Client advice
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- qTime0
Oh dear...
Client: "The customer is the director of the movie and has the overall vision of the project, where he employs people to get his ideas to work."
My reply:
I'd like to see the customer as more of a partner in the 'movie'.I don't think its a good idea for you send over Photoshop files. Taking the design you did for example, this clearly wasn't right and slowed the project down quite a bit while I put a lot of energy in to trying to make this work. You also have to trust my advice like with the first name (insert stupid name here). This also added extra confusion. When I advise against doing something, its for a good reason, I'm trying to make this a really great site tailored to your requirements."
- so you lectured himmonospaced
- did you really send that, or just contemplating it...bjladams
- Like I said, I don't need the money so we either work together as partners or they find a design slave.qTime
- i wasn't really complimenting you on your bravado...bjladams
- Well you can choose to be a slave or just tell them straight. There is no disrespect. Just sensible advice.qTime
- i agree with that- but the note comes of showing a bit of a lack of tact.. not matter how right you are, that can hurt you down the road.bjladams
- the road. but then again, i don't know all the ins and outs of this situation.bjladams
- A bit blunt I admit, but sometimes its best to tell it straight.qTime
- 'blunt' wasn't what came to mind.bjladams
- I didn't actually write (insert stupid name here) btwqTime
- haha!bjladams
- qTime0
So I had a face to face chat with the client. I explained its more helpful for them to comment on my work then I will revise it, rather than them trying to do it themselves in PhotoShop.
They accepted this and are happy to move on with the project.Sometimes it pays to be a bit more upfront with issues rather than being vague and apologetic.
- monospaced0
Once the client starts designing, your job is obviously done. Get paid.
- Wolfboy0
surely if they want you send the specific font they have to pay for it on font ownership grounds, maybe that will stop them in their tracks?
- FallowDeer0
Sounds like your to attached to this design, id put it down to experience, get the money and move on
- qTime0
It has the potential to be a good piece of work in my folio but now the client is over stepping the mark. I'd like to give them a warning before I go for the nuclear option.
- But this is a website for your client? not your portfolio, if they are paying let them do what they wantDannyDyer
- Warning? Dude, they're paying the bills, they get to do what they want. And if that means devaluing the job of designer so be itMorning_star
- ...be it.Morning_star
- you're job isn't to just "do what they want"... it's to solve their problem.showpony
- honest0
isn't it illegal to share fonts? Why can't they buy their own?
- qTime0
What do you guys think of this. Would you add anything else?
"I think its best if you tell me what your concerns are with the logo and then I can address them. If you start doing the design work there isn't really much point you hiring me.
At the end of the day its your own personal site and I'm happy to take in all your feedback but you must let the designer do the job of designing."- I'd fire you on the spot. Get over it.Morning_star
- sounds like you cant be a team player. that you can only work alone.. try the client's ideas..e-pill
- get your paycheck.. if you want to stay with client after then do so, if not then move on.e-pill
- do not advise to the client your job has no point. they can get another to fill your seat.e-pill
- The problem is that I have taken on all their advice but I draw the line at them sending me their own designsqTime
- it's just not worth having this argument with this type of client. he won't understand and he'll think you're rude.doesnotexist
- johnny_cartelle0
- Hahaha, how did you know?qTime
- this works for medoesnotexist
- I think it comunicates on every level. I really connect with it.qTime
- pressplay0
in my experience those clients won‘t listen to reason. they will just go on and keep poaching on your territory, ruining all well based design decisions so you wouldn‘t want to put it in your portfolio at the end anyway
- d_rek0
Client wants to do your job for you and you're complaining?
What's the problem here? Suck it up, get paid, and move on.
- qTime0
I'm finding more and more people do not understand the role of the designer. I've met so many people who think your job is to basically polish some rough sketch that they've done.
To be honest I should have had this chat right at the beginning but I foolishly thought things would be ok.
- qTime0
The phrase, 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing', springs to mind in this situation.
- d_rek0
Yeah... sorry to burst your bubble, but the reality of the design professional is sometimes a harsh one. Your ideas don't always matter. Your talent can simply be a conduit for someone elses ideas. Clients can and often do impose their subjective criticisms and feedback upon your designs, regardless of the research and testing you've done.
However, some clients do 'get it'. These ones make the rest of them worth working with.
- d_rek0
You know... I take the first line back. It's rarely a 'harsh reality'. A harsh reality would be waking up to fucking bombs going off outside of my window. Or to Joseph Kony abducting my children in the middle of the night.
A designer's reality is rarely ever harsh. A client taking some liberties with your shit? If that's the worse thing that can happen to you, and you are so disillusioned by it, then I fear for your career.