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aaronmartin · 16-12-2006, 02:54

I have a client that hired me to do a logo and identity system for them. I have submitted several rounds of comps and have had each of them shot down. I feel that the presented logos are smart and original decisions that solve their aesthetic and design problem.

The client continues to try and push each logo presented into a specific idea of what they want for a logo. This idea they have is horrible. It's unoriginal, ugly and currently in use by several companies in the exact incarnation that my client is asking for. I have them that I don't think their idea is good (in a much nicer way) and is in use by other companies already.

At what point do you, as a designer, decide to just do what the client asks? They are paying, after all. Do you design something that isn't the best simply because they want it and want to pay you to be their trained monkey designer?

Or, do you stick to your guns and not design their idea?

pgo · 16-12-2006, 03:56

If you don't need the money, you can ditch the project. Of course, that could lead to problems down the road - bad references and all that.

Me? I'd just say fuck it. If I can't convince them that they're going about things poorly, I'd rather have a paycheck and a satisfied client than pride. Just don't include it in your portfolio and distance yourself from it.

5P4C3 · 16-12-2006, 05:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgo

Me? I'd just say fuck it. If I can't convince them that they're going about things poorly, I'd rather have a paycheck and a satisfied client than pride. Just don't include it in your portfolio and distance yourself from it.

Agree

Larixk · 16-12-2006, 05:45

I'm currently having a simliar experience in webdesign.
After having 3 great designs shot down with vague reasons. My client has decided to let his regular graphic designer have a shot at designing the site. (this designer is a book-cover designer with no knowledge, experience or passion about webdesign at all). I'm welcome to stay to implement the design in HTML and his CMS.
I decided to stop feeling responsible. I'll take the design and implement it, charge him for all of my work (by an hourly rate, as was decided by contract) and try to forget all about this.

Just do what he asks (not like a robot but with your own subtile ideas included), get paid and forget the whole thing.

xenon · 17-12-2006, 20:21

I know how you feel man. The important thing is to get it done and out the way. If you spend a lot of time on a client like that then you are wasting time that could be spent on other projects. My advice is to design what they want and take the cash.

Some clients are bitches and at the end of the day it is thier loss and not yours. Don't let it affect you, move on and take the cash. Do things you do want to do

d*d · 18-12-2006, 05:45

A big part of the design process is working with clients, you say that all your ideas are 'original' but the client keeps steering you towards established forms, take the hint - they don't want to take a chance on something unproven on your say so and I agree with them - you are a designer, that doesn't make you an expert in their business stream.
Design isn't always about expressing yourself (be an artist if thats what you want) or creating something new - it's about answering a brief from a client and if they want something that has proven appeal with their competitors, then design that

aaronmartin · 19-12-2006, 19:32

Well, I may not be an expert in their realm of business, but I am a designer. And they are asking for a logo that is a ripoff of existing logos, which has nothing to do with being an expert in anything. I'm not "expressing myself" by telling them their idea is bad and a copy of another logo.

My logo comps did answer the design brief, but my question wasn't about how to design a logo, it was in regards to designing a sub-par logo that is a copy of existing ideas in circulation and is a bad and unoriginal idea. I don't have to be an expert in their business to know a bad logo.

16-12-2006, 02:54	#1 (permalink)
aaronmartin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Anaheim, California Posts: 5	Standards and Ethics I have a client that hired me to do a logo and identity system for them. I have submitted several rounds of comps and have had each of them shot down. I feel that the presented logos are smart and original decisions that solve their aesthetic and design problem. The client continues to try and push each logo presented into a specific idea of what they want for a logo. This idea they have is horrible. It's unoriginal, ugly and currently in use by several companies in the exact incarnation that my client is asking for. I have them that I don't think their idea is good (in a much nicer way) and is in use by other companies already. At what point do you, as a designer, decide to just do what the client asks? They are paying, after all. Do you design something that isn't the best simply because they want it and want to pay you to be their trained monkey designer? Or, do you stick to your guns and not design their idea?

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16-12-2006, 03:56	#2 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	If you don't need the money, you can ditch the project. Of course, that could lead to problems down the road - bad references and all that. Me? I'd just say fuck it. If I can't convince them that they're going about things poorly, I'd rather have a paycheck and a satisfied client than pride. Just don't include it in your portfolio and distance yourself from it.

16-12-2006, 05:45	#4 (permalink)
Larixk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Posts: 1,052	I'm currently having a simliar experience in webdesign. After having 3 great designs shot down with vague reasons. My client has decided to let his regular graphic designer have a shot at designing the site. (this designer is a book-cover designer with no knowledge, experience or passion about webdesign at all). I'm welcome to stay to implement the design in HTML and his CMS. I decided to stop feeling responsible. I'll take the design and implement it, charge him for all of my work (by an hourly rate, as was decided by contract) and try to forget all about this. Just do what he asks (not like a robot but with your own subtile ideas included), get paid and forget the whole thing.

17-12-2006, 20:21	#5 (permalink)
xenon PING? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 21	I know how you feel man. The important thing is to get it done and out the way. If you spend a lot of time on a client like that then you are wasting time that could be spent on other projects. My advice is to design what they want and take the cash. Some clients are bitches and at the end of the day it is thier loss and not yours. Don't let it affect you, move on and take the cash. Do things you do want to do

18-12-2006, 05:45	#6 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,405	A big part of the design process is working with clients, you say that all your ideas are 'original' but the client keeps steering you towards established forms, take the hint - they don't want to take a chance on something unproven on your say so and I agree with them - you are a designer, that doesn't make you an expert in their business stream. Design isn't always about expressing yourself (be an artist if thats what you want) or creating something new - it's about answering a brief from a client and if they want something that has proven appeal with their competitors, then design that

19-12-2006, 19:32	#7 (permalink)
aaronmartin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Anaheim, California Posts: 5	Well, I may not be an expert in their realm of business, but I am a designer. And they are asking for a logo that is a ripoff of existing logos, which has nothing to do with being an expert in anything. I'm not "expressing myself" by telling them their idea is bad and a copy of another logo. My logo comps did answer the design brief, but my question wasn't about how to design a logo, it was in regards to designing a sub-par logo that is a copy of existing ideas in circulation and is a bad and unoriginal idea. I don't have to be an expert in their business to know a bad logo.

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