In the past weeks I have experienced the worst of (potential) clients a graphic designer can have. Most of the people looking to commission (low-budget) graphic design work have a very wrong attitude about it, I’ll explain what I mean but I’ll tell you this story first.
A couple of weeks ago I found a job offer regarding a logo for a certain organization. The offer looked good, a small design job for a low budget, just what I need to build a portfolio. So I contacted the client, and we started discussing what the logo should look like. Unfortunately, after I sent the first proofs, the client didn’t reply to my emails anymore. I figured that he didn’t like it, but I wanted to be sure, so I contacted someone else at the client’s organization. I informed whether they still wanted me to create the logo for them, and the ‘president’ gave me the green light to continue. So, under his direction we continued work and came up with a second set of proofs, and it seemed the client was quite pleased. Unfortunately, again, I lost contact right before we were to proceed with payment and delivering the final files.
Because I actually liked the work that I’d done for them, and I wanted it to be used, I decided to check on their website whether they had said anything about the new logo. I found that they had another logo finished, that was done by another designer they had hired at the same time.
Now there is a couple of things I really don’t understand. First and foremost, why didn’t they contact me about hiring another designer? If it’s because they realize it’s rude to leave someone halfway, I can understand, but I thought that they would also realize that it’s far more rude to let someone do work when you don’t intend to use it or pay for it.
I think the main thing that people fail to realize, is that when you buy graphic design work, you are not buying the final product, you are buying the work that goes into it. What people should do is find a designer that they trust, based on previous work. Then work together with that designer until they have created something that they like. Unfortunately, the way most people think it works, and I have actually read this in a job offer once, is:
you make. i like, i pay
Most people looking for low-budget design jobs seem to think that when you create a logo for them, and they don’t like it, the designer can just keep the files. What am I going to do with logo’s that you don’t want to pay for? Turn them back into free time?
5 Responses to “Graphic design client’s attitude”
20 Sep Marina Rivon says:
Thats why I will not do spec work, it is unethical and it ruins the industry. I will show my potential client samples of my work if he likes it I will present an estimate/contract and I will not begin working until I have the signed contract and an up front payment.
21 Sep LA says:
Always have a signed contract that specifies your terms of payment and ask for half up front. In your contract, state that the deposit is non-refundable.
I would still bill the client for the work that you did. Use your hourly rate and make sure you have all correspondence from the client asking you to do the work. If they still don’t pay, you can always try a collections agency, but in this case it may not be worth it if you agreed to a very low price.
It’s funny, the clients who want the lowest prices seem to be the biggest hassle to work with. Never undersell your skills. If you are good, the client should be willing to pay for your talent. If not, I would stay away.
28 Jan Your Reader says:
Wow! Thank you!
I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
Of course, I will add backlink?
Regards, Your Reader
04 Feb nigelm says:
Me again. I have had similar issues with clients. Thanks for sharing that. Be sure you have talent! Great designs on your site. Live and learn. Don’t chase work too much. If people are serious they will work with you and be enthusiastic.
09 Mar ming says:
It’s a ridiculous misunderstanding amongst clients that the process of designing is not labor. To them, the final product preferably just manifests out of thin air, and a creative process is just an artsy waste of time that can be done much more efficiently. For example by hiring multiple designers at the same time and maybe use the ideas of designer one in the work of designer two.
I was once asked to sign a mutual non disclosure agreement before a simple brainstorm about the first steps of the design. I thought that was a bit formal, but now I see the benefits of it.
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