Comments on: Do Clients Deserve the Blame? http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/ Creative Process of Logo and Brand Identity Design Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:58:08 +0000 hourly 1 By: Roberto Blake http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Roberto Blake Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:44:25 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-104 In truth much of the problems in the design process and deadlines could be avoided by clients, both at an individual level or at an agency level. Often clients stall on things like contracts, approvals, commenting on revisions, contributing to concept development, and another of other "little" things that cause delays in productivity. I also agree with Cre8ive Commando that people don't tell mechanics or plumbers how to do their job. Yet people who don't know the first thing about HTML or Design Applications have no problem telling designers how to do their job. In truth much of the problems in the design process and deadlines could be avoided by clients, both at an individual level or at an agency level. Often clients stall on things like contracts, approvals, commenting on revisions, contributing to concept development, and another of other “little” things that cause delays in productivity.

I also agree with Cre8ive Commando that people don’t tell mechanics or plumbers how to do their job. Yet people who don’t know the first thing about HTML or Design Applications have no problem telling designers how to do their job.

]]> By: cooljaz124 http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-103 cooljaz124 Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:48:41 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-103 I understand the whole point , but as you said - some of the drastic changes they like to see in the design may actually kill it completely. The best way is to have a client who know which is a bad and which is good design. Thats the ideal case, as we all know :) I understand the whole point , but as you said – some of the drastic changes they like to see in the design may actually kill it completely. The best way is to have a client who know which is a bad and which is good design. Thats the ideal case, as we all know :)

]]> By: Gedy http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Gedy Sun, 18 Apr 2010 06:21:03 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-102 Such a great post. Thanks Steve. This happens so often in our industry yet we seem to continue to make the same mistake over and over again, instead of just owning up to it and making it work and if for some reason it doesn't, then we need to asses that quickly and try to communicate it early on. I think it's hard for us, designers to put our pride aside and add that ugly border to the website, but in the end, you have a happy client and though the design might be rough around the edges, there is nothing better than that client feeling very proud of the work that you've done and referring tons of people your way. It gets better with time :-) Such a great post. Thanks Steve.

This happens so often in our industry yet we seem to continue to make the same mistake over and over again, instead of just owning up to it and making it work and if for some reason it doesn’t, then we need to asses that quickly and try to communicate it early on.

I think it’s hard for us, designers to put our pride aside and add that ugly border to the website, but in the end, you have a happy client and though the design might be rough around the edges, there is nothing better than that client feeling very proud of the work that you’ve done and referring tons of people your way.

It gets better with time :-)

]]> By: Anthony Italiano http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Anthony Italiano Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:38:58 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-101 There is unseen knowledge in design, the customer isn’t qualified to lead the process. It’s designer responsibility to establish trust, without trust, it's a dysfunctional relationship. There is unseen knowledge in design, the customer isn’t qualified to lead the process. It’s designer responsibility to establish trust, without trust, it’s a dysfunctional relationship.

]]> By: Steve Zelle http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Steve Zelle Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:34:42 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-100 Thanks for the comment Ryan, Ego is a big part of this conversation and I am glad you brought it up. Sometimes clients should lovingly slap the designers on the wrist and say "are you listening to me?" Thanks for the comment Ryan,
Ego is a big part of this conversation and I am glad you brought it up. Sometimes clients should lovingly slap the designers on the wrist and say “are you listening to me?”

]]> By: Ryan Lascano http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Ryan Lascano Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:48:35 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-99 I think you make a great case Steve, and Isabelle has a great point too. I'm of the opinion that clients should be engaged as equal partners in the creative process, equally sharing the success (and the blame) of the outcome. Design is one of the few professions where the client is NOT always right. I believe, although It's not always possible, that it's important to stand firm in those situations and frame it as being a detriment to the success of the current project (and their business). And if they are not willing to make the right decisions for their brand and their business, then maybe it's time to walk away (or threaten to). After all, they hired you for your expertise and experience and they need to respect that or be called on it from time to time. Granted that's not always easy, practical or even possible. I think at the end of the day it boils down to the fact that your clients are human too, people just like us who are trying to be successful in their businesses. We need to respect them as such, and not be afraid to lovingly slap them on the wrist and tell them "No!" Long story short, our egos are often too hard on clients, but we deserve just as much blame as they do. I think you make a great case Steve, and Isabelle has a great point too. I’m of the opinion that clients should be engaged as equal partners in the creative process, equally sharing the success (and the blame) of the outcome. Design is one of the few professions where the client is NOT always right. I believe, although It’s not always possible, that it’s important to stand firm in those situations and frame it as being a detriment to the success of the current project (and their business). And if they are not willing to make the right decisions for their brand and their business, then maybe it’s time to walk away (or threaten to). After all, they hired you for your expertise and experience and they need to respect that or be called on it from time to time. Granted that’s not always easy, practical or even possible.
I think at the end of the day it boils down to the fact that your clients are human too, people just like us who are trying to be successful in their businesses. We need to respect them as such, and not be afraid to lovingly slap them on the wrist and tell them “No!”
Long story short, our egos are often too hard on clients, but we deserve just as much blame as they do.

]]> By: Steve Zelle http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Steve Zelle Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:19:53 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-98 Absolutely true Isabelle, sometimes clients turn into a different beast during the process. In my experience there has usually been some indication that this was going to happen, and I regret having not listened to my intuition. Thanks for your comment. Crea8ive, I am possibly being too soft, but I think you mistook my leniency as me advocating clients control the creative process. This should always be the designers responsibility. Absolutely true Isabelle, sometimes clients turn into a different beast during the process. In my experience there has usually been some indication that this was going to happen, and I regret having not listened to my intuition. Thanks for your comment.

Crea8ive, I am possibly being too soft, but I think you mistook my leniency as me advocating clients control the creative process. This should always be the designers responsibility.

]]> By: Cre8ive Commando http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Cre8ive Commando Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:14:00 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-97 I'm a Web Designer and I think you're definitely being a bit soft on clients. When it comes to design, a designer knows best. I don't give a mechanic tips on fixing my car. Sure, I've made mistakes in the past and I'll continue to make many more. But one of my biggest mistakes was giving clients too much power during the design process. If they can design websites, why do they need us? I’m a Web Designer and I think you’re definitely being a bit soft on clients.

When it comes to design, a designer knows best. I don’t give a mechanic tips on fixing my car.

Sure, I’ve made mistakes in the past and I’ll continue to make many more. But one of my biggest mistakes was giving clients too much power during the design process. If they can design websites, why do they need us?

]]> By: Isabelle http://www.processedidentity.com/article/do-clients-deserve-the-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Isabelle Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:50:00 +0000 http://processedidentity.com/?p=467#comment-96 Good points Steve. I agree with you that because of the variety of projects and clients in our profession we must tailor the experience to each one. Tailoring is good but not if it means you forego some basic housekeeping such as clarifying approval processes or costs for a change of scope or author alterations, as you mention. That having been said some clients end up being much different during the process than they were prior to commencing. For those clients I've taken to using the old adage: "you can lead a horse to water but . . ." and try to take the request for changes I find difficult to implement with a grain of salt. Good points Steve. I agree with you that because of the variety of projects and clients in our profession we must tailor the experience to each one. Tailoring is good but not if it means you forego some basic housekeeping such as clarifying approval processes or costs for a change of scope or author alterations, as you mention.

That having been said some clients end up being much different during the process than they were prior to commencing. For those clients I’ve taken to using the old adage: “you can lead a horse to water but . . .” and try to take the request for changes I find difficult to implement with a grain of salt.

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