Client doesn't like the work?
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- monospaced0
Hasn't happened yet.
- well, nothing that couldn't be changed, at leastmonospaced
- chossy0
It happens, you can't get it right every time. If you agree and think it is shite then learn from that, if you think it is still good and the client just doesn't like it then you should open the work out for criticism and get feedback from people you respect about where it could improve or where it is good. That way in any case you can progress.
- pig0
- fadein110
didn't the job go through a sign off process?
- arne0
if it is a good idea to provide 2 or 3 different concepts in the first place has been discussed a lot here. while always presenting only one i experience not only good feedback. but my offer generally includes at least 1 correction, no matter if it is changing details or creating a whole new approach. assuming the client doesnt have a comprehensive picture of what he is actually asking for i figure he will receive merely a visual feedback to his question than a solution with the first presentation. the possibility of having to run a completely different path after discussing this primary idea is part of the job. bad feelings there of course - hiding them is part of the job too. try to get as much information as possible and don't hesitate to ask even silly sounding question to find the client's actual need.
- vaxorcist0
Hmmm...
A question of taste or direction or purpose?
Expectations management is a huge thing
Did client feel not listened to? That's a huge issue
Or was it a case of communication.... does client fel like they asked flr x and got y?
- d_rek0
Need more info to better address your question... so many factors come into play when a client "does not like something".
Is it personal preference? Subjective? Third party feedback?
Did you set expectations for both Client and Designer upfront?
Did you communicate with them clearly throughout the process?
Are you trying to repair the relationship now? ..
'Better' is subjective...but whether or not a design artifact has tangible formal aspects such as line quality, texture, color that are supposed to directly communicate with the intended audience... those things can to a degree be quantified.
And just as a matter of experience talking... I have found it's always better to learn from a mistake rather than try and correct it after the fact.
- formed0
It is very easy to fall into a trap. You want your client to be happy, you want a project you are happy with, etc.
However, sometimes a client "doesn't like something" and you go on to do "what they want", generally making the project worse (by your standards) and the client keeps scratching their chin, now sure why they don't love it.
Round and round...
As mentioned, a lot is about managing expectations not only at the start, but throughout the project. Remind your client the time you are investing, often times they'll just go "oh, ok, nevermind".
Feel out why/what they don't like. Make sure it isn't something stupid their brother-in-law's nephew taht has a cracked version of Photoshop is saying as a critique (everyone has an opinion).
For my business, it is all about incremental baby steps. I get clarity and sign offs on every step, so there is no confusion later on where we are at and why. I also send client's diagrams outlining the process prior to starting a project and reference it often.
- d_rek0
Oof... I mean, it's not a matter of "if" a client doesn't like your work but really a matter of "when".
Inevitably you're going to run into a client who is dissatisfied with the art direction / logo / website design / etc...
Of course nobody wants to be told their work sucks, or it's off the mark, or that you let someone down, or whatever... but it's a part of the industry. Either you can take the criticism or you can't.
IMO as long as you feel strongly about the direction and design provided you should never feel 'bad' about work you've created... unless you consciously went against the clients preferences.
Again, better is subjective. Try to ask as many questions as you can as to why the client didn't liket he particular direction / design / artwork you presented them. Too often whether or not someone 'likes' something boils down to subjective preferences that are not always logically related to the content you are authoring.
- d_rek0
I just read this the other day and it's relevant to the discussion:
----> link in the comment
- cannonball19780
Going thought this at the moment. It's burning up a lot of hours.
- gramme0
Next time, invite the client to a design discovery workshop at the beginning of the project. You'll never go through multiple rounds of major revisions again. It's totally changed how we do business at Metagramme. Email me if you'd like to know more.
- trooperbill0
is the piece only intended to be viewed by the client?
if its a website you can use alexa.com to get a profile of your target audience i.e. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/mi…
using this data you can make it clear why youve designed what youve designed and it takes the clients personal taste out of the equation.