The design carried out can leave us with great professional and personal satisfaction, especially when the client is open to our ideas and trusts our proposal. However, this is not usually the case in all cases and it can be frustrating if we allow it.
As a rule, the client has the need to communicate to his audience, our task is to make the message reach and fulfill its function. Part of our work goes beyond locking ourselves in our creative bubble and letting it flow into the computer, first, we must know what we must achieve and for this we must carry out a insight.
What is this about insight? It is knowing the customer, their tastes, what they do not like or hate, how much they are willing to pay and the delivery time. It is the part that gives us the least grace, since it takes us away from the idyll of designing, since reality is different, we design for others and not for ourselves. Therefore, I will list some recommendations to make this client / designer relationship productive and not a nightmare.
Know your client
After contact, we need to do this from insight, which is nothing more than ask him customer their expectations of the project. From work and experiences with other designers, affinity with colors, shapes, fonts. Now, it usually happens that the client has quite defined guidelines or does not know what he wants or simply tells you "I have no idea, that's what the designer is for". That's when we can analyze together what he and his competition do. This first impression is important, as it shows a more professional profile on our part and we will gain our client's trust.
Limits
Every relationship is based on negotiation, and this is no exception. For this you must define job value, payment date, amount of adjustments and delivery time. I highly recommend writing down the conditions, what goes for our part and what does not of the project. We are often embarrassed to charge up-front and talk about money for extra adjustments. Do it, it will save you headaches in the future.
In like
Yes, it usually happens. You made an effort on the weekend, you stopped enjoying with friends and on Monday the bucket of cold water: the client did not like the proposal. Nothing happens, resume the process insight and channel. It is an opportunity to think outside the box.
The opinion of third parties
Wow, you missed the second one! This phase is a sign that communication is not being effective. This is when I use the "Third Party Opinion" tool. Do a survey with people related to your client. Could you take new perspectives on design from those you least imagine.
The customer is always right
We know that this is not always true. If the client chooses a design to his taste and shape, and that is not the best for him, it is professional on our part to be honest in saying "Proposal" A "is the one I suggest as a designer, if you decide on the option "B", go ahead. " Do not argue with the client when he is reluctant to another idea that is not his. Personally, not putting it in my portfolio is enough.
Enjoy the creative process and its nuances, at the end of the day, difficult clients leave us a lesson: To give up our ego, know how to listen and keep in mind that our job is to meet customer expectations, not ours.
Image - Antonio Moubayed