{"id":3831,"date":"2017-03-03T09:24:10","date_gmt":"2017-03-03T16:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.taterboy.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/nightmare-clients-how-to-deal-with-clients-who-think-they-can-design\/"},"modified":"2017-03-03T09:24:10","modified_gmt":"2017-03-03T16:24:10","slug":"nightmare-clients-how-to-deal-with-clients-who-think-they-can-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taterboy.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/nightmare-clients-how-to-deal-with-clients-who-think-they-can-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Nightmare clients: How to deal with clients who think they can design"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve seen a lot of crappy client situations on the Clients From Hell<\/a> blog over the past years. And over that time, information pills<\/a> we’ve picked up a lot of tips for dealing with nightmare clients, view<\/a> too.<\/p>\n

From ungrateful clients<\/a> to the ones who can’t communicate very well<\/a> or don’t pay<\/a>, more about<\/a> we’ve been documenting some of the most common client problems (and how to solve them) on Creative Bloq.<\/p>\n

Here, we look at one of the most infuriating types of client known to creatives worldwide\u2026<\/p>\n

Nightmare client: The design savant<\/h3>\n

“Nothing personal, but I don’t think you should be involved with the budgeting\/financial part. Because you’re a designer. And a female. But that’s okay! There’s nothing wrong with being a female or a graphic designer.”<\/p>\n

Ah, the well-meaning idiot. These types of clients tend to know so little, they don’t appreciate how little they know.<\/p>\n

They think their wall of participation awards makes them a world-class athlete, their hours of watching House makes them a doctor \u2013 and the fact that no one has ever told them otherwise makes it all true. Here’s what you need to do…<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>

Yukai Du for Computer Arts issue 233<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

01. Be professional<\/h3>\n

You don’t want to be the one who tells your client they aren’t the design savant they think they are. Try to avoid calling your client any names (at least to their face). Instead, be professional and illustrate what, exactly, makes you a professional.<\/p>\n

02. Explain why it isn’t easy…<\/h3>\n

If a client tells you it looks easy, or should be easy, explain exactly why it isn’t. After all, the mark of an expert is making a difficult task look simple. If a client insists on watching over your shoulder, or that something has to be done in a way that breaks the rules of good design, tell them why this will hurt the eventual product.<\/p>\n

03. …but don’t be a teacher<\/h3>\n

All that said, don’t waste too much time educating your client. You aren’t being paid to be a teacher. Your commitment to a client is to appreciate their input and try to utilise it moving forward.<\/p>\n

04. Do the job well<\/h3>\n

If necessary, reiterate that the client hired you to do the job for them and show your genuine concern over the time they’re wasting breathing down your neck. The best way to earn their trust is by doing the work well.<\/p>\n

Illustration:<\/strong> Yukai Du<\/a><\/p>\n

The full version of this article first appeared in <\/em>Computer Arts issue 233<\/em><\/a>, a special issue (with a photochromatic cover) revealing the UK’s top 30 studios, plus how to craft the perfect folio and make more money as a student…<\/em><\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n