Clients From Hell.

This post is literally about, Clients From Hell. I stumbled across this website whilst seeking some advice on editorials and the development process in any work dictated from a clientel basis.

Poster courtesy of Ireland's creative community; http://sharpsuits.net/.

A Creative Catharsis; http://sharpsuits.net/

It would seem that the battle between designer and client is as of yet, never ending. I've learnt some very important lessons, the easy way really, through speaking to professionals with hands on experience and research via resourceful blogs. Broken down into a couple of main points, here's what i've gathered regarding what to avoid and what to go for;

1. Freelance doesn't mean free...people happy to be paid in exposure or peanuts will most likely make a mockery of you, base designs on your, the client, personal taste and completely ignore the intended target market. Invest in a caring, professional graphic designer and you're much more likely to get careful research, resourceful ideas and bundles of energy to go with it. Someone run ragged with no incentive will not want to play ball and smile about it.
2. C'mon, be realistic...in relation to time scale, quality, quantity and relevance you really do get what you pay for with design. Realistically you can't have everything and even if you find an Illustrator with superpowers who doesn't need to leave their desk for a week one of two things is bound to happen. It's either going to be produced in record timing and be complete codswallop OR in compliance with ticking all said boxes, cost an absolute fortune.
3. Utilise your designer...in short, client and designer alike should never, even accidentally, take the other party as stupid (unless you've got hard evidence). Clients often fall into the trap of telling their designer exactly what to do instead of exactly what they want, forgetting that they're paying a person to make something wonderful of their idea, not a monkey to sling it on photoshop. Patronising someone who probably has much more knowledge and experience in a field you're asking for help in, isn't smart. You'll end up burning money and getting tied up in circles...although on the other, our lovely manner designer will of course understand that said client won't always know exactly what he wants in the first place, and be happy to work through the kinks.

The line is fine but not one to be overstepped often or misunderstood.