed out of the room.baseline_shift
- gramme0
In my experience with bigger companies, it helps tremendously if there is a smart VP of Marketing, who has the complete trust and support of the CEO and/or board members.
For example, my best client has many employees and freelance staff around the world; but I almost always deal with one, occasionally two people. My point person is the self-appointed "Brand Czar." He understands that design is an investment and an intellectual service, rather than simple decoration or a commodity product. He also understands that he's not qualified to do design work, and that's why professionals are needed to do the job. He has the complete trust of the CEO, having worked there for almost 20 years, and has the authority to make a lot of decisions without constantly checking in with others.
- that sounds ideal. (but an exception — unfortunately — and not the rule)baseline_shift
- Yeah, I know. I'm not letting this client go anywhere else if I can help it ;)gramme
- baseline_shift0
http://www.andyrutledge.com/crea…
this is really great too!
- gramme0
I contrast that with a specific experience I had in recent years: where a client insisted on art directing me (even providing mock-ups of their ideas in MS Word); including people in the process who were not real decision-makers; and thoroughly dissecting my every move. The result was that they got one watered-down piece for the price of two, because the outcome took far longer than necessary. Thankfully they agreed to pay me for my time, rather than the deliverables, since they had the decency to admit they had changed the scope multiple times.
The other good news is that I learned some valuable lessons about screening and evaluating clients, and I think they learned some valuable lessons on how to work with a designer.
- Boy was I glad I had a contract for the job, with limits and caveats in writing.gramme
- gramme0
One thing I've found is that if you absolutely have to work with a group, to at least identify for your own good who the REAL decision maker is, and make sure that every time you meet with the group, that person is present. Also I find that it helps to insist the group makes decisions in meetings, rather than each individual taking my work home and nitpicking it. Giving people the ultimatum to act decisively on the spot really clarifies their thinking, and it lets the designer manage objections and all other curveballs in person (or at least on the phone with everyone present).
- this seems crucial. Man i wish my bosses would read this dudes articles. (or are you hiring?) :Pbaseline_shift
- baseline_shift0
good heads up on this guys site though. bookmarked.
- baseline_shift0
http://www.andyrutledge.com/wher…
wow, another well worded summation of one of my biggest workplace frustrations.Its been a fun thread, gramme.
- gramme0
Ha, I just realized it's only you and me in here, baseline. Glad I could be of service. :)
- version30
nice article
- Amicus0
Bookmarked to read when I have more than 32 seconds to spare.
- janne760
"At which point we complain about our “bad client.” But we are in error; at issue in these cases is nothing more than designer or agency ignorance, laziness, or irresponsibility."
amen