What to do when a customer destroys your design?

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  Jan 04, 2011 1:24 AM GMT

  >I gotta vent somewhere cause im gonna f#### explode. I do graphic design for this company and I get paid by the project. Depending on the customer($$$) we offer 1 to 10 revisions per design. Being that said
  
  
  I FRIGGING HATE CUSTOMERS REVISIONS SERIOUSLY!
  
  I dont have patience for this. I spend hours working on a design that looks good and accomplishes the marketing purpose it was meant for. I love revisions when they add detail and richness to the design but this last customer has no sense of design whatsoever and after tonight's revisions Im about to tell her to fuck off.
  
  

  Email ConversationCustomer - I would something yellow like this other background design you sent me for a gift certificate.
  
  Me - Its the exact same background just bigger the first design was never yellow both designs are lime green.
  
  Customer - I would like the text to be more visible so I dont want the lime green background anymore and I would like to put more things on the design like this and that and blah blah blah.
  
  Me - The text is white with a black border which makes it very readable on light backgrounds, I cannot add elements on the design cause you need the text to be visible and unless those elements blend with the background I would have to make the text smaller to make them fit.
  
  Customer - Dont put any design, just text on a solid background

  
  
  
  Are you fucking serious? Thats what powerpoint is for, come on really?
  
  She is with a team of 3 other people that dont seem to agree on anything design related but I dont do fast food design after I spent hours on something with detail and quality. Fuck you bitch, fuck you! Dont come asking me for a New York Sirloin then throw it in the garbage right in front of my face while asking me to bring you fries and ketchup. If you wanned fries and ketchup tell me so the first time I bring you the fucking menu you stupid...ho.
  
  
  feeling better already

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  Jan 04, 2011 1:57 AM GMT

  I have designed for decades. You have to realize it's the customer's nickle. You are there to give options and maybe even a recommendation. But in the end, it aint your design,

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  Jan 04, 2011 2:18 AM GMT

  Caslon17000 saidI have designed for decades. You have to realize it's the customer's nickle. You are there to give options and maybe even a recommendation. But in the end, it aint your design,

  
  
  I understand that, but why would you hire a professional service to do something that you can just make and print yourself? I respect the input from customers, I want to make sure the design is customized to meet their requirements. However when they want me to do graphic design for a Hair Salon to look like their selling Burguers I seriously prefer to cancel the contract. I dont want to make crap under my name if you know what I mean, yes it gives me a bit of money but it cannot be used to advertise my services and it cannot be used to attract good customers.

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  Jan 04, 2011 2:35 AM GMT

  didn't realise you'd posted this in two places.
  
  

  charlitos saidfeeling better already

  
  Welcome to design for the tasteless comity of one.
  
  Unfortunately it just keeps getting worse and worse and given the chance they will suck the life out of you until there is nothing left.
  
  However the best advice I can give you which was given to me, not every design will make you proud not every person will understand just how much you pour into your designs, so sometimes you gotta remove yourself, produce the shit that will make them happy, take your pay and walk away.
  
  Unfortunately we can't educate everyone on good design.
  
  BTW, the yellow/green thing, the person might be colour blind and sees yellow instead of green.

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  Jan 04, 2011 2:38 AM GMT

  charlitos said

  Caslon17000 saidI have designed for decades. You have to realize it's the customer's nickle. You are there to give options and maybe even a recommendation. But in the end, it aint your design,

  
  
  I understand that, but why would you hire a professional service to do something that you can just make and print yourself? I respect the input from customers, I want to make sure the design is customized to meet their requirements. However when they want me to do graphic design for a Hair Salon to look like their selling Burguers I seriously prefer to cancel the contract. I dont want to make crap under my name if you know what I mean, yes it gives me a bit of money but it cannot be used to advertise my services and it cannot be used to attract good customers.

  
  then you don't use them as examples of your work or use any work that might come from that individual.
  
  You might not like it but within a few years you'll have a portfolio that will show only your best work

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  Jan 04, 2011 2:52 AM GMT

  You should try the methods of the two different "design" outfits that I hired to do a logo.
  
  1- cash the check
  2- send out a few pieces of ugly clip-art from some standard cd collection that vaguely resemble the customer sketch.
  3- repeat step 2 a couple of times
  3a - (always fun) send back the customers original sketch and try to bill him for it.
  4- on demand, refund half the amount paid
  5- send spam forever
  
  They seem to be making money this way

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:09 AM GMT

  lilTanker said
  
  BTW, the yellow/green thing, the person might be colour blind and sees yellow instead of green.

  
  
  Well if she's got a color issue then probably she shouldnt be making color decisions?

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:13 AM GMT

  lilTanker said

  charlitos said

  Caslon17000 saidI have designed for decades. You have to realize it's the customer's nickle. You are there to give options and maybe even a recommendation. But in the end, it aint your design,

  
  
  I understand that, but why would you hire a professional service to do something that you can just make and print yourself? I respect the input from customers, I want to make sure the design is customized to meet their requirements. However when they want me to do graphic design for a Hair Salon to look like their selling Burguers I seriously prefer to cancel the contract. I dont want to make crap under my name if you know what I mean, yes it gives me a bit of money but it cannot be used to advertise my services and it cannot be used to attract good customers.

  
  then you don't use them as examples of your work or use any work that might come from that individual.
  
  You might not like it but within a few years you'll have a portfolio that will show only your best work

  
  
  I understand this, but it really depends on the scenario. If I have other customers who are actually interesting in getting something decent why wasting my time on this, the problem is I had no clue itd turn out this way. I dont usually get so frustrated over customer revisions, I'm used to that but this one really got on my nerves. Fortunately I saved the first designs I made for them in a separate folder far away from the ugly one

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:14 AM GMT

  charlitos said

  Caslon17000 saidI have designed for decades. You have to realize it's the customer's nickle. You are there to give options and maybe even a recommendation. But in the end, it aint your design,

  
  
  I understand that, but why would you hire a professional service to do something that you can just make and print yourself? I respect the input from customers, I want to make sure the design is customized to meet their requirements. However when they want me to do graphic design for a Hair Salon to look like their selling Burguers I seriously prefer to cancel the contract. I dont want to make crap under my name if you know what I mean, yes it gives me a bit of money but it cannot be used to advertise my services and it cannot be used to attract good customers.

  
  
  What about word of mouth recommendations? Sure in this day and age of technology visuals is everything but people still refer friends and other business to services such as your by recommendations, especially if the business was very cooperative with the customer and served their needs.
  
  Perhaps, the woman isn't familiar with basic desktop publishing, it could be the reason she hired you to begin with.
  

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:17 AM GMT

  Ricovelas said
  
  Perhaps, the woman isn't familiar with basic desktop publishing, it could be the reason she hired you to begin with.
  

  
  
  I bet she's got a son or daughter who does know microsoft office or at least knows how to type "design web tool" on google, download and print.
  
  I do get a lot of recommendations but I also get a lot of customers through ads on a local newspaper.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:18 AM GMT

  Why do you care?
  
  You're paid for your services and opinion (when asked for it)

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:19 AM GMT

  I think this is for you:
  http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_changes
  

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:20 AM GMT

  tallcanuck saidWhy do you care?
  
  You're paid for your services and opinion (when asked for it)

  
  
  
  I care because I like what I do.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:21 AM GMT

  I have an industrial design background, and do design management now as part of my job. I hear the frustration, but when it comes right down to it, it is the customer's design, and nickel as someone else said. At the end of the day, a happy customer is a repeat customer who spreads praise far and wide. You may not succeed with THIS iteration's design intent, but there is always tomorrow if the customer calls you again. We all need those tomorrows. Gotta eat. Cheers.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:23 AM GMT

  charlitos said
  
  Are you fucking serious? Thats what powerpoint is for, come on really?
  . Fuck you bitch, fuck you! Dont come asking me for a New York Sirloin then throw it in the garbage right in front of my face while asking me to bring you fries and ketchup. If you wanned fries and ketchup tell me so the first time I bring you the fucking menu you stupid...ho.
  
  
  feeling better already

  
  
  HAHAHAAH, ive never heard you speak this way..!!! Iits awesome
  
  I totally imagine you screaming fuck you bitch, fuck you LOL

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:25 AM GMT

  1. I don't think it's colour blindness, since there are a far greater percentage of men than women that are colour blind, according to research and my own usability studies.
  
  2. This is a prime example of "design by committee" where you have this client and three other people making suggestions around a table trying to decide what works best, while you are in the middle making a variety of changes.
  
  That being said, if they are truly getting on your nerves, and the return on the investment of your energy and time is starting to be eaten away by their constant dissatisfaction/perfectionism, then you should fire the client.
  
  It's been known to happen! I've seen people on a conference call before almost throw away an entire project by politely stating that there are too many changes, and that they may not know what they want, and that you've done your best to try and please them but that you may not be the person for this particular job -- and part amicably (sometimes!).
  
  But that's your call.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:34 AM GMT

  This is unfortunately the bad side to working for customers.
  They are always right,even if they are not
  I dont think I could do it lol

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:34 AM GMT

  aerovaulter saidI think this is for you:
  http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_changes
  

  
  
  that made me lol thanks

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:35 AM GMT

  ugh.,,,I guess the customer is always right!,,,,,
  lol

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:38 AM GMT

  It's even worse with fashion design. The last bridal party from hell that I did were pretty much like that. We negotiated the dresses to the last stitch before I got started but even through out the fittings things changed.
  
  When I delivered the dresses, they wanted things changed, due to the change of undergarments they were wearing. Told them no, as there was no time and no more fabric.
  
  One of the mother's even questioned why my prices were high, saying she could have bought the dress cheaper. Luckily one of the other mothers used to be a dressmaker herself and was blown away by my work, quickly shutting up the cheap bitch.
  
  Hence the fact that I don't design for a living anymore, and there ain't enough money in the world to make take on another bridal party.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:40 AM GMT

  You should check out http://clientsfromhell.net/

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:40 AM GMT

  charlitos said...when they want me to do graphic design for a Hair Salon to look like their selling Burguers I seriously prefer to cancel the contract. I dont want to make crap under my name if you know what I mean, yes it gives me a bit of money but it cannot be used to advertise my services and it cannot be used to attract good customers.

  
  I would do exactly that. In fact I have. I'm not a designer myself, but I was project manager overseeing a marketing campaign for a non-profit I worked with.
  
  When they were looking to update their printed materials (which looked like they were last updated in the mid-80s), I pitched them on a design company I knew well, designers I trusted and respected. They agreed and the design company came back with some seriously great, modern, cutting edge work. It took their look decades ahead.
  
  They initially said they liked it, but then the communications manager (who fancied herself a graphic designer the way most people who audition for American Idol fancy themselves singers), made a list of 14 changes. Basically everything cool, innovative, and eye-catching she wanted to change.
  
  I objected to her but said I would take it back to the designers. I was pissed and told the designers if I was them I would say forget the whole thing. They agreed and told the company they were no longer interested in producing design work for them.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:41 AM GMT

  ah this is almost realted to fashion consulting, which i really wanted to do it, but then someone advised me to get back with them in about 5 yrs seeing as how it is frustrating to work with customers who want things the way they want it.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:43 AM GMT

  in response to hyperionx and yourname200
  
  
  Thats pretty much what it is. I do have patience with customers to a certain degree. But sometimes its just ridiculous. This customer has told me like 4 times OH YES I LOVE IT then she comes back "oh sorry I talked to my partners and..." I'm not expecting her to know how to design but to organize her business and communicate better with her partners, let me know what they really want and how I can make them all happy with the same design. But not, she says one thing, then she asks me another thing and then she ends up contradicting herself so I pretty much told her off and through my boss warned her last revision or contract is canceled and this is not just a graphic design contract its a renovation contract that includes my business in it.

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  Jan 04, 2011 3:45 AM GMT

  amar_m said

  charlitos said
  
  Are you fucking serious? Thats what powerpoint is for, come on really?
  . Fuck you bitch, fuck you! Dont come asking me for a New York Sirloin then throw it in the garbage right in front of my face while asking me to bring you fries and ketchup. If you wanned fries and ketchup tell me so the first time I bring you the fucking menu you stupid...ho.
  
  
  feeling better already

  
  
  HAHAHAAH, ive never heard you speak this way..!!! Iits awesome
  
  I totally imagine you screaming fuck you bitch, fuck you LOL

  
  
  lol well I have my moments man

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