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

How about: “I need a website. How much will that be?”

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

Haha…classic.

How about …”It should only take you about an hour…”

Nice work on the site!

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.

Thanks Dave. I checked out your portfolio also. You've done some great book designs. Keep up the good work!

Yea. When someone comes at me like that, I've already thrown a flag before they get to the budget.

How about …”It should only take you about an hour…”

Nice work on the site!

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…

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.

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…”

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This is hysterically true!
Thank you ….thank you.

Thanks for the chuckle!

This is hysterically true!
Thank you ….thank you.

Thanks for the chuckle!

How about: “I'll have my assistant send the logo over. She designed it in Word.”

Have we been talking to the same people =)

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!

Oh my God we are working with the same clients =)