When to say no?
- Started
- Last post
- 14 Responses
- bdizzle
So I have this problem...I have been contracted to design hairspray labels - I've been given no direction/expectations and so far all is great- they loved the designs- now my problem is....
The SALES Department - seems they're suddenly experts at this sort of thing- My dealings with this company have been via e-mail - the designs are really turning nasty and embarrassing....make it bigger all text needs to be larger etc....
My Question is do I tell them to find another designer who will stoop to the design level of a Sales Manager or suck it up, sell out & give them bad design and steal their money?
- d_rek0
Money trumps all. Even integrity.
- fyoucher10
Let them know that this isn't the direction you would go but then keep doing what they want, make them happy, get that loot. Get everything in writing.
- scarabin0
give them the garbage they want but put the stuff you like in your book.
then go buy a beer.
- clearThoughts0
who gives a fuck.
Just make it all bold, black/pink and stick in a picture of a 90210 character.
"Get the look"
- bdizzle0
Yeah I hear ya....Im off to the beer store now-
- i_monk0
How much do you need the money/account/pieces in your book?
- book?clearThoughts
- that shit ain't going in no bookclearThoughts
- monospaced0
Do your best to interpret their instructions, and do it with an open, friendly dialogue. If they want the type bigger, they probably just want it more legible. Suggest higher contrast, or more space as an alternative.
This is a PERFECT example of where a designer can educate a client. These people aren't experts, but they do think they are. If you play it right, you can find a nice middle ground.
- All compromise is death.i_monk
- bullshit, i_monkmonospaced
- truthshiti_monk
- Inflexibility is death.gramme
- thanks grammemonospaced
- bdizzle0
I have lots of packaging in my book so thats not the problem- as Scarabin said I'll put the good ones there-
- bdizzle0
Here's the response of educating them...
"Just got out of a meeting with Sales and the GM.....doesn't seem to matter what you and I think......."
Nice-
Im dealing with a 2 middle people who are on my side-
- gramme0
This is why I like to work with the person who is *really* in charge. The buck always stops with an individual, whether people openly admit it or not.
- ********0
welcome to the design business.
- ********0
Make it for them, but let them know you'd advise a different direction.
If they keep they're own horrible idea, put them as a client in your portfolio and show the mock-ups that really show yourself off. Put the money in your pocket and be happy. Buy some of the horribly packaged product and turn your closet into the "Cupboard of clients with bad taste" and slowly build it up with trinkets of things you've had to do but didn't want to. Then when a really shitty client comes along, go to the cupboard and just be glad it's not "that fucking shampoo!".
I'd recommend you be sincere, but clearly state you'd advise something else, as otherwise they may come back to you after insisting you do the crappy one and say "Hey, you're the designer, why didn't you say it looked like shit".
