“If we can use this font instead, how will it be?” there he goes again.
The fifteenth font changed and he had already liked the first one.
“If I remember correctly, you loved the first one, but this will be the last time I will change fonts for this,” I said being a bit tough. At last, he nodded in agreement.
After a few hours later, he’s back.
“Ahm…. I was thinking about this image,”
“Why?” I asked after selecting it out of hundred-odd photos, “I thought you wanted this pic as it expressed what you want?”
“But I suddenly saw this and want to see how it looks,”
“Hmm,” I get back to my work, and the final looks, he was not impressed, so I reverted back.
The next morning as I was sipping my cup of tea and still half awake,
“Why not make this portrait with the picture on top, ”
“I am sorry, but that’s like designing this from scratch. You will need to pay more,” I said as this was too much for a low budget design job.
“Hmmm, how much?
And so on…..
When it comes to designing, these scenarios are not about to happen, but they do happen. And always except for one or two occasions when no “if, but and why not” comes up, you are in for a – OH MY.. YEEHEEE” moment.
I mean I have done a lot of projects, even the smallest request has had a – but, move this to the left a little -.
The reason is designing is complicated all together, unless you are doing your own thing. Think about it?
When you do something for you,
your mind is free to wonder and you are free from criticism and you show off what you want the world to see through your eyes.
What happens with a client,
you have a set of untold rules and obligations to meet a set of requirement, to satisfy the desired output. And then your ideas and the set of rules clash.
You create something, that you feel is really good that tally with the set of rules and specs given to you. And maybe you have read your client’s mind, so your design looks like what they wanted. Or the client might want something totally different and you have to start from scratch.
I have had clients who would love to see what you are doing midway and give the but, if, what – suggestions. When this happens I always try to let my client know I have a lot more to do before the final draft design. And convince them to wait for a few hours or a day till I get the final draft finished.
So how can we avoid repeated – but, if and why not – situation?
What I normally do is I gather all the details first and then I create a draft according to their brief. Then discuss the – if, but and why not – issues related to the design.
This is the time where if necessary I come up with a new design concept if the initial idea provided by them doesn’t suit well. Plus, the changes for the previously created design. Sometimes 2-3 variations with fonts, images or colors, so that my client, will get to see the different options.
This helps me with reducing the time I spend on a commissioned design and while reducing the back and forth changes that is done for many days. Also helps with reducing the frustration you have with the client and helps to have a smooth collaboration.
Tips:
Show the final design brief. Share how you can improve the design by giving 2-3 suggestions.
Helps reduce frustrations and smooth finish of a final design.
