When to walk away
The first client requested a logo and later also a website. Normally that’s no problem. But this time it was. For some reason the relationship with the client didn’t evolve the way it normally does. Not the way it should go. We had different opinions on too many aspects. And we couldn’t completely agree on the price. I had to come up with a solution that would satisfy both of us. So I asked another design student to take over the job. Perhaps you could say that I walked away. But I think that sometimes it’s good to do so. Although I don’t earn anything with it in terms of money, I do save my name. And I have the opportunity to make another designer happy with a client, and vice versa.
Conclusion: Not happy with your client? Give the job to another designer before it’s to late.
Client is king
The second client requested a website. Quick and cheap. Normally clients are at the wrong place for quick and cheap designs. I prefer to take on bigger projects that I like. Long and expensive. But it’s not always Christmas. So I decided to just do it. I’m interested in web standards, usability, accessibility and such. So when I create a website I like to keep those things in mind. Proper use of CSS, valid XHTML etc. But this client didn’t care. Most of them don’t. But when I explain why I care, they understand. But he didn’t care, I could code in tables if I wanted. I didn’t go that far, but I didn’t consider validating the site or whatsoever. I had to put my own believes aside and just make the thing. Quick and cheap.
Conclusion: Client requests above own believes about web standards.
Charge for extra work
The third client requested printed invitations, posters, tickets and a website for a party. An awesome job of course. They already had a budget which wasn’t even close to what I would normally ask for something like this. But because I liked to have some experience in designing the visual style of a party, I agreed. Everything went good. I made 8 concept propositions based on the slogan that was given to me. They liked them and picked one which had to be finalized. But then I got a call that the slogan changed. So the 8 concepts didn’t make sense anymore. If I could do the same again, but with the new slogan. I was just about to ask them reconsider there budget, but they directly offered a higher amount. Giving me the will to start all over again.
Conclusion: Unexpected extra work? Charge.
Anonymous
10 April 2007
careful what you say matey or you might not get many more cients.
Josh
18 May 2007
I don’t agree with the above comment. Rogier is just honest! If you don’t get along with a client, don’t take the job, extra work should be paid and the client is king so do what he wants.
I don’t think that he won’t get anymore clients because he is honest about the functioning of a business.
SK
16 July 2007
Be carefull with the amount of concepts you propose to clients. 3 different approuches are the absolute maximum you should present. Not only will it save time and keep it inside your budget.
Clients get easely confused when the get an overload of ideas and designs. They start to doubt (which usualy means the project will be put on hold till they made their desicions and that can take a long time) and in the end they want you to put an item from every design into one design. Which results into a crappy result and a lot of (unchargable) time spended in discussions, corrections and other time consuming things…
Zinni
30 September 2007
I agree with both Josh and SK.
@ Josh ~ right on! too many designers just know nothing about running a business and that is why we have soo many clients out there that request extremely low prices and unreasonable turn around times. Remember that no matter what design is a business and you will just burn out if you cater to the clients needs every time they go out of scope…
@ SK I totally agree :) The job of a designer is to suggest a good direction for them. If we give them too many options, it can also appear that our job must be easy and possibly even give them the idea that they themselves could do what we do. I try to give 3 concepts, 1 stronger one that I feel is the best solution and then 2 others that are also possible directions if they do not feel the same way.
Just my 2 cents, :)