- I've found that, for the most part, people are reasonable.
Projects run pretty well,
as long as I'm clear about what I expect to happen,
how much something will cost, and how long it will take.
When I'm vague or don't communicate,
everyone gets out of sorts.
Without information, clients will decide on their own
when they should see the next round,
how much the printing should cost,
or that 30 more pages on a website
should take 10 minutes to add.
Remember, clients live in client world,
you live in designer world.
You know how long it takes to design a logo or website,
your client doesn't.
For them, there must be a button you push,
logo design, and it's done.
When you explain in your proposal
that it will take three weeks
to design the first round of the logo options,
he or she has that expectation.
On my proposals, I list how long each phase will take.
I do this with time spans.
For example, it will take three weeks
to do research and strategy,
three weeks to design the logo and present options,
and three weeks to refine one.
I don't use dates, because things happen
that can delay the project on your client's end.
I don't want to be stuck meeting a set date for the deadline,
even though the client has not given me
the information I need.
It's important to also make sure
the client understands what you are doing.
You agreed to design a website.
The client thinks this means
designing every page for all eternity.
If you've been clear that this is the initial design work
based on the pages that currently exist on the site,
she will understand the scope of work.
When the new pages need work,
you can provide a new proposal.
This applies to options also.
Many designers will list how many options they will present.
You can always present more,
but if I list three options on the proposal,
when I present four, I'm a hero.
Revision is a word most designers hate to hear.
The client decides to rewrite the introduction 10 times
or wants to try different colors.
This doesn't make him or her an evil person.
It's human nature to want to refine or modify.
If I've been clear upfront how many sets
of revisions are included,
I can let the client know that the scope of work
on the contract has been met.
Any additional revisions will require a change order
with additional costs.
As long as I'm being compensated, the client can continue
to make revisions as long as they want.
Your goal is to do your best to ensure
no surprises once the project starts.
Every project has them inherently,
so don't beat yourself up when it turns out to be
not technically possible to make the website
match the approved layout exactly,
or when the client asks for a business card design,
then sends you 500 different names.
Always keep the client informed
regarding any issues, delays, and additional costs.
Provide a weekly update, send change orders for additions,
and check in to make sure he or she knows what is happening.