Posts filed under ‘Career’
The Client VS The Designer
The client-designer business relationship is a sensitive one as it requires plenty of on-going communication and establishing certain expectations upfront to ensure a positive result for both parties involved. I’ve compiled a list specific to each but this post will be dedicated to client-side of things. The designers edition will be posted later on on my blog in a few days.
If you’re a client:
- Always, always ask for a project estimate upfront. I cannot stress this point enough. Don’t leave things at word-of-mouth or verbal agreement. The experienced designer can generally estimate how much time will be needed to complete a project and as a result, how much it will cost. If you have a budget in mind you’d like to stick to, make that clear from the start before any designing starts. Once you’ve agreed on the rate and signed any agreements needed (to protect both parties, not just the designer), then the work can commence. Many designers will also require a deposit upfront – this varies from 30% in phases or 50% upfront and the rest at completion.
- Don’t select designers for their fees; select them for their service. If you’re scouting a few designers for an upcoming project and don’t know who to choose, don’t let their fee be the determining factor. You’re not shopping for a pair of shoes or item of furniture after all. Each designer comes with their own education and design approach so no two designers are ever created equal. Design fees will vary based on years of experience, their working methods and project scope. Let the designer give you a better idea about their fees and the services they’ll be delivering when you schedule the first meeting. Did you see their portfolio and did it impress you? Do they have good word-of-mouth? All pluses. A very important indicator of who to go with is also very instinctual: Do you feel comfortable with them? How well did they understand what you need them to do? You’re going to have to communicate on a pretty-much regular basis until the project completion so it’s important you can see yourself working with that designer.
- Get the logo files you’re entitled to. If you’ve hired a designer to create a logo for you, it’s your right to have it in .eps or vector-format once the design has been finalized. Many clients forget to request that and either the designer no longer has it or they end up having to use low-res versions of their logo for printing (big no-no for quality in large-scale printing). You might not need it right away, but keeping the original vector format with you will always come in handy.
- Set deadlines and don’t leave things vague. Unless there really isn’t a deadline (seldom the case), keeping things at “take your time, we have a few weeks” ensures it stays on the designer’s back-burner and then when you do need it, it’s not ready. Deadlines should leave enough time for revisions and printing schedules. Key deadlines should be respected by both parties.
- Send a brief. It’s always a huge help for designing when the client knows what they want and what they hope the end-product should achieve in terms of messaging. Something “wow” will not be met kindly by any designer. Specify your target audience, the style and general content needed. The sooner the brief is set, the sooner the designer can get to work and not waste your valuable time trying to figure out what you want.
- Review all the details in the design before it goes to print or on your site. Yes, the designer is responsible for getting all your content correctly in whatever design you requested, but they are not copywriters and humans in the end. Typos happen. It’s your job as the client to review these details and don’t point fingers at anyone but yourself if the designer had sent you a proof that you approved. Proofs save a lot of heart-ache when you’re printing something. Check, check and double check before giving the green light.
- Designing doesn’t include expenses. Have the designer keep tab of any expenses such as stock photography, copywriting, font purchase, etc. They should keep you informed along the way and get your confirmation before any such purchases are made to avoid any surprises later on when it comes to the invoice.
- Leave the designing to the designer. I’ve had several clients request the original files to do their own work on them and each time I’ve returned to them with a flat-out no. If you’re having trouble communicating your idea to the designer, set a meeting and discuss in person or find samples online that reflect what you have in mind. Design files are the designers tools, just like an artist’s paintbrush. If the design is for a website, then it’s a different story but only once the design is finalized will they pass on the files for build-out.
Did I leave anything out? Clients and designers, please feel free to suggest others if I missed something.
Freelancer minus the “Free”
Freelancers are one of the most valuable, yet most undervalued, assets to corporate culture. Undefined by location, they can work from home and deliver a service that’s just as good (if not better) than that by a full-teamed agency. Their rates also tend to be lower than that of an agency or company as they have a smaller overhead to worry about. You’re basically paying for their work and it’s value. Freelancers are today’s entrepenuer moving against the wind by being self-employed and often end up establishing their own businesses if it works for them (or returning to the 9-to-5 if doesn’t).
Comic Source: www.CartoonStock.com
By definition, a freelancer is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term (w). However, oftentimes clients tend to see the “free” in freelancer as an opportunity to get more bang for their buck – and at the freelancer’s expense. Why should we have to suffer and struggle financially just because we’d rather work on our own?
My friend Yasmeen, a freelance designer like me, can relate and made an excellent point by saying:
“I’m going to stop using the word FREElance. Self-employed is better, even though it’s a sucky phrase.” – Yasmeen
(her quote actually inspired this post)
Arab clients in particular like to play on the sympathy card by trying to sell the fact they don’t have that big a budget for your work but that they’ll return the favor for much-lower rates by giving you future work, or credit. Would you ever go to a car dealership if you can’t afford a car? Would you tell the sales rep “I’m sorry I can’t afford this car, but I’ll drive it around, have several of my friends drive it around and make sure everyone sees the logo in return”?
If a client is coming to you, they have a budget and they need to be reminded that you provide a service of value, even if it’s not physical. You’re not a charity case and neither are they for that matter. The client needs you and your services just as much as you need them, so keep the playing field equal and treat the paying matter as such.
Please fellow freelancers, don’t fall for the same tired excuse of no or very low budget for symbolic returns for your work (credits are your right, not a privilege or trading barter). It encourages that client to use the same excuse with other future freelancers and down goes the whole freelancing industry if enough people fall for this. The few times you should allow yourself to do things for free is out of your own free will (for a charity or cause you want to support, for example) or if it’s truly a great opportunity that’s worth it in the long-run (a portfolio piece that’s sure to impress). Don’t get bullied into working for free when it’s not on your terms.
I’m personally fed-up with the lack of respect for freelancers in this part of the world and how fickle clients can be in swapping one out for the other. When a client hires a freelancer, they should ideally be hiring them for their work, not for their rates. I wish more clients realized that. Yes clients, we may not be as big as the typical agencies you tend to work with (and who tend to rip you off by the way or do a half-assed job), but we’re trying to make a honest living and working hard to do so.
If anyone needs your work, it’s all the talented freelancers out there so please spare us the embarrassing trade-offs for our education and experience. Support the local economy and encourage the creative youth living in this country to stay here. Most importantly, if all freelancers working in Lebanon can learn not to settle for less for competition’s sake, we’ll finally be able to set a respectable standard that clients will have to abide by. NO, $200 for a logo is not acceptable, and NO, $50 for a full-day of wedding photography is not acceptable. We need to establish a Lebanese Freelancer’s Guild to serve and protect our rights.
From this day forward, I’m no longer a freelancer: I’m self-employed.
–
Relevant Reads:
Freelance photographers, read this helpful post “How to Respond to Requests for Free Photography“
For more on freelancing, read my widely-popular “The Good, the Bad and the Freelancer“
“Don’t get Ticked into Working for Free” by Little Zotz
“3 Personality Traits Every Freelancer Should Demonstrate ” on Creative Agency Freelancing
What Success Really Looks Like
The other day I came across this illustration:
Originally posted on The Green Manager
Looking at that drawing, I couldn’t help but feel a certain “been there, done that” sentiment. If I had to place a dot for where I felt my life was at, it’d be certainly somewhere in the messy haze but slowly trickling out of it and making it’s way up.
At 27, I finally feel I’m on the path I wanted for my career. I’m doing what I love and been doing it well (and people are noticing). Working on my own was probably the toughest and easiest decision I’ve ever made but it’s been worth it and I can’t see myself living any other way now.
But of course, as with anything in life, that didn’t come easy. Success is never a sure-thing and it’s important to distinguish what success is, and what it isn’t. Too many people think they’re a success after their first and only achievement. Success is not a TV interview (everyone will get their 15 minutes of fame, especially in Lebanon) and it’s not an award. That’s only the beginning. I believe success is in longevity and the power of influence. It’s people like Steve Jobs who’ve changed the way the world thinks and whose lives are a testament of their vision. They’ve been up, they’ve been down but they’re still doing it. Don’t forget, success takes time and a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears to get there (that’s where the support of loving friends and family is especially vital to overcoming that and maintaining your sanity).
The road to what-is-still-too-premature-to-call-success has not been all sugar and roses. I’ve been down, I’ve been tired, I’ve been angry, I’ve been frustrated, I’ve been wrong, I’ve been wronged and I’ve been broke. But the “I’ve” I’ll hang on to after all that is “I’ve learned” and that’s priceless. I’ve learned life moves on and what doesn’t kill you can truly make you stronger (as cliche as that sounds).
One day, I’d like to post something about the lessons I’ve learned (and the juiciest part is HOW I learned them). Who knows, someone else might benefit from my experience. Just this year alone, I can make a list of at least 15 things I’ve learned, but I’ll leave that until the year is truly over as who knows what I’m yet to learn in the coming month and a half.
I’m looking forward to 2012, to carrying on lessons learned and keeping that arrow pointing upwards, even if a storm might shake it up every once in a while. As long as it keeps pointing up, I’m happy.
Recurring Tales of the Bullshit Businessman
My father once explained to a friend of mine how he regarded working in Saudi Arabia: “In Saudi Arabia, people are generally very honest when it comes to business. You can consider 70% to be honest and only, say, around 30% tend to be otherwise. In Lebanon, it’s vice versa. Only 30% tend to be honest and you have to deal with other 70% dishonest ones.”
When I first heard his words, I rolled my naive eyes. I’ve always known the general system and politics were corrupt here but I always believed if I was honest and professional, I’d receive the same treatment back. This past year’s brought to light the harsh reality I was avoiding eye contact with: My dad was right.
His words now come to mind every time I’m met with a new project and venture into the business side of things – even when you’ve struck an agreement, things always seem to change. People will always try to find ways to get more out of the deal than initially agreed upon. That’s why I’ve come to always request things in writing. I used to, again naively, think that writing an agreement added tension to a working relationship especially since here many businesses run on friendships and people tend to be a lot more informal than in the US. It’s all about creating alliances – whether it’s old family friendships, gifts, similar political or religious views, or even just the fact that your “important”. Everyone wants to work on a prestigious project or with someone prestigious. It’s never JUST about the work.
Adding to dealing with what I not-so-lovingly like to refer to as “Bullshit Businessmen” who’ll say all that you want to hear to land the client, I’m a young woman working in a country driven by power-hungry men. As if they needed any more reason to not take me seriously, I don’t have a ring on my finger (married women get more respect in our society) and I’m below the age of 40 (mature women also get more respect because they’re regarded as such). Try as you may, they will never take you that seriously here and don’t even think of correcting the bullshit businessman – their egos are as delicate as eggshells.. and no one wants to work with a bruised Lebanese ego!
If you know or have worked with the kind of businessman I’m talking about (especially the women reading this), then I want to hear from you. How do you deal with such characters?
Things Lebanese Clients Say
I’ve been blessed with some really great clients in Lebanon, keeping me busy with new projects every few weeks (knock on wood) but even the most well-meaning of clients will every now and then say something that makes me think “WHA?”. Maybe it’s the Lebanese business mentality, the tone of voice that comes out in emails sometimes or simply translating Arabic phrases into English so they sound a bit more stern that usual.
Allow me to elaborate with a few examples:
“We’re looking for something *Flashy*” – This tends to ring true for many Saudi-based projects surprisingly. Funny, we never took “Flashy”-ing your designs in Graphic Design school. Clients tend to think “Flashy” is a sufficient brief.
“Honestly, I wasn’t too impressed.” – The same client from above, wanting something more “Flashy” bling-bling. So I bling-ed it up and they were impressed (but I wasn’t). Clients aren’t too familiar with constructive criticism and this phrase tends to be the worst to hear – for any designer no matter how experienced or talented. How about elaborating on why “you weren’t impressed” or suggestions for ways to improve the designs? I certainly appreciate honesty and directness from clients, but designers have feelings too.
“Seems you were on vacation.” – As a follow-up less than a week later with no deadlines set or deliverables I had to send. Not to mention I DO have other clients. I get some clients try to be “cute” or break the ice by hinting at something indirectly, but that’s borderline presumptuous (I so WISH I was on vacation!). I would much rather hear “Any updates?” or “When can we expect so-and-so design? We have this-and-this deadline we’re trying to meet”.
“We want something great, but understand we’re also under a very tight budget. And oh yes, we need it in three days.” I work by the brilliant design philosophy I once read in a design business guide – ask the client which of two of the three qualities are more important to them: fast, cheap or great design. They can have it fast and cheap, but it won’t be great. On the other hand, they can’t have fast and great for cheap.
“Can we try some options ourselves on the Illustrator, Photoshop, etc (other software) you are working on?” I’ve received this question a few times and my only answer is a polite “no”. Clients test the waters for this kind of thing and if you accept once, they’ll expect you’ll always do this and there goes your business. Do you ask a mechanic if you can borrow their tools to work on your car? Or a chef to give you their blender to try out their recipe? Graphic design is no different though the “tools” change. For cases where the client requests the original files for website build-out or printing, then that’s a different story.
I can probably think of a few more, but would love to hear others’ own Lebanese clients’ expressions they’ve heard working on the job to compare notes.
