How many concepts?
Out of context: Reply #21
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- mathinc0
I'm so happy to hear these responses. I do a lot of branding and when I started out I always hated presenting 6 or more different logo concepts to a client. A few years ago I switched to doing one logo and extensively explaining the methodology behind it and it's been golden for me.
In my experience giving a client too many choices makes them doubt you, which in turn makes them want to try and find 'their' solution within your myriad of solutions. It also devalues your work because you don't get to show off your methodology. And almost always, in the end, they pick the design you least like and then frankenstein it .. which takes the wind out of your sails and you end up hating the project.
I've found when you can weave together a story behind your solution the client will trust you more because you've shown you understand their brand, and given them something great. It's definitely scary because when you spend so much time on one concept, if they dislike it then you've lost a lot of time.. but so far I haven't had one of them rejected. *knocking on wood*
I think the hardest thing is really to get your client to trust you emphatically. It's important to ask the right questions about their company and their goals. Immerse yourself in who they are and get really intimate so you can give them one perfect, well-thought solution. If you think about it, accountants don't provide 6 versions of your tax returns. Lawyers don't give you 6 versions of a contract. If they did then you wouldn't trust their product. You'd feel compelled to look at each one and find things you liked about each. You'd end up being the shit client who mashed together their work. We need to have the professionalism to give clients something that works and explain why it works, otherwise you won't be respected and your work will be mistrusted.
- not that I disagree, but have had lawyers provide multiple versions of contracts, and accountants provide 2 diff tax returns.bulletfactory
- Sure, revising one tax return or one contract though right? You don't tell your CPA to give you 6 versions and you'll pick.mathinc
- yeah, but nobody's asking the accountant to be creative either, dudersmonospaced
- also, accountants and lawyers can easily cut-paste between documents, they don't have to start over....vaxorcist
- What if the client stamps their foot and demands 3 options?Chimp