8 Annoying Things That Clients Say to Graphic Designers – Part 1

February 13th, 2010 | View Comments

I am approached by clients on a daily basis for graphic design work. Many are professional, but some are not. Below is a start to a new collection of things clients say, which are frustrating, yet slightly humorous.

  1. CLIENT: “This project should be pretty easy if you know what your are doing.”
  2. CLIENT: “I need a full scale CMS website. The specifications are attached for all of the pages.  We can afford $100. There’s not much of a budget but it could be a great portfolio piece.”
  3. CLIENT: “Why isn’t the site #1 on Google yet?”
  4. CLIENT: ”I showed the designs to my wife, and she doesn’t seem very interested. The target demographic is women 35-50, so we really need to work on this.”
  5. CLIENT: “I’ve attached an image of [insert ->some absurd picture stolen from a search engine]. Can you just blow this up and make it our logo at the top?”
  6. CLIENT: “We need a website and the budget is $XXX.

    ME: “Ok, that seems feasible. Go ahead and send over your specifications for your brand identity and logo files.

    CLIENT: “Oh, we need you to create the logo too. It’s part of the project.”

    ME: “No thanks.”

  7. CLIENT: “I need a logo. The budget is $20. All of the rights belong to me.”

    The client is being a impossible to please. Requests everything to be revised just so they can see as many options as possible and not pay for the time.

  8. CLIENT: “We really need the website up today.”

I’m looking to expand the list so feel free to post suggestions in the comment thread. Thanks!

Also, there was such a great response from the visitors that  I’ve decided to post part two as a list of reader suggestions. Check out, “Annoying Things That Clients Say to Graphic Designers Pt2- Reader Submissions.“


Categories: Design Resources
  • CLIENT "Can't you just design it and I'll tell you the things I don't like".
  • dieverdog
    Here's another one:
    Client (reviewing a proof): I don't like it, I'm not sure why. It lacks something. Can you re-do it?
    Designer: What exactly don't you like about it?
    Client: I don't really know, but I'm sure you'll come up with something.
  • Working for a small printer, I heard too many of these! Here are a couple of personal favorites:

    - "Can you make the logo bigger? I paid a lot of money for that logo, and I want to make sure everyone sees it".

    - (From one of our sales reps): "Hey, someone sent a response card back to me from that sales brochure you designed. What should I do with it?"

    - (Standard company tour excerpt): "This is our graphics department. This is the only department that uses Macs." (God's honest truth, that was from the CEO!)

    I have many many many more, if you need to be depressed.
  • mermaidsue
    When is Part 2?
  • Shauna
    "Do I really have to wait until you have all 50 pages of the website complete? Can't you just upload a page at a time?
  • Shauna
    "Do I have to wait until the 50 page website is complete? Can't you just put it up as you do it, a page at a time?"
  • dyansutton
    I have been in the business for over 15 years and have heard all of them. It was a good laugh, the challenge is how to handle these clients, not lose them and still make money. I have worked twice as many hours for clients like these than I have quoted. Always tell myself I have learned a hard lesson-till I get in the situation again!!!
    Especially relate to the one, "my wife didn't like it" Next it will be my hamster didn't do cart wheels!
  • This is very true. Some of these clients simply need thrown out the window (figuratively of course), but others can be handled in such a way that you can gain some respect and add value to your work.
  • You know, clients can be interesting! I wonder what clients think of the designers! It's probably a mutual dislike. ;)

    Joseph's latest blog post: DesignShack Guest Post
  • Great idea. I'll keep that in mind for the future.
  • Michelle
    :) I love "My wife's favorite color is orange. Can you do the logo in orange?" or

    Client: This red color is too chinese. Can you make it more apple?
    Me: Descriptors like chinese and apple are subjective - let me send you my pantone book. Choose a shade of red from the book - these colors = ink.
    Client: Well I didn't like any of the colors in the pantone book so I enclosed in this package a piece of paint I chipped off the wall in our office. Let's go with that shade of red!
  • haha. Send them to Lowe's to get paint matches.
  • desireewalshspencer
    Oh my God we are working with the same clients =)
  • I'm glad we can relate on some level my friend. It seems that most designers live the same life.
  • desireewalshspencer
    Have we been talking to the same people =)
  • nancyG770
    How about: "I'll have my assistant send the logo over. She designed it in Word."
  • dieverdog
    Oooh - that one really makes me cringe - and I have heard that one a few times.... Shudder!
  • Since everyone is enjoying this post so much I am definitely going to add more or make a part 2. Something about designing in Word will definitely go in there.
  • I have had this one; Can you teach me how to design it myself so I don;t have to bother you again. I have a limited budget ($10) and can not afford to pay you to do it.
  • jansstudio
    This is hysterically true!
    Thank you ....thank you.

    Thanks for the chuckle!
  • How about in number #4 "she doesn't seem to be very interested", instead of "she doesn't seem to be to interested".

    If you leave the to, you need to change it to this: "she doesn't seem TOO interested."

    You could also use "she doesn't seem VERY interested"

    Any of the above are more grammatically correct than what you have written, although my second one doesn't work well as the word "TOO" normally means also, which is negate what your "client" is trying to say.

    Nice website. If it were mine, I'd use a touch of color. I like the black and white, but it seems rather stark without photos.

    Saw you post in LinkedIn.. Good use of advertising.
  • Hey Glynne,

    Thanks for the grammer catch. I'm actually working on a lighter design to use in the future. It should be easier on the eyes. The current design was meant to show my portfolio originally, but the blog response has been so good that I'm switching directions.
  • true man! these things do happen to graphic designers... can't believe what stupid things clients say :-D
  • harrisonsaunders
    One of my favorites:
    Last Year: Last year's sales meeting was awesome, but we want it to be even better this year.
    This Year: You did a really awesome job on last year's show, but this year you need to really outdo yourself.
    Next Year: More! Better! I want this one to be twice as good as last year.
  • kurtgriffith
    Ongods.. this is all so familiar. *cringes* And of course there is the classic... "I'll know what I want when you show it to me." That one sends me screaming into the night, along with "It needs to 'pop' more."

    As for – CLIENT: “This project should be pretty easy if you know what your are doing.”

    DESIGNER: "I suppose that is why you hired a professional..."
  • On the first quote...I would love to work like that, but unfortunately the same person who says that wants to pay $5 for a logo.
  • KFDP
    Client: You can design the ad for me, then we'll decide if we're going to buy the ad space or not.
    Answer: NO, you must commit to the space before we provide designs to you.

    Client: I need this ad in high res so I can take it to another magazine to place.
    Answer: Only with the publisher's okay. I need to get paid first for my work which means you have to pay first for your ad. (these ads are complementary to the client if they buy an ad in the pub... however, the trend is becoming to "buy" the ad, not pay for it, then ask for a high res version hoping to get away with stealing it for other ad placements they aren't going to pay for)

    Client: I have this tiny, quick change we need. It won't take you but a minute.
    Answer: You will be billed for a minimum of one hour of time. Best to collect your thoughts and changes together before submitting them.
  • Great post!! Unfortunately, clients aren't the ones who ask these annoying questions. When I worked at my local newspaper as a designer, a salesperson asked if I could design a concept ad for him in FIVE minutes... so that he could make the sell and his goal for the month!! I told him not to EVER disrespect me or another designer by making such a request.
  • h0xenford
    People have no idea about image rights or lo-res/hi-res, and when you inform them they still don't seem to care. I know to many people who will print photos off of facebook and/or blow up an image at the local Wal-mart kiosk and the image looks disgusting, and they are okay with it. How can we get them to understand you images should be as clear as your hd tv!
  • Nic
    And I can assure you that it'exactly the same in every other design related business. (see fashion)

    "It's pretty easy, isn't it? And after all nowadays it's all done by computers"

    I'm still searching for the computer that makes designs all by itself while I take a relaxing bubbly bath...
  • Haha if only it were as a bubbly bath. No computer can brainstorm like the human mind. Nice one.
  • #2 totally just happened to me, lol.
  • How about ..."It should only take you about an hour..."

    Nice work on the site!
  • And the obvious: "The logo needs to be bigger."

    Hi Blake- saw your post on the " Graphic Design Professional Group" at LinkedIn. You've got a great portfolio of work here. The best to you! -Dave
  • Thanks Dave. I checked out your portfolio also. You've done some great book designs. Keep up the good work!
  • pbpdesigns
    Add this to your "List":
    Yes, I want you to design something. No, I don't know what it should look like. No I can't tell you what to put into it. You're the designer, make it look good. Something artsy. Oh, and do it fast because the client doesn't want to spend much money.
  • Yea. When someone comes at me like that, I've already thrown a flag before they get to the budget.
  • Name
    How about: "I need a website. How much will that be?"
  • Haha...classic.
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