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Working with stupid clients

Hi,

I’m a graphic designer who has 3 years experience as a freelancer in web & print industries.
During this time I found that most of my clients sends my first mockups back and ask for redesign it, and I just hate that!

I wondered maybe you have some work techniques or advices which would help me develop first mock-up/design right...

Design smooth,
Rokas.

http://www.ucreative.com/

Tags: Design, clients, freelancer, tips

Views: 250

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Edgar Almeida on June 20, 2012 at 11:06pm

Yeah everyone is hard to please... worst than that is when you have a boss that doesn't understand design and forces you to redesign your work to something awful and convinces the client that now the work is great.
Well, back to the subject. The secret (at least works sometimes) is to be confident in your work, show that you know what you're doing, what you did has a point and a structure and is not simply "pretty graphics". It has a point (usually to sell), and that you are an expert on that subject and not the client, or else the client wouldn't be hiring you.

Hope the tip helps, its hard in the beginning but in time it gets easier to deal with some of these clients. Some of them are too stubborn so they have to have it their way, with those you generally have two options, to refuse the work, or to simply go with the flow, leave the love for the work aside and do it for the money.

Permalink Reply by Rokas Petskevicius on June 21, 2012 at 4:03am

I know what you mean! (the boss thing)

Going back to subject: Don't you feeling like a baby sitter when you trying to explain for the client why you did this and this, and why it's better than that.

It seems I tried everything: skype conversation, Q&A via email or skype, etc. The problem is that in the theory it looks like the client knows what he wants, but after first mockup he comes up with million tips and tweaks I have to make for current design. 

I guess this is one of the things you have to get use to in your design career...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Kerby Rosanes on June 21, 2012 at 7:38am

I believe you wouldn't be a good designer if you never had an experience with those kinds of clients in your career. I agree with Edgar, you must be confident enough about your design. Show your client that you are the designer and knows more about what to do on this and on that, anchored at their desired purpose of the project. The client always has the last say about the project but a huge part of that decision must come from your creative input.

Permalink Reply by Benjamin Shannon on June 25, 2012 at 11:39am

While I agree with a good portion of what's already been said here, I think that the initial design phase of talking to the client is extremely important. Find out, up front, what they like and what they are looking for. In my (albeit limited) experience, this can save a lot of headaches down the road. While you may not be turning in a design that you truly love, you may avoid the hassle of redoing it by giving them what they want in the first place.

That being said, some people are just difficult.

Permalink Reply by Saya on June 28, 2012 at 10:29am

Part of a freelancer and designer is to know know different clients behavier (like what Kerby said) - There 4-5 types of characters in general. Some love to rejects at the beginning. Having said that, the rejection may come from different understanding of a same concept. For example if he says I want "out of the box" this term is so wide and different.

Try to understand terms by real samples: like which logo or design samples out there (not even related to the work you do) consider as "out of box" ? You will be surprised some times that what they mean.

Permalink Reply by eMarie Kaneshiro on June 29, 2012 at 2:56am

Everyone here has good points and they all apply to this situation. 

90% of client WILL make you want to slam your head against the wall at some point in time. I've had my share of it. 

Getting a good understanding of your client and/or product is the first step. Mock ups shouldn't be in too much detail (you don't want to waste time on putting in details if the client wants to change it) to start just to get the general idea to the clients. Work in steps so the client can see your own progress. Also try to explain your reasoning behind the way you designed it. Some clients want hard facts and if you're confident about that fact share it and of course ad extra links. 

I've had clients where I'd designed the whole page (for a site) and I suggested other things, they were dead set on having it the EXACT way they wanted it. Then a month later they come back saying they had their 'friends' look at it and they now want to change it.

For things like that, put it in your contract that changes past a certain point or after completion will cost extra, because clients will try to take advantage of you if you're willing to change things on their whim. Just speaking from experience.

Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Steve Hasting on December 26, 2012 at 4:15pm

It happens with me also, have patients & keep working hard.

Permalink Reply by Hank Scorpio on March 22, 2013 at 7:48pm

My favourite story is that of Paul Rand when he was approached by Steve Jobs for a logo.

<note actual quotes>Steve Jobs said "Design a bunch of logos and I'll mix and match"

Paul Rand replied with "No, I'll design you 1 logo, and you'll pay me $100,000 whether you use it or not"

I think that's pretty much the point. You need to be firm with clients.

I always insist on 50% payment up front (non-refundable)

Design to their Specs (rough draft supplied and this is the only opportunity for them to "tweak")

Allow 3 minor revisions of the text they supplied

Collect the other 50% of the money.

You have to make it clear that you will provide the design, and they will provide the payment - regardless of if takes 5 minutes or 5 weeks to complete - and regardless of if they use it or not.

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