Instead of having a set post today I’m deciding to do a little rant. As many of you know, Dunlap Studios is not my full-time job. Though it sometimes seems like it is, I actually work an 8-5 away from it. My full-time is a large and small format printer with customers all over the nation, and at times all over the world. Sadly I’m not here to talk about my love for the job, or even the job itself for that matter. I want to talk about client/designer issues.

I want to focus on the “stupid” client. Don’t stop reading yet, this post is just as much for the customer as it is for the designer. This little rant is going to focus on the main issues that arise between the client and the designer, and most importantly how they can be avoided by using two key factors: communication and respect.

Communication-

Communication is the first topic I want to touch on because it’s what brought this post on. At work today I had a call transferred to my phone, the account rep told me that it was a “stupid customer” and that he was a real jerk. The customer had an issue with his design and needed to speak with a designer. The funny thing is, when I answered the phone I found something completely different. First, there is no such thing as a “stupid” customer. And, no, I didn’t bold that for sarcasm.

There is no such thing as a stupid customer, there are only uneducated customers. The client told me “I don’t know why my design won’t work, I don’t know what DPI is and I don’t have the budget to re-do this order”. The account rep told the customer that his file was wrong, told him that the resolution was wrong and requested that he provide new artwork. He had no idea what any of this meant, or how to create the new artwork. The account rep did her job, she told him our file specifications; but, when he didn’t understand her demands he was deemed stupid and sent to me.

Designers- It’s your job to educate the customer. If they don’t understand web standards or color values, it’s not their fault. It’s your job to explain the issues so the customer understands it. It will not only prevent future issues, but your client relationship will grow because of your ability to work with and not for the client.

I right now have an order for a customer that wants two logos, one that they can use on a business card and one they can use on their website. They’re not ’stupid’ for not understanding logo files and formats, they’re uneducated. If the customer knew what they were doing, and knew how to do your job, they’d be doing it.

Customers- Communication is key for you. The better you explain your vision and what you’re wanting, the better results you’ll get. The most common comment I get at work from clients is: “… you choose, you’re the designer” and (big surprise) the first proof is normally followed by “… not feeling it”.

Designers cannot choose your favorite color and style without being told it. Designers cannot represent your company if they don’t know what you do. The more the designer has to guess, the more time it will take and the more you will be paying. So, it’s in your best interest to know what you want and to be thorough with the designer.

Respect-

The biggest factor out of any working relationship is respect. Keep in mind, respect does not mean “like”. There are several people that I respect, but I do not like. You don’t need to like someone to work with them, but it’s essential that you respect them. You don’t even have to respect them fully as a person, just respect them for the role they play in your relationship.

Designers- Your clients are your bosses. They pay your bills, they put food on your table… I guess my main point is, they pay you to do what you love. Do you treat them as that?

You work for them, act like it. Don’t ignore phone calls, don’t ignore e-mails, don’t waste their time or money. Otherwise, just like any other job, you’ll be replaced. Give it your all and treat them as they should be treated, as your employer.

And, as I’m about to rant about… WORK FOR MONEY! You can’t respect anyone without respecting yourself, and a respectable worker would not work for free. Spec work is for designers that can’t get real work. Let me restate that: If you think you’re work is worth something, than expect something. The customer (who is most likely uneducated in design, and does not understand talent or standards) is not the judge of your value, you are.

Customers- (Rant begin here:) I’ve spoken more elaborately about this in a past post, but I would like to touch up on it again. Not because I like to sound like a broken record, but mainly because it sickens me and I don’t see it changing any time soon.

Just as my first topic, this topic was also chosen because of something that happened today. I’ve been talking to an organization about doing a project and as they were narrowing down their design options they sent me an e-mail. A designer offered to do it for 3/4’s of the initial budget, and the client wanted to know if I could beat that. I let him know that I’m not willing to bargain, I am a professional, and this is my job. To my surprise his next response was to send him the invoice.

Customers, you do not have the right to tell a designer what you will pay. You do not have the right to “test the waters” or “try before you buy”. If you want to see a designers skills, check the portfolio (that’s what it’s for).

If you are working with an established designer, then you should be paying them as an established designer. It doesn’t matter how many offers you’ve received, or how much you’re planning on spending. What other profession would allow you to determine their value or bargain with you on the price? A designer creates his or her rate based on the quality of their work, if you cannot afford it or if you do not agree with it, go somewhere else.

If you don’t have the money, save. Simple as that. Don’t cheap out on the visual aspects of your brand, and don’t offend a creative professional by trying to get him or her to work for less than they’re worth. They worked hard to get where they are, you don’t have the right to take that away from them.