A Few Warning Signs
by Donovan Beery, (12 comments)
Some things I remembered being said before things went… not so good (from various former clients). I’m not sure any of these projects had a chance.
“I would rather do this myself, I just don’t have time.”
“Our current logo was done using Word clip art.”
“We had one of those online companies do our logo and business card for $149.”
“I’ll know it when I see it, but the only advice I would have is to start over.”
“Can you just slap some of that design over the top of what we have?”
Maybe next time I’ll see one of these warning signs and decline the work. If you have some warning signs people should also be sure to look for, please share.
Comments (12)
Criss said:
“Just this once…” (the ol’ bait and switch line — the dangling promise of the “real job” down the line, if only you break the rules this time.)
“You have free reign……Wait, that’s not what I was picturing…” (real client story)
“I don’t have a preference…” (utter B.S. — how about puce losenges on a mauve polkadot background?)
“Why don’t you sketch up some ideas then we’ll talk…” (classic NO!SPEC, without fries)
“Redesign our logo — keep the font, the colors….” returns with a Web 2.0-ish logo completely different than their specifications as given to me “Nevermind, we went to the $149 place. Now put it on our site.” (essentially a real customer story, thankfully I was hired as hourly!)
Posted on July 29, 2006
Lisa said:
“You’re the designer… whatever you think is best is fine with me”
Posted on July 29, 2006
Mike said:
“….I am convinced that all three pieces be in the logo, intertwined but very obvious.” (I recieved this today from a potential client)
“I will need everything in formats normal people use.” and later, “…I can’t understand how you could be a professional and not give me my bussiness cards laid out in Word so I can print them on my Avery Business card template paper…” (this really happened – you can’t make this stuff up!)
Posted on July 29, 2006
Design Designer said:
Yeah, “You’re the designer, you know best” is like the BIGGEST indicator that it’g not going anywhere. I prefer clients who say, “Ok, we know you’re the designer, your input is very valuable to usbecause we are not the designing types, but we will let you know if we just don’t like something.” - That ABSOLUTELY works.
Posted on July 30, 2006
Nielz said:
ClientCopia
Coping with stupid clients
Priceless
Posted on July 30, 2006
dilkman said:
how about “it just doesn’t POP enough. Can you make it POP?”
jeeez!
Posted on August 1, 2006
marilyn's shampoo said:
“I would rather do this myself, I just don’t have time.”
“Our current logo was done using Word clip art.”
yeah, they’re the two biggies for me.
Posted on August 3, 2006
adelie said:
“Make it more DYNAMIC”
Posted on August 3, 2006
Bennett said:
and the Dr. says … “Well, I like it, but I’m going to take the logo home to show my spouse …”
Posted on August 3, 2006
Adam said:
We have an idea already, we just would like to see what you can do.
After about 11 revisions they decided that their idea was better.
Their idea contained not one, but two millenium swooshes, overlapping type, and the colors were Barney Purple and gray
They thought it looked metalic and set them apart from everyone else. Also that it was edgy and would be hip with the kids, seriously this was said.
Oh yeah and they didn’t understand why they still had to pay for my time since it was their idea
I got paid and let them go as a client
Smartest thing I could have ever done
Posted on August 3, 2006
Terry said:
“We can’t afford to pay you very much this time, but if this works out it could lead to a LOT of work”
Feedback from the boss on a video package: “He said to make it more proportional.” Me: “What does that mean?” “Uh, I dunno. More proportional.”
“My daughter did this one. Can you do something like this?”
Posted on August 18, 2006
Asgeir said:
“Please change Shopping cart to simply Cart”.
(two weeks)
“Why is the Shopping cart called Cart?”
Same client, same man.
Posted on December 20, 2006