A question of scruples
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- Spookytim0
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Thamk you for paticipating.
We will announce the lucky weiner shortly.
- univers0
Depends on the future you want with the client. First off out of professionalism, I would try to cater to their needs especially if they are paying a lot of money, and you know with out a doubt that you can develop a long relationship with this company. It takes a long time to develop something with a client to the point you can run and generate well conceived solutions for them in an efficient matter. However if they are failing to respect your lively hood, and you feel there is no future, I would still try to complete what you have, and refuse future service if you know this is not the sort of relationship you want.
- Spookyhome0
I just thought I'd provide an update for those who offered their thoughts and opinions on this dilemma which I faced... The project was cancelled on Friday, much to my immense relief.
I read all the opinions and advice offered here with interest but the advice that really stuck out to me was that of Andy Ross. It wasn't the most politely worded or sympathetic, but it was honest and direct and confirmed the 'other voice' in my head that said "in spite of all valid concerns about this situation, you have committed to delivering a test piece now, so knuckle down and do it".
I did just that. The 'room' I created looked great, and the machinery I created to go in the room looked less than my personal best but easily sufficient as a working demonstration of the art directors concept, and great considering I had only three days to create it. Again, Andy Ross' advice pursuaded me to just push it out and stop being a perfectionist under such circumstances.
The end-client has commented that he loves the work I did for the test piece, but having seen the art director's concept, on the page, in full visual glory he restated his initial doubts about the concept being too complex, clever, and detracting from the presentation of product.
So he has asked me to provide an invoice for the balance on the test piece and has cancelled this elaborate campaign concept in favour of a more simplistic product shoot. Thank God because we just didn;t have enough time left to do it anymore... soemthing my client was reluctant to acknowledge.
I have to say that I am incredibly relieved about this. When I met my client's client it was abundantly obvious to me that he had huge reservations about the campaign concept proposal. That was an added pressure for me becuase I've known all along the guy just wanted to hire some models, shoot some product and stick a logo on there. My client however was determined to push ahead in the hope that he could swing the end-client round to his idea with the test piece I was preparing. I personally couldn't see this happening as it was the idea that the end-client didn't like, my style of work had already met with his approval.
I'm going to be paid in full for my test piece, and I am now free to get on with all the other things I have on my schedule for the next two months without having the horrible dread of a huge amount of work to do with not enough time left to acheive it.
Its so difficult when working alone to make the right decision about what to take on and what to pass up. At the point I agreed to get involved with this it all sounded like a done-deal - my client spoke very confidently that the concept was already signed off but in fact it was far from signed off. Then when I met the end-client I realised the art director was being way too optimistic. It was too late though, I was on board, and because of that I have had to pass up a major label music campaign, an ad campaign for Visa to run globally for six months, various pieces of editorial illustration, a logo/masthead design for a new magazine, and the chance to prepare and exhibit my large format drawings in a really ace gallery.
Ho hum, you take your chances. I'm just glad to be free of the nightmare.
Thanks for your opinions advice and input.
- I am really glad it turned out well for you. that must have been really stressful.al_la
- Hope you<re feeling better too
;c)al_la - It was stressful, but I have come out on top. If i had bailed out, I would be in a bad place now.Spookyhome
- Spookyhome0
Yeah sorry Creative, it was really only an update, out of courtesy, for anyone who contributed advice... I should have put a big "DON'T READ THIS" disclaimer across the top I suppose.
My Brain is okay but sporadically painful. I was strongly advised to do 'literally nothing at all' for about two weeks after being discharged from hospital. Because of this project I didn't do that I went straight back to work, so it hasn't healed. The Meningitis seems to have gone, but it inflames the protective membrane around your brain and the spinal tract/column/canal/fluidy-bit and without physical rest these can't heal properly, so I'm still suffering with pain because of that. Thanks for asking though.
7" of settled snow and counting here in Hove. Made my daughter's first ever snow man this morning. She waved at it and said "ha-ho nomans".
Hope you're well Creative.
- She didn't name it after a typeface? Have you not taught her anything?creative-
- creative-0
I'm good thanks, still a bit hungover from a weekend of bidet drinks. Just been looking at your site (again) very, very impressive. I also like your Haynes Manual mug.
And finally I've seen a picture of your chops on the light paintings page... no wonder you keep it hidden!
- emukid0
i didn't read your post but was just curious how you spent your days before joining qbn? don't get me wrong -- i enjoy your comments here.
- I read it all and I have no idea what you should do.Jnr_Madison
- This was emo's post I read.Jnr_Madison
- MrOneHundred0
I would cut your losses. You had meningitis FFS! that’s no case of the sniffles. I all parties can’t see past that – fuck ’em.
- IF all parties. FTWMrOneHundred
- Fuck the Word. Right on.blaw
- emukid0
now that i've read the post, i concur with mronedhundred.
- Melanie0
I would call them and let them know that they're not going to get the best product you can deliver within the timeframe. Give them a realistic timeline (and add a week on top of that). They can then choose to continue on or find another designer. You're just going to make yourself feel worse trying to please them. That anxiety seems to grind creativity to a halt.
Hope you're doing alright after the hospital.
- Spookytim0
I used to be on a closed group called The Pile. Much like QBN but it was just a group of friends across the US. Primarily it was about a band they were in. Over the years, the number of people contributing to The Pile dropped, and the ones who were left all had babies (including me) and got regular jobs. Somehow it all just stopped being the amazing and hilarious thing it once was. We just wrote total nonsense all day long and it was fall-off-the-chair funny to us, but then we grew up and had no time for it, and it pretty much died.
I came to QBN to re-engage with the world of design... ffs.
- 7point340
tell em youre concerned about the quality of the work if its rushed out the door, and that obviously you and and the client cannot afford another delay like this past month. your condition was not under your control, however there was little or no feedback from their side in a situation that called for immediate attention.
its a shit situation tim. sorry to hear about it. i know you had to turn down what would be some excellent work it seems to do this project and its becoming a waste... good luck dude, wish i had more advice for you.
- also what melanie said. good stuff, and more professionally stated7point34
- Spookytim0
Hi Melanie. Good advice. Saldy they have a production deadline that really can't change. The marketing materials have to be dropped across Europe and the States by a certain date that can;t be shifted, so the end-frame remains. I've laid it all out to them already but their problem is its not design work I do, its a particular style of digital artwork, so they would struggle to replace exctly what I'm doing for them and would need to re-invent a new concept for the campaign. But good commetns and food for thought... it confirms what I know to be the right train of thought. Thanks.
- 2pence0
You type too much, make head hurt.
- I know. If you like, I can fax it to you in chunks?Spookytim
- Do you have an audio version, maybe a podcast?2pence
- the podcast is only available spoken in binary7point34
- I have a transcript of the podcast version. I can email it to you?Spookytim
- That still requires me to read it though. Maybe you can read it to me, kinda like a bedtime story.2pence
- I'll read it to my secretary, get her to type it out, and then send it to you in the post.Spookytim
- BUT I STILL HAVE TO READ IT!!!2pence
- I know 2pence, that's the theme I'm working with for this discussion.Spookytim
- Hahaha.2pence
- _salisae_0
tell them i said it's not going to work out and if they need to talk about it further they can drop me a line or phone me. you need to think about yourself first. and if the situation were reversed they would think of their needs first.
- YEAH!!!!!!!!
ITS A DEAL!!!!Spookytim - i honestly don't mind speaking on your behalf. it's the mama bird in me._salisae_
- Thats very kind of you and your inner mama bird. I'll probably just duck the issue and keep slogging away tho'Spookytim
- or perhaps the lawyer in me. if you fell ill again they could be liable._salisae_
- YEAH!!!!!!!!
- Corvo0
Just tell them about Richard Mesmer.
Then they say, "who?"
But that's the last thing they say.
- I'm gonna ask them if Lord of the Flies is not entirely bad, or entirely not too, not, too entirely... entirely not... oh.Spookytim
- Now don't do that, pls. We were just experimenting. If you do, they will just tear you to pieces bc/ its actually not bad.Corvo
- Not Richard, btw, that's a character. Real name is Franz:
http://en.wikipedia.…Corvo - Swabian were the people that conquered my gfather's hills until 11ad. The region was called "Suévia" until late 17th.Corvo
- funny how it's still the most orthodox and still the most pagan area in this land.Corvo