Being nice
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- epigraph
Hey, frequently I will come across a piece of design that looks terrible, and know I can do better. What is a nice way to approach people that are using terrible design and offer to do something better for them?
Obviously, you don't want to offend them, and I don't have a history of being very tactful...=)
- madirish0
ask Jnr_Madison to tell them what is on his mind...
- jnr only has one thing on his mindsikma
- for all of our sake, lets hope they like Bukkake then...madirish
- I think we all do....epigraph
- Never underestimate the power of bukakke.Jnr_Madison
- neue75_bold0
don't worry about offending them, if you really want to help them, you have to be honest and sometimes that can hurt... but always try to be at least a little bit constructive... Maybe encourage them to pick up a book and read more about the basics if it's really terrible...
- 23kon0
start a campaign ....
- pick the target company you will approach
- start sending them emails and letters from fake names and addresses saying how terrible their stuff is
- keep this up for a few weeks
- then turn up on their doorstep with a kickass folioand they'l be like
"hey, we've been needing a guy like you"
- thatblokemike0
ask them if they can afford for it to be better. generally (though not always) there a relationship between budget and quality.
- sputnik20
give one compliment, because there's always something nice you can find to say, and some constructive criticisms. like "this colour works well but maybe if this moved here it would flow a bit better".
- Dr_Rand0
a lot of times people are using bad design because they don't know the difference, which also can be a warning signal for your future relationship
- +1billl
- Agreed. I'm willing to meet them and get a feel though...epigraph
- but then, who am I to talk?Dr_Rand
- i feel the *exact* same thing about some that order off a wine list. doomed from the beginning if not watched closely...madirish
- that goes both ways tho'. If they can't tell the difference, sometimes they're willing to try something that pushes the boundaries.Melanie
- merlot, anyone?Dr_Rand
- ...boundaries.Melanie
- true mel... the only problem is if they don't like what you give them, you're without a clueDr_Rand
- merlot is essentially why i drink as heavily as i do.madirish
- pinot noir does it for meepigraph
- 7point340
is it a girl?
pull her hair and call her ugly
- Milky_joe0
Very carefully would be my suggestion.
'Hey I looked at that thing you paid money for and in my opinion it's crap pay me more money to do it better".
It's tough because people may take huge offence good luck.
- 23kon0
seriously though, like sputnik said, give them a compliment about something.
go in and say that you LOVE the product that they offer/sell/produce but you dont think that it is being 'sold' in the right way, and positioning their wares differently they will be able to increase sales etc
- epigraph0
- and yet she's been within inches of a thousand masterpiecescapsize
- Mask was a touching movielocustsloth
- she was decent looking before she started all that shit....epigraph
- sputnik20
educate them re: why a better design is important for their company and then let them know you're the one to provide that
- epigraph0
I guess I'm looking for a pickup line.
I understand that you will prob have to lead them by the hand, educate, etc.
Starting with a compliment is prob the best way to go...thanx all!
- gramme0
Keep in mind that many corporations, of all sizes, for or not for profit, are like musical chairs. The idiot who commissioned that awful logo way back might not even be there anymore. Maybe the company was just getting started, they were young, inexperienced and couldn't afford good design practices. Maybe they have been waking up and realizing how ugly and ineffective their visual communications are.
You never know the situation until you talk to people. You need to start by asking questions: are they happy with their identity? Does it get results? Does is reflect who they are/who they've become/where they want to go in the future? Asking questions like this will immediately open up dialog. If you show up on their doorstep, preaching breathlessly about branding, then they will slam the door in your face and then proceed to hire their grandson to "come up with a couple cool logos."
- thank you, that's totally not the way I was thinking...but it should be.epigraph
- gramme0
I wouldn't compliment anything about their current brand per se. That might communicate that you'd be willing to cherry pick from old elements. This might actually be appropriate in the long run,but you don't want to hem yourself in like that out of the gate. Just ask good questions, it shows them you're interested in their business.
- gramme0
oh and pretend you're on a first date, minus the flirting business.
Unless the marketing director/president etc. is hot and is sending you clear vibes, of course.
Scratch that, b/c you'll then proceed to design all of their stuff, make it absolutely gorgeous, award-winning design, totally free of charge for your new hot little slice of pantsuit.
- capsize0
I think it comes down to the designers charm. Most clients don't really care how something looks and when they do its for the wrong reasons. Not all the time, but most. Details, like remorse, just slows them down.
- Meeklo0
You can't just point and laugh
I have that problem myself, that is why I usually ask for criticism from people I don't know, in hopes that maybe they are a bit more honest you know?
Maybe point out 2 things you like first, then let him/her have it..
but being respectful, and constructive..I find that learning to take criticism is often as hard as giving it.
I say that I can take it (criticism) but sometimes you think you did something amazing and it doesn't work for other people and then it can hurt