Horrible client habits

I have been a designer for more than 12 years and have met all sorts of clients. Clients have certain habits that annoy most designers. Designing is not an easy job as some people might think. Designing takes time and effort and a great design is a product of a great relationship between designer and client. 

1. Wanting great designs for cheap prices

Because everyone seems to have Photoshop and know a designer nowadays, many clients tend to have a bad idea of what design is worth. While it can be okay to have low prices when you are starting out, when you are confident enough and your work is good enough you should come up with prices that make it worth your time.

Many clients also try to outsource their projects to India and other places where designers work for rock bottom prices, but you need to stick behind your work and hold out for those clients who know what you are worth. Let them know why you are the best choice!

- Clients tend to haggle on a designer's fixed price. Sometimes, the client haggles too much that the designer ends up with free products that won't be even used and an amount that would not even cover for electrical (pc / laptop) expenses.

2. Asking you to design on spec

This is when clients want to see a finished design before they pay. You should avoid doing this as much as possible, but in times of desperation it could be the only option. Be confident though and let clients choose you based on your portfolio and not on spec. Be especially careful of designing on spec for people on classifieds and forums because it's a common scam in places like those where they really are not clients, but designers themselves looking to steal your work and use it for their own projects.

- Yes, it is a scam. I have been designing for 12 years and have met all kinds of clients. Some clients would even say that they have seen these designs elsewhere. Some companies or clients upload designs as their own without the designer knowing it. I had a habit of uploading raw files online and somehow some of my designs have been used and posted in free sites. If this happens, there is a slim chance of finding the culprit. This happened to me recently and i have no control over it since the design circulated across the web. A designer should make it a habit to watermark artworks and NEVER upload a raw file which is editable with programs. Lesson learned.

3. Slow payments

Some clients are notorious for paying slowly or not at all. The way I combat this is to ALWAYS require a down payment before I begin work. For smaller project I usually ask for all the money upfront and I never send the final files until I receive the last payments.

- The best way to go about this without even having to ask for a down payment is to watermark the images or send a very low resolution image which cannot be used by the client.

4. Not planning out the project upfront

I find it extremely important to plan out a project as much as possible before starting work. Even if they have a tight deadline make it clear the project must be fully planned out before you begin. After all meetings and discussions are done write up an estimate listing all of the details of the project and your prices and terms.

- It is just a waste of everybody's time... enough said!

5. Not giving you all the copy and images needed up front

This is probably one of the most common bad habits of clients. I try to stress several times that I require all copy and images before I begin and this usually gets them to give it to me on time. Although don't be surprised if you end up having to design using dummy text and make annoying adjustments later to fit the actual copy.

- True! - Let's put it this way, how can you sew a dress without the fabrics and accessories? How can a designer finalize a project for a client when some of the pieces are missing? A never ending project editing and revisions... a waste of time again...

6. Not having high resolution images for print projects

This is usually due to the fact that clients do no understand the fine points of resolution or that they just do not have any high resolution images available. Try recommend using high resolution stock photography or illustrations instead, but if they really must use those images try to keep them as small as possible. If this happens make sure you write in your contract that the images provided were of low resolution and may not reproduce well when printed.

- Clients who won't spend for pictorial shoots or copyright images. If a client does not want to spend for a pic, what more spend for a decent design price? If a designer provides a client with a copyright free image, i think the client should spend more for the effort of providing it. Don't forget to state that the The client holds all responsibilities regarding approval and copyright (Application) issues (Photos/Wordings) & image trademarks of the approved project.

7. Forcing you to use poorly designed logos and other elements

Many times clients will ask you to include pre-existing logos or other design elements within the project you are working on. You will have to judge when and when not to argue this if you feel it hurts the overall design. Learning how to negotiate and inform clients on what you believe is best can be considered an art form and takes practice!

- Again, a client who doesn't want to spend for a high-resolution image... what more can i say?

8. Can you make that type bigger?

This has always been on ongoing battle between designers and clients and has become a sort of inside joke for designers.

- Clients that trick you into designing a small poster ad and asking you to make it bigger so they can blow it up into a bigger ad. These clients would pay for a small project and print it as a bigger one... Unfair! Make it a point to always send the agreed maximum size of an approve project. 

9. Asking for way too many revisions

This one can be pretty easily avoided by establishing a set amount of revision rounds and initial concepts before starting a project. Make sure you get this in writing or at least save your emails where they agree to your specifications. This is most commonly done in the logo and identity design area of graphic design.

- Always state in your terms & conditions the maximum revisions per project. If the client won't agree, drop it. Not worth your time.

10. Asking for additional work on top of the original agreement

This one can be good or bad. It's bad when they spring additional work on you and don't want to pay more, but it's good if your agreement outlines the pricing for additional work.

- Never accept an additional project without payment. Once you agree on doing this, this "certain" client will always ask for the same thing... over and over...

11. Never available to questions or to look at samples

Often clients can be extremely busy and working on multiple projects at once. As designers it's important for us to be able to contact our clients to show them samples, revisions and ask important questions. This one is really up to you guys. You can either try and deal with it and get the project done or you can let the client know about the issue and try and resolve it or drop them.

- Designing is never easy. It takes time and effort. In all my years of designing, i have never failed a deadline even if the client gives me just 3 hours to do a large project. That goes to show how professional i am about what i do. I do hope that some clients appreciate the effort designers give to them. If a designer never gives updates or replies after a month, finish the project to show how professional and dedicated designer you are and drop the client when done. 

12. Pinning printing costs on you

Many designers handle printing for clients, but I try to stay away from this. I've seen way too many clients try and stick designers with outrageous printing bills because of an error in the final design. I basically say I can recommend printers to you and do an initial check of the files to make sure they are print ready, but i's up to you and your printer to do a final pre-press check and make sure the files are correct, because I will not be held responsible for any printing costs whatsoever.

- This has never happened to me though, but if it did, i am asking for additional costs. Some designer friends of mine actually fall for this... i don't know why... just saying...

13. Not willing to pay for additional costs

This usually turns out bad if you try to spring additional costs on clients at the end of the project. Once again this problem can easily be avoided if you specify upfront what the additional costs are or might be. This can include stock photography, stock illustrations, printing costs and rush fees.

-  Always give a deadline. Not only for a client but for you as well. I have never exceeded a deadline but if i did, the best thing to do is to tell your client 2 days before. And if a client exceeds a deadline, ask for additional costs. The best way to go about this is for the client and the designer to set a "realistic" deadline that would work for both.

14. Canceling projects

Whether you or a client decided to end a project you should be covered in some way. Using a contract again is a simple way to protect yourself. Simply state that if a project is canceled, you will invoice for work completed up until that point. Some designers give no refunds at all and some are happy to refund clients if they are the ones who drop the client because of issues.

- The most common client practice... never hearing from a client, EVER. That is why the best way to submit a design is to watermark it. If the client copies a draft you have submitted, you would have proof that the design was yours. Make it a habit to save all emails and mobile messages sent by a client. 

15. Returning Many Months Later for Login Information

I recently had a client from over two years ago contact me in desperation because he lost certain login information. Lucky for him I keep good records and I was easily able to look up his info. I'm not sure what would have happened if I didn't have it, but having it in my records made it an easy problem to solve.

- Not the designers problem!

16. Asking for files years later

Similar to log in information clients often misplace files you send them. I always keep files on my computer, even from projects years ago and I make sure to back up my files on multiple external hard drives.

- Always send a soft copy to a client once a design is approve. If your client is overseas or not accessible, uploading a "shared" raw file is the best option. Uploading artworks via online is always a gamble. You might not know who can access files via these sites. Some clients send links to other people and the net is NEVER a private place. expect your link and artworks to be seen or uploaded by somebody else... oh well...    

17. Legal action

No one likes this one, but it does happen so be prepared. Always save emails and paperwork in case you need to present them as evidence. Also make sure you find a lawyer that can help you if something comes up. Ask family and friends if they know any good lawyers who would be willing to represent you if a problem occurs.

- Proof. Always keep a copy of the raw file for evidence. Emails, Text messages. And always send a client a copy of your terms & conditions before starting a project.

18. Over controlling

Some clients are very over controlling and don't allow for much creative freedom. When dealing with an over controlling client it's important to let them know you are the designer without sounding to harsh or rude. Just give them your honest opinion on issues and suggest things when you can without being to pushy.

- If the client is that good, they could get a copy of Photoshop and do it themselves.

19. Lack of research & planning

Sometimes clients want a website or some other project done, but they have absolutely no idea what's going on. By this I mean they have done no research or planning before hand, but still want a complicated website that's easy to update.

This makes things extremely difficult for designers because we have to explain every last detail several times for clients. While helping clients is our job there are some clients who really need to go back to the start and do more research on what they are getting themselves into.

- Clients who don't have a clue about what they want should just do more research before asking a designer to do a project for them. They should first consult a marketing specialist and if they can't find one, pay the designer consultation fee. Please don't waste our time...

20. I know everything

Similar to over controlling clients, some clients think they know everything there is to know about design and what your job entails. They tend to tell you exactly what to do with your designs and can be very pushy. Sometimes you have to just deal with this, but as mentioned before don't be afraid to give your input. I mean they did hire you because you are a professional designer right?

- Like i said, get their own copy of Photoshop and do it themselves. :)