"We can do the change you want but it will slow your website" I used that several times and it worked, but in the end clients pay us to make them website they want
yikes finishing a project right now, at first I was thinking to add it in my portfolio but after their changes and their "designer" did the website banners. I was like "nope, never adding this".
I will try to discourage the client but if he/she still insists, I will give them what they want. I have created some websites that are embarrassing. I will give them their ugly website, I get paid but I will not put my name in the footer or post it on my social media.
Haha the last piece of advice namely “not everything has to go in your portfolio you can’t shoot everything down you don’t like” was the most helpful for me. I struggle with differentiating between “I wouldn’t do it that way” and “that’s a bad idea.” Great advice.
I have this exact problem at work. In the end it comes down to chemistry just like a relationship. And if you don’t have it, at best your work will be a mix bag of ideas, rather than being elevated. And just like a bad relationship you stay in for too long, you’ll end up compromising on your values and what you believe in for the sake of short term sanity. BAd clients bring out the worst in you, leave before you burnout.
Recently been increasingly dealing with this with this one specific client of mine who genuinely loves design but is really not good at it at all. Their business has expanded significantly over the past 5 years and naturally the number of people who think they can also throw in their ideas has increased. I try my utmost best to be accommodating and don’t dismiss ideas without at least considering them for a bit. Today I received feedback that thankfully will accelerate me pivoting my business in the direction of product offering instead of client service.
Thanks for sharing! Very valuable stuff! I am dealing with this right now and the request was so bad!!! I usually say things like " I am not taking this personal but it goes against design fundamentals and principles". "I believe this could be a huge mistake that could hurt your business, but I will create this so you can see what I mean" He is still fighting me on it. Even though he would pay me, I get to the point where I would turn down a lot of money just because it hurts so much for me to make mistakes like that. I think if I propose I no longer think its a good fit for me, he may think wow she's turning down all this money, maybe I should listen to her. Thats my hope anyway.
I have a client that has asked me to change the name of her business about six times now. That involves rebranding her print and social media and is considering changing it again to a name that is just bad. I can’t take it anymore.
I wish I could be such a good diplomat than you. Many clients want Sliders in the Hero Section, best with 5 different Backgrounds and 5 different call to actions. I say just no then, I am not doing this. Works mostly.
Look at the statistics on how visitors use sliders in the hero section - last I looked, 90% or so ignore them and scroll past. Those who click anything on them only ever click on the first slide and rarely view the subsequent ones. I use this a lot for clients who ask for slideshows - why would they want something that the visitor never uses and that also then slows their website down. I don't think I've had anyone say they want one anyway.
I already start off with "I can do xxxxx chage you want BUT it will affect XXXXX. Always good to let customer know that their opinion is important, but also the consequences of their choices. They are not technical so it's our job to explain to them what's up
Ran. I haven't been the best with dealing with people in the past, so do you recommend making templates for webflow instead of doing websites for people?
Im in video editing and motion design and i was not willing to continue with a project because of the bad chemistry and unrealistic ideas the client had within their proposed deadline. I ended up completing 1 out of 9 videos so they could use it as a template for the rest … next minute they have a junior making a whole new template which looked like a powerpoint presentation 😅 ahh what can u do tho 😂
I have one customer like that 🤣 right now, he is changing all the time and I spoke with him about the designs principles and he understood more now, we will see 🤣🤣
I had a request for 16x16px SVG icons with text in them. Small emblems with titles like "beginner", "novice", "elite"... it's invisible even on high-dpi screens even with max zoom in :(
that's super easy, just show them it's impossible, there are barely enough pixels for two letters. so you use a different approach to plain text, something like a badge or military ranks, etc...
@@Mrdardas99 that's how I designed it. Then they asked for same badge, different colors, then they asked for letters above... crazy. I even sent max-zoom iphone screenshot, no dice.
@@dusanstojanovic3759 if it's an important piece of information you can say it doesn't follow Accessibility Regulations and ask for them to formally sign and request that so you won't get penalized for it when they get sued - that should scare them off, or at least indicate to you how much care you should have
@@c.j.5455 Yes, you're right i'm just saying this is my job as a designer to give them a proper advice if i think there site will benefit from it but ultimately if they say they don't want it , i will defintely do it reluctantly.
No, it's not good to dehumanize them like that. Clients are people with different backgrounds, that may *seem* like kids or novices to an expert, but you cannot treat them or negotiate with them using the same tactics or language, because they will feel disrespected. If you even entertain the thought "It's like I'm dealing with a kid!" then it will seep into your language and affect the way you come across, and ultimately the relationship and product. Not good!
@@chriswilcox8977 I tell my clients they have the Client Paradox.. they want everybody to see their logo because for them it's important, but making it Bigger, is actually the best way to loose costumers' interest around it.. space and moderation can make anything important!
"We can do the change you want but it will slow your website" I used that several times and it worked, but in the end clients pay us to make them website they want
yikes finishing a project right now, at first I was thinking to add it in my portfolio but after their changes and their "designer" did the website banners. I was like "nope, never adding this".
I will try to discourage the client but if he/she still insists, I will give them what they want. I have created some websites that are embarrassing.
I will give them their ugly website, I get paid but I will not put my name in the footer or post it on my social media.
Haha the last piece of advice namely “not everything has to go in your portfolio you can’t shoot everything down you don’t like” was the most helpful for me. I struggle with differentiating between “I wouldn’t do it that way” and “that’s a bad idea.” Great advice.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
Identify red flags early, choose your battles, focus on keeping the client happy, and click the like button.
This is so true. I get those all the time, but most of the times I just give up. I'll make something better for my portfolio on my own! lol
I actually just removed a few websites and logos from my portfolio because… holy hell. Probably doing more damage to my career than anything else.
I have this exact problem at work. In the end it comes down to chemistry just like a relationship. And if you don’t have it, at best your work will be a mix bag of ideas, rather than being elevated. And just like a bad relationship you stay in for too long, you’ll end up compromising on your values and what you believe in for the sake of short term sanity. BAd clients bring out the worst in you, leave before you burnout.
Recently been increasingly dealing with this with this one specific client of mine who genuinely loves design but is really not good at it at all. Their business has expanded significantly over the past 5 years and naturally the number of people who think they can also throw in their ideas has increased. I try my utmost best to be accommodating and don’t dismiss ideas without at least considering them for a bit. Today I received feedback that thankfully will accelerate me pivoting my business in the direction of product offering instead of client service.
Thanks for sharing! Very valuable stuff! I am dealing with this right now and the request was so bad!!! I usually say things like " I am not taking this personal but it goes against design fundamentals and principles". "I believe this could be a huge mistake that could hurt your business, but I will create this so you can see what I mean" He is still fighting me on it. Even though he would pay me, I get to the point where I would turn down a lot of money just because it hurts so much for me to make mistakes like that. I think if I propose I no longer think its a good fit for me, he may think wow she's turning down all this money, maybe I should listen to her. Thats my hope anyway.
I have a client that has asked me to change the name of her business about six times now. That involves rebranding her print and social media and is considering changing it again to a name that is just bad. I can’t take it anymore.
Happening to me today.. This is giving me motivation :)
I wish I could be such a good diplomat than you. Many clients want Sliders in the Hero Section, best with 5 different Backgrounds and 5 different call to actions. I say just no then, I am not doing this. Works mostly.
Look at the statistics on how visitors use sliders in the hero section - last I looked, 90% or so ignore them and scroll past. Those who click anything on them only ever click on the first slide and rarely view the subsequent ones. I use this a lot for clients who ask for slideshows - why would they want something that the visitor never uses and that also then slows their website down. I don't think I've had anyone say they want one anyway.
@@chriswilcox8977 Yes, I know. Another good arument is that slider suck for SEO. And I don't like them. ;P
I just had a client that said that he knows I’m right and his idea will lead to less calls/sales but he wants it anyway
Had this problem🤣 thank you for posting this 🤞❤❤
I already start off with "I can do xxxxx chage you want BUT it will affect XXXXX. Always good to let customer know that their opinion is important, but also the consequences of their choices. They are not technical so it's our job to explain to them what's up
Commented before I saw the vied that says almost the same thing lol
So needed this video ...was facing a not that bad...but a 2 red flag client..thabnks Ran ...congrats on flux academy community
i hope you will get 1m asap man.. great content
You motivated me by sharing your some inner thoughts. Thank You :-)
Needed this before I throw my PC out the window
Ran. I haven't been the best with dealing with people in the past, so do you recommend making templates for webflow instead of doing websites for people?
Omg, not in the field anymore, but I got requests for everything from awful, cliche font choices to straight up copyright infringement.
Im in video editing and motion design and i was not willing to continue with a project because of the bad chemistry and unrealistic ideas the client had within their proposed deadline. I ended up completing 1 out of 9 videos so they could use it as a template for the rest … next minute they have a junior making a whole new template which looked like a powerpoint presentation 😅 ahh what can u do tho 😂
too bad im just finishing my project. i tried to make my client look smart and he took it too seriously
Thank you!
I have one customer like that 🤣 right now, he is changing all the time and I spoke with him about the designs principles and he understood more now, we will see 🤣🤣
Perfect!! I jus had a call with my client jus now and i swear those requested changes are nightmares...😂😂
😂
Care to share 😂
@@Ali.webflow haha
You have clients at least :))
@@ViktorOddy true. There's a good side
Happened to me a couple of days ago, client requested 5 primary CTAs next to each other on the same page. bruh
What about unlimited change, once it give agreed few days back still not satisfied with design give new reference every day and contrast views
More changes more money!
I had a request for 16x16px SVG icons with text in them. Small emblems with titles like "beginner", "novice", "elite"... it's invisible even on high-dpi screens even with max zoom in :(
that's super easy, just show them it's impossible, there are barely enough pixels for two letters. so you use a different approach to plain text, something like a badge or military ranks, etc...
@@Mrdardas99 that's how I designed it. Then they asked for same badge, different colors, then they asked for letters above... crazy. I even sent max-zoom iphone screenshot, no dice.
@@dusanstojanovic3759 if it's an important piece of information you can say it doesn't follow Accessibility Regulations and ask for them to formally sign and request that so you won't get penalized for it when they get sued - that should scare them off, or at least indicate to you how much care you should have
Mann they are so irritating, they will not listen to my advice. They think I'm god and can do everything even mind reading
@@c.j.5455 Yes, you're right i'm just saying this is my job as a designer to give them a proper advice if i think there site will benefit from it but ultimately if they say they don't want it , i will defintely do it reluctantly.
@@EpicDurian6964 true. It's really hard explaining sometimes
How do you deal with things like this?
Do what they asked, like i care less
Yeah, they are paying me. If they insist on a bad design, I couldn't care less. It's not about me.
I just say to client make the design by yourself
The client are like kids, perferct anology, one needs to handle it in the same way we handle our kids.
No, it's not good to dehumanize them like that. Clients are people with different backgrounds, that may *seem* like kids or novices to an expert, but you cannot treat them or negotiate with them using the same tactics or language, because they will feel disrespected. If you even entertain the thought "It's like I'm dealing with a kid!" then it will seep into your language and affect the way you come across, and ultimately the relationship and product. Not good!
make my logo bigger cliche!! 😂😂😂
That is possibly one of the most requested things I get! Some also want their logo in the hero section too, as if once isn't enough :)
@@chriswilcox8977 I tell my clients they have the Client Paradox.. they want everybody to see their logo because for them it's important, but making it Bigger, is actually the best way to loose costumers' interest around it.. space and moderation can make anything important!
@@williammontagu6137 That, by far, is the best answer I have ever come across for this issue! I hope you don't mind if I steal it :)
@@chriswilcox8977 ha ha feel free to use it! Happy to help 👌
My client is still using their old logos after I updated their brand guidelines looooool
First