Comments on: How far are you willing to compromise as a designer?

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:09:11 +0000

Hi there designers! I´m a new visitor to this blog. So first thanks! Lot´s of good “food” here ;0)

I´ve read the main lines in this discussion and of course, as a designer, I recognize these kind of dilemmas.

I´ve been a professional designer for nearly 9 years now. After the first 3 years in the business I realized that I had to change my process and how I integrate the clients wishes and demands into this process. I started working more analytic and with clear strategic grounds for my design.
Today I hardly ever create anything for my clients without running this process beforehand. Both the client and I (and other designers in my team) are a part of the same process and we all know why the product is designed the way it is. The project is no longer a product to satisfy the clients personal taste, but a tool within the marketing plan that serves a purpose – optain goals and visions for the company.

I had to learn about how organizations work, how they develop and change, but this has certantly been worth the while. I also feel more secure about my design and it is easier to messure the effect on the marked. (ok – that sounded like a commercial…;0)

By: Jonathan Patterson

Jonathan Patterson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:03:05 +0000

“What I try to do in this kind of situation is to first congratulate the client for his interest in my part of the work.” GOLD!

I sometimes make an alternate version and include that in my portfolio. Chances are the WHOLE website won’t be mutilated by the client. So, you should only have to make a few edits to get it looking good again.

By: jeff soukes

jeff soukes — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:34:25 +0000

The customer is always right…until they are wrong.

By: Andy Wheeler

Andy Wheeler — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:44:00 +0000

I am presently facing a similar situation and would welcome advice. My principal strongly requests that I create cascading drop down fields on an input form. He believes having the information appear visually as a direct result of a user action improves usability. I think he is right.

It is also necessary I provide an equivalent capabilities should javascript be disabled.

Creating totally separate files, one with script and one without, is an expensive option. Double the time to write the code, double the time to store and maintain the files. This is for a non-profit.

I would appreciate input.

By: Steve Tiano

Steve Tiano — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:40:23 +0000

Do you want to be hungry and correct or, having done your best, paid?

By: Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Mokokoma Mokhonoana — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:32:39 +0000

The biggest factor contributing to this typical designer/client not agreeing on the same thing is:

The client forgets that it’s not about them – as they too have their own clients to please/consider.

A lot of clients decide on things that they personally like instead of what their clients will prefer!

By: yiyi

yiyi — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:40:55 +0000

i’m so with u! i learned that a lot as well. at the end, business result is what matter to the clients.

By: Khoality

Khoality — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:27:16 +0000

This is what I mentioned earlier. Sometimes, you just have to load the gun for your client so they can shoot themselves in the foot. Get paid, and move onto something else.

I thought you this article was going to be more about really compromising with yourself like making a racist website, or something you’re really against.

My portfolio only has a fraction of my actual work on it. I would honestly say about 30% of my entire career is on there.

By: Carl J

Carl J — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:33:31 +0000

Just my 2 cents from a non designer, if the client is willing to pay for what they want, and you’ve explained to them that you don’t agree and why, then either you can a) find another client, or b) since they are paying you, do what they asked for.

As a developer, I’ve had situations where I didn’t totally agree, and have given them better ideas. They wanted what I asked for, I did it, got paid, and never put the work on my resume.

I’m sure that if you’re a 1/2 decent designer, you will have more work coming in, most of which you can show off in your portfolio.

By: LHid

LHid — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:42:38 +0000

Hmm… Always quite the pickle. My stance on this is simple–are you a designer or a fine artist? I agree that it is our responsibility as designers to not only create something aesthetically pleasing for the client, but serve as educator and arbiter of good design standards. However, as stated above by Devolved, it is their baby, not yours. If you always want the project to be as you intended, stay at home and paint. If you want to be a professional designer with real paying clients, you have to do what they want. Period.

Now, none of this is to say that you should not make recommendations. That is your part as educator. But you will find more success if you play the part as client advocate. Nobody likes to hear that their ideas are wrong or bad. You don’t, right? Same goes for the client. But you will always attract more flies with honey than vinegar. Explain to them how “better design” benefits them as a business owner.

If the client is just outright impossible and you are already in the middle of the project, just give them what they want, crank it out and make yourself unavailable for future projects. We have contracts to limit revisions to keep the project from dragging on forever and require deposits to protect ourselves from non-payment. More than likely, if you give them what they want, they will be happy and pay (and brag and bring you referrals).

At the end of the day, design is a business. Do not confuse creativity with fine art. Be your clients advocate, not their enemy. You are here to provide a service. Without our clients, we don’t eat.

Cheers