BlogmyQuery – BMQ

In a creative field like design, we face an undeniable truth: our wells of inspiration are bound to run dry from time to time. In those periods of imaginative downtime, we seek out sources that can help us return the creative flow to our working process, and get us “back in the game.” But when we need a quick recharge, where do we turn? Many of us have our favorite “go-to” places when we are victim to creative drought, though perhaps with a little help, our routinely chosen paths could change.

Although they are so different in their purpose, art and design have such a close relationship; extensive discussions, over the years, have tried to figure out what separates these two imaginative fields. Today we set that discussion aside and focus on the creative outcomes that have dazzled and inspired, by leading you toward some spectacular sources to get your dose (or two) of inspiration. Hopefully we can point you in the direction of some of inspiring artwork sure to produce enough spark to light anyone’s creative fire. Sit back, and let us act as your tour guide through this artistic recharge.

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Individual Artist Portfolios

A great tactic on the quest for art-based inspiration is to directly tap into the source. Individual artist portfolios seldom cease to amaze, and plunge you into a flood of new impressions if you’re willing to invest a little time. By observing artworks of individual artists, you can learn new techniques, compare their work to your work and improve your designing skills.

Thomas Schostok

Thomas Schostok is an artist whose body of grungy, collage-style work has been an inspiration to many. His book, Mr. Trash, is a collection featuring his no-holds barred approach to artistic expression that captures his style wonderfully. He is definitely worth looking into, to get your creative flow in motion once again.

Françoise Nielly

Françoise Nielly’s work is soulful. Her paintings reflect some of the other media that have helped shape her creative voice, and that have led her artistic work to the inspirational heights it has scaled. The vivid use of colors, contrasts and shape make faces look broken, yet perfectly put together, like a mosaic. The emotion carried and transferred by each piece is powerful, and easily conveyed to the viewer.

Øivind Hovland

Øivind Hovland’s works of art have been published in renowned magazines and in a broad range of other media. His work concentrates on up-to-date topics, as he also illustrates for newspaper articles. If you allow his ironic designs to “get to you,” you just might find the inspiration you were looking for. Øivind’s style is very original: the artists avoid rectangual shapes, traditional shapes and common contrasts. A nice example of how breaking the rules can help artworks stand out.

Lixiviandro Indra Harinanda

This young Indonesian artist caught our attention with his complex, abstract compositions. Differing styles, and the varying, vibrant use of colors, make his artwork a refreshing stroll through inspiration. And it is proof, once again, that art does not always have to be viewed in 3D.

Natalie Shau

Natalie Shau’s style is whimsically dark as she digitally takes her imagination and pulls many exciting pieces from it, transforming her vision into an eerie reality. Her work at times can leave you feeling a little uncomfortable, but you are almost guaranteed to develop a sense for her art.

Evgeny Kiselev

Evgeny Kislelev dazzles with his collection of digital art and design. The depth and intricate, abstract nature of the work in his portfolio leaves a lasting impressions, with layer upon layer of colorful, boundless artistic expression partially reminiscent of Southeast Asian batik design, others wholly composed of symmetrical perfection.

Caroline Morin

Caroline Morin is an illustrator with a knack for capturing the personality of her subjects. Not to mention the seeming ease with which she conveys this instilled quality, to the viewer. Her work is subtle, and the illustrator uses just a couple of colors, yet her portraits nicely depict human soul and mood.

Nata Metlukh

Nata Metlukh’s work spans genres and formats, pulling together some inspiring pieces of art that can offer the fans of dark, vibrant art among us, a healthy dose of inspirational refueling. Her work dances between the dark and the playful sides of the spectrum, and uses various media combined in quite unusual and vivid artworks.

Robert Carter

Robert Carter’s life-like renderings truly capture the attitude and emotion of the subject. The satirical connotations of his artwork strongly influence the subjective perception of each piece.

Liza Corbett

Liza Corbett’s sketchy, imaginative works evoke a child-like sense of innocence while carrying somewhat darker connotations for some, which makes for an immensely powerful body of work. Liza’s art is often abstract and not easy to undestand, and the strong contrast between the theme of her artworks and their “light” drawing nature is remarkable.

Sara Holbert

Sara Holbert is an artist whose whimsical work embodies a sense of innocence in nature, that pervades so many of our memories from childhood. The artworks are a bit dreamy, a bit cartoonish, and sometimes a bit realistic.

Alex Andreyev

Alex Andreyev’s portfolio weighs heavily on the darker side; his artworks are surreal, concise and thought-provoking. The artists reveals that “by using limited toolset, [he is] able to achieve stylistic consistensy throughout my artwork.” In fact, most artworks focus only on few central elements, leaving the rest in the calm and subtle background tones.

Online Artist Communities

Places definitely worth sourcing for art inspiration are online artist communities. They brim with the artists and with the type of work you can lose yourself in, to refill your inspirational mojo. These community websites are wonderful resource pools that provide you with a slice of the art world, showcasing so many different styles that it is often easy to rekindle your own creative fire.

WetCanvas
A large, forum-based community for both traditional and digital artists alike, sharing some truly inspiring work. Browse their link collection for further ideas, or register to fish for fresh input on the theme forum.

FFFFOUND!
FFFFOUND! requires an invitation, but that does not mean you cannot browse this inspiration-filled cyber location. Once a member, FFFFOUND! adapts to your needs and taste, proposing styles and art that meet your requirements. Minute-by-minute updates by users around the globe guarantee a never-ending flow of stimuli.

ARTmeo
An open art community for artists, still in its early stages, but with potential. Currently, only images can be shared here but an additional section for sound and video art is soon to come.

deviantART
A lot of people scoff at deviantART, seeing it as the “Myspace” of the art community as it has attracted over 13 million registered users since 2000. But stick to the right categories, keep an eye on some selected artists, and you’re bound to be amazed.

Galleries Online
This site is on an artistic mission to develop a free online artist community, and to help foster relationships among those working in the arts. Browse the galleries categorized by subject, or by medium.

Artgonia
A great resource for artists looking to get their work out to the public, and for members of the public looking to get inspired and to discover new artists.

Behance Network
One of the largest and most used design communities on the Web. Always a wonderful place to go to get a little inspirational refill.

Artobolus
A growing international online artist community. Everyone can share, and search, the extensive art catalog.

ARTST Guild & Gallery
Here artists can meet, share work and collaborate. The gallery has over 26,000 artworks, all sorted in various categories and organized alphabetically and by rating.

Art Magazines

Often it’s also useful to take the inspirational art search into the physical world by venturing towards some good art magazines and art-oriented publications. Check them out if you are looking to uncover some truly inspiring artwork; this more traditional presentation is preferred by those who still like to hold magazines in their hands.

Juxtapoz Magazine
This is one of the most popular monthly art magazines today. Filled with awesome artwork and insightful articles, it is an inspirational powerhouse.

8faces
The magazine has one core question at its heart — if you could only use eight typefaces for the rest of your life, which would you choose? — and poses this (and many others) to eight leading designers from the fields of web design, print design, illustration, and of course type design itself. A nice project by Elliot Jay Stocks. Issue 2 is currently available.

Art Nouveau Magazine
A quarterly art and culture print publication. Focusing heavily on art and design, avant-garde fashion and an eclectic mix of music, this inspirational magazine offers a little something for everyone.

S.L.A.M. Magazine
A relatively new publication focusing on the local art communities that allow so many artists to grow and to nurture their abilities. With only six issues to date, the archives are small but the inspiration is not.

Bomb Magazine
A quarterly art publication that has been around since the ’80s, evolving artists’ dialog and overall sense of community through in-depth discussions with artists about their work and processes.

Hi-Fructose Magazine
Another quarterly art magazine, around since 2005. Founded by artists, this inspiring publication focuses on works that break out of their genre boundaries and reach beyond the trends.

FOUND Magazine
An annual publication that takes, and collects, found images and items throughout the year, then puts together each collaborative “artistic slice of life” for the world to see.

Art+Auction
One of a family of arts and culture publications on ARTINFO that has been around for a bit, and that has built a dedicated following within the artistic community.

Artworks Magazine
A quarterly art magazine that has been enlightening and inspiring the community since 2004, focused on giving artists a platform to share their work with the world.

Communication Arts
A popular arts and culture publication that has been inspiring the masses to swim through their creative pools, and colorful pages, for over 50 years.

Gutter Magazine
From the proverbial arts underground, comes this exciting and inspiring magazine full of intriguing and creative works.

Would you like to see more similar posts on SmashingMag?

Related Posts

You may be interested in the following related posts:

• 100 Years Of Propaganda: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
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© Robert Bowen for Smashing Magazine, 2010. | Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us | Digg this | Stumble on StumbleUpon! | Tweet it! | Submit to Reddit | Forum Smashing Magazine
Post tags: art, Inspiration

Freelancers are somewhat of a singular breed according to some of the outside perceptions held about us. We hear it all the time from friends and family, even at times from near strangers, that they could never work for themselves from home and actually be productive. Without some predetermined hierarchical structure that pits someone above them demanding results from them each day they are in the office. They are amazed at the power of will that we seem to exhibit, without any pressure from the higher-ups to keep us motivated. But they fail to see that we are motivated by the need to remain in business for ourselves, and so the motivation to keep on task is generally already in place.



Image Credit

Most freelancers have a powerful need to eat and have a roof over their heads (okay, so less over the heads and more over the workstation or proverbial power centers), and still there are motivators driving us forward. So for freelancers reaching that motivation is not so much of a problem, but holding on to it can be. As most people are aware, freelancers tend to work long hours and that can often lead to the more pressing problem for freelancers: burnout. When that virtual flame of initiative and drive has flickered and faded leaving us with nothing but its sad, smothered remains as a reminder of what we should be doing, but can’t.

The Basic Idea

If you have never experienced burnout, then consider yourself lucky, for it can be a long and arduous recovery from this imposed downtime. Burnout tends to follow a particularly long period of focused work where we tend to forget about any and everything else beyond the project finish line looming in the distance. When productivity has been the only order of the day for weeks upon weeks and your freelance dungeon has become your virtual creative cave where you have, for all intents and purposes, confined yourself for this extended period of time. As a freelancer who is dependent on having work to keep them afloat, this can seem like a solid, productive approach which will yield positive results in the long run.

Trouble is, no one tends to be able to run at this pace for that long. It catches up to you, and burnout begins. Suddenly you find that you are unable to force this creative drive to continue as your passion for your work has been reduced to ashes by burning your freelance candle at both ends. Then we find ourselves stuck, unable to move forward on this path until our passion, like a phoenix, magically rises fresh and anew from the ash. Burnout is hard to break free from once you are in its unforgiving, and unproductive grips, so our better odds come from avoiding this problem area, over getting out once we are in. It is so much easier to prevent than to escape, so that is what brings us here today.

The long run only matters if you have the steam to make it to the end. Image Credit

Below are seven helpful hints for freelancers to assist us in our struggles to avoid this costly roadblock from becoming an obstacle in our daily grind. These are techniques that have proven useful for some in the freelance field, so hopefully they can also help to prevent you from falling victim to freelance burnout. They are in no particular order as they all rank important in this battle for continued productivity and drive, and there is no one tip that can guarantee victory. You more want to use a combination of these approaches in your daily schedule.

1. Keep Up On Your Personal Projects

First up in this discussion of ideas is to keep up with you own personal projects and not let them slip between the cracks. These side projects that we do are vital to our freelance business in ways many of us do not even realize. When time begins to weigh in on us, one of the first things we tend to drop from our days are those personal side projects that we have going. We feel guiltily like we can no longer justify taking time out of our schedules to devote to the work that is only there to stimulate and feed us. Designers, developers, writers, whatever the creative freelance hat you wear, we all tend to have one or two little pet projects going at any given time. This is a necessary evil.

Pet projects are always begging for our attention because we need them as much as they need us. Image Credit

Well, evil is a bit of a harsh assessment, but we tend to look unfavorably on these projects when our schedules are stressing us. We see them as expendable, not as the saving graces that they can often be for us. Whatever the creative freelance work that you do is, make sure that you are not just doing it for your clients, make sure that you do some for you as well. Designing, coding, no matter the outlet it shouldn’t always be about work when you sit down to play in the waters where you freelance or you risk losing touch with the fun of it all. And if you lose the fun, you often lose the passion, and thus your edge. So these personal projects keep us grounded in everything about the work that we love, even when the client side of the coin is becoming repetitive and stale.

2. Limit Work Hours On a Daily Basis

Now the discussion turns to an area that many freelancers, admittedly myself included, have trouble keeping under control, effective time management. Freelancers tend to take a different approach to the standard ‘work day’ as it is, but when we are feeling the pressure of approaching deadlines and the like it is hard to pull ourselves away from the workstation. We feel obligated to be there, right in the zone until our eyes are drooping and we can no longer force them to cooperate with us and stay open. We seem determined to defy any and all outside distractions giving the project before us our undivided throughout the day. Letting the hours fall from the clock unnoticed, believing we are in control, not on the way to losing it.

Keeping one eye on the clock can do a lot to keep stress from bogging you down. Image Credit

If we do not force ourselves to unplug and clock out each day, then these extended work sessions are carrying us full speed towards burning out. We think we are mastering this creative drive, but we are essentially overdriving it and putting unnecessary strain on it. Strain that will stress it until it can no longer move forward, and we are stalled. No matter what we do, at that point, we cannot get that forward motion back. This is why we need to limit ourselves each day to ensure that the hours we do work, can remain productive and creatively stimulated. The last thing we want is to burnout during a project, causing us to effectively phone in the final results. Time off is important to this effort, even though it seems like somewhat of a contradiction.

3. Take Full Days Off

Speaking of time off, we segue smoothly into our next burnout combatant, taking full days off. Recently we have published a similar piece on Smashing Magazine about just that. The idea of being accessible and on the clock 24/7/365 and how this is not the most reasonable of expectations. But the thing is, we as freelancers often put these expectations on ourselves. Or we at least put ourselves in the position for these expectations to put freely placed upon us unchallenged. Once again, we believe that this is somehow a necessary compromise for us to remain effective and ahead of the game. But we do not realize that this can have negative effects as well. We think as long as we take some time off each day, we will be fine to continue pushing forward.

We just need to break up the work week, not keep going for weeks on end. Image Credit

However, we owe it to ourselves, our clients, and the work itself to take full days off to unplug and unwind, not just parts of them. As freelancers, this is not always the easiest thing for us to do, but unless we are taking full days off then we are never going to fully unplug from the work. This is vital in maintaining our passion and drive, even if we cannot see it. If our mind is always engaged by a particular project or idea, and we never allow that refresh, then our approach and our thinking become clouded. We are constantly processing the same ideas, never allowing for a virtual reset that can bring in new ones. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and this can apply to our freelancing drug of choice as well. That day off can keep our passion igniting freshly with each return engagement!

4. Don’t Forget to Diet and Exercise

As the freelance stresses of our overactive schedules can get in our way and make us forget about the important times we need to virtually feed and nurture ourselves away from work, it can also distract us from the important times we need to actually physically feed and nurture ourselves. A healthy diet and regular exercise are things we often forget in the interest of making this freelancing way of life work for us. We see these once more as acceptable compromises in our means to reach our ends, without realizing the impact that correctly addressing these areas can have in keeping us on our creative and productive paths. But burnout can sneak up on us through these routes if we neglect them, and underestimate their importance to our drive.

By maintaining a proper, balanced diet and adhering to a regular exercise routine, our bodies and our minds are kept in harmony and in check. Exercise releases endorphins which keep us happier and deliver more peace of mind. Helping to keep the stress levels of our freelance business in check and from feeling overwhelming. Also, as mentioned before, the virtual mental unplug from work is vital, and exercise affords us an easy opportunity for said disconnect. A healthy diet helps keep our minds clear as well, while giving us bursts of creative and physical energy, both of which are needed when facing the potential long hours of the day ahead. Living glued to the workstation surviving off processed foods and chemicals, sublimated with caffeine induced energy pockets is on the way to stay fresh and out of the reach of freelance burnout.

5. Maintain Non-Work-Related Hobbies

Now keeping up with side projects in your chosen area of freelancing is important as we discussed, but there is another side to that coin as well. It is not enough to keep those creative fires stoked within your field, but also maintaining non work related hobbies also helps keep those creative fires burning all around. Often at times we find it hard to not only justify personal projects but to make time for them, then we are certainly not going to see the value in keeping up with creative hobbies that take our minds out of the proverbial zone we tend to keep it in for our freelance workmode. But the value is there, we are just overlooking and underestimating it.

We need to be able to unplug from workmode and switch gears to stay fresh and far from burning out. Image Credit

What we have to realize is that the more we can unplug and allow our creative efforts to find other outlets, the less likely it is that this creative flow will be stifled and interrupted in any way. As mentioned before, if our mind is always engaged in a certain way, then our thinking along those lines can become clouded and less vibrant. So if we are actively taking our minds into different directions for engagement then chances are less likely that any one of those paths will begin to stagnate. These other creative pursuits can also help us find new ways in our freelance work to come at projects and ideas. Allowing some crossover in methods or practices to allow our creative freelance processes to evolve and grow.

6. Get Outside

As freelancers, with our living and work spaces effectively combined, we can find ourselves needing a more physical unplugging of sorts over just the mental ones we have been discussing to avoid burnout. This unplugging is done by simply getting outside of your living/work space. That is all: just leave your domicile and get out into the real world. If you must, take the virtual one with you via some portable device, but get out of your proverbial place of business. Again, this is not easy for a lot of freelancers to justify. Time away from work is okay, because they are still in the vicinity, so that invisible lifeline is still intact. But if we do not get out of the building then we are doing ourselves and our work a complete disservice.

The call is coming from inside the house…”Get outside!” Image Credit

We can say that we are unplugging all we want, but as long as we have some virtual umbilical cord connecting us to our work then we are not getting that true refresh. This is why it is best to leave the connections to the virtual world behind when venturing out if we can. This way we are truly leaving work and all of that behind as we go forward into the great outdoors to reconnect with the world in a completely different way than we do from behind our screens. Nature has a way of stimulating that creative flame inside us anyway, so this is a easy way to get your necessary recharges without having to even think about it. So give yourself some time outside away from your combined space so that it does not start to close in on you, sapping your creative drive and pushing you towards burnout.

7. Keep Learning

Our final area of discussion comes from the fresh is better frame of mind with regards to our freelance choice of profession, and that is to keep learning. As long as you continue this pursuit of knowledge in your area of expertise, then you are always moving forward. Again, it is easy to get bogged down with work and begin virtually circling in the familiar waters we have been in, rather than reaching out for new areas to expand into. Seemingly justifying this by presuming some sort of lost clientele and revenue via this learning distraction, when it really is quite the opposite. We can gain so much more for our freelance business by allowing this sort of growth. Not to mention, it can stave off the burnout factor as our work is constantly evolving.

So the continued learning experience is not only a necessity because most of of us are operating within fields that are advancing and changing often by great leaps and bounds each year, but because through this continued exploration of our fields we are less likely to become bored by it. So we want to find ways to continue to challenge ourselves through our freelance field of choice, in order to have our processes and routines become less stagnant. Which always translates well for our body of work. These challenges prevent our work will from suffering through these stale periods of no growth, which can negatively impact our chances at gaining new clients. So be sure you are constantly looking for new challenges within your market to keep you learning and excited about your field.

Final Words

Burnout can be damaging to any person working in a creative field, but for those freelancing and running the entire show themselves, it can be deadly. Being able to keep refreshed and vibrant is vital to the growth and stability of your business. So taking whatever steps we can to prevent this burnout from rearing its ugly head should be considered necessary for the life of our freelance careers. What methods do you use to keep the burnout at bay?
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Years ago, the online design community was a thriving conversationalist — of sorts — through the comment sections across the community. It was through leaving meaningful comments that the thought-provoking ideas presented and discussed in a post were examined by others whose perspective and experiences may have provided them with a slightly different take.

The continued dissection and discussion of the topic expanded the dialog far beyond the initial post, challenging and redirecting ideas and allowing dialog to evolve; it showed a certain level of critical thinking from within the community. We still have sites that are design conversationalists, but unfortunately they are rather exceptions. And it seems that the problem occurs not only in the design community, but in other areas as well.

Since those good old days, things have taken an unexpected turn. Comments are becoming less and less expansions on the ideas presented, and more and more just simple offerings of praise or agreement. Even in articles where solutions are being sought for problem areas within the field, numerous comments show acceptance of this need for action but offer no solution or approach; often, the comments also show that the ideas were not given much consideration by the reader.

This is certainly not indicative of every comment on every post out there across the blogosphere, or a generalization about the community — just an observation of an increasing trend. Once, posts would inspire active discussion and participation with such a wide range of opinions that the post would take on a whole new life. That phenomenon has faded.

What Is This Saying?

The rise of the less-than-conversational commenting can make it look like we are losing our capacity for critical thinking — at least, with regards to the topics being presented for discussion. It can sometimes feel like there are those who rush to throw their support behind the author of the post without considering what is being proposed. Even if you agree with what was said and wish to show your support, there are still ways to comment that indicate a more thoughtful approach.

Sometimes comments can also leave the impression that the commentator just skimmed through the headers and did not read the article in full. The sentiments left behind in such comments, though they may be honest, can impart a hollow feeling rather than the intended encouragement.

So, What Happened?

There is one important aspect of online content that we often tend to forget. With most posts (beyond those intended to offer inspiration and little else), the ideas presented are there to be examined and dissected; they are not the “final word” on the subject, but a perspective presented for consideration. They don’t have to be correct and they don’t have to be accepted “as is”. The current commenting attitude can effectively undercut any potential ongoing discussion that the author of the post set out to have. When, and why, did the dialog die? Perhaps if we can root out the cause, we can better address the problem.

1. It’s a Matter of Time

One obvious consideration is time. Our multiple daily online “obligations” can cause our time to be finely divided; we may opt to leave behind a quick sentiment because our RSS feeds are calling with dozens of other articles that we want to give our attention to; because we have e-mails to attend to; or because any number of time-consuming reasons keep us “running” the whole time we are online.

2. The Social Media Connection

Perhaps the rise of social media shares some blame for the devolving of critical commenting. People started using social media networks more frequently and offering follow-up thoughts mainly when they shared a post, usually limiting their comments to little or nothing; it became easier to simply share a post, rather than to actively formulate a meaningful follow-up comment to leave on the post itself. And as the path of least resistance is often the one traveled most, here we are.

3. Just a Visual Contribution

We also have to consider that for some of the blogosphere populous, commenting is more about visibility than actually contributing to the discussion. At times, the only purpose is to be “seen” on the website or to have their information linked to the website via the comment section — especially if they can be the absolute first to leave a comment. It does not really matter what the post is about; in fact, they may not have even read it. What’s often overseen in these cases is that links next to a meaningful comment are an indicator of author’s competence and as such much more useful and therefore much more valuable than simple link dropping.

As Content Creators, What Can We Do?

What can content creators do to generate more discussion and critical thinking among readers? Many of us are unwilling to adopt a focus on putting out content that does not promote critical thinking; we wish to keep challenging our readers and colleagues. We like to read content which gets us thinking and questioning, so in turn, we like to create the same type of content.

Photo credit: Ian Muttoo

1. Maximize Engagement

Find creative ways to ensure that the content we are putting out is as engaging or interactive as possible. If you can involve your readers in the post, you are more apt to get them thinking about the ideas being presented. Ask them questions throughout the article to get them into an inquisitive state of mind, so that they may end up reading with a much more critical eye and have more comments to make.

2. Respond in a Timely Manner

Watch the comments that are coming in and reply to them within a day or so. This is not to say that we have to be available at a moment’s notice to respond to each comment; but if readers take the time to consider your ideas and to leave their thoughts, we need to take the time to reply. Most will check back in a day or two to see if you have responded, hoping to keep the discussion going; if we have not gotten back to them by then, they might write off the idea of continuing the dialog and move on.

3. Foster a Conversational Environment

Create an atmosphere that is conducive to dialog. If we are already asking questions to get responses and are responding back, we need to nurture the conversation by being approachable. If your ideas are challenged, you have done well; don’t let that make you feel defensive about your original points as that tone will come across in your replies and might degrade the discussion into a debate, with both sides becoming more entrenched.

4. Adapt the Discussion

If our audience is turning to social media networks with their thoughts and follow-ups, we might have to adjust our approach and adopt an “If you can’t beat them, join them” mentality by moving the conversation there — even if it leads away from the original post. We can then try to later steer the conversation back to the comment section attached to the original article or post.

As Commentators, What Can We Do?

We cannot forget that we end up as both creator, and commentator, in our daily online lives — or at least, we should. Admittedly, having fallen victim to the social media networks, I now tend to comment less on blog posts than I did before. We have to fall back on that golden rule: treat others as we wish to be treated, and seek out other articles to read through and critically consider. When we don this hat, we need to take the responsibility seriously and give as good as we expect to get.

1. Offer Personal Highlights

Even when we are in complete agreement with a post and have nothing to expand on, we can still leave meaningful comments: we can always take the time to let the rest of those participating in the comment thread know what areas resonated with us. By highlighting what connected with us, you allow the author to get some insight into what is landing with the audience, and by default, what is not.

2. Be Constructive

Remain as constructive as possible so the conversation doesn’t get derailed. There is no use in belittling or insulting the points presented even if you disagree with them, especially if you are interested in actual dialog or in getting the author to rethink a position. This does assume that our intention, as readers, is to expand on the ideas presented; if we feel we cannot reasonably or respectfully contribute to the dialog, we should just move along without leaving any comment.

3. Read Fully Before Drawing Conclusions

If we are going to leave a comment, especially one that raises a point of contention, we need to fully read the post. If we are pressed for time and have a “Shoot first, ask questions later” attitude, we may skim through the post, get something out of context, and immediately jump down to the comment section to dispute it — forgetting that the rest of the article could contextualize the point, or even cover what we are about to comment on.

4. Ask Questions

Ask relevant questions about the points that were raised to instigate further discussion. When creating content ourselves, we often lean on queries to spark dialog and to get comments flowing; why not employ the same tactic when we are on the other side of the discussion? Even if all of the ideas in the post were expressed plainly enough, one can always ask follow-up questions. Again we want to keep the tone of our comments in mind, so that our inquiries stand a better chance of being well received and of getting answered.

5. Share Related Experiences

Contributing our own experiences can further the discussion and bring others into that portion of the continuing conversation, but only relevant contributions need apply: it is one thing to offer a story to really accentuate a point made in the article, but quite another to share a story that has nothing to do with the post.

In Conclusion

Many factors could have brought about this uncritical commenting trend, and there are many ways that we can combat diminishing dialog to spark critical thinking in our readers and encourage them to “see” what they read with inquisitive eyes. Most bloggers have no problem receiving praise for their posts, but when the readers are additionally provoked to think more about the topic and to leave a comment that carries on the discussion, the post evolves — a win for both the blogger and the readers.

…So, What Do You Think?

© Robert Bowen for Smashing Magazine, 2010. | Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us | Digg this | Stumble on StumbleUpon! | Tweet it! | Submit to Reddit | Forum Smashing Magazine
Post tags: comments, posts

The Web has continued evolving since its inception, as have those who have devoted their professional lives to working in and around this massive communication tool. We have had to roll with the changes, and like with any major environmental shifts, we have had to adapt. During this shifting of our online existences, something quite interesting happened… interesting in a somewhat frustrating manner. The expectations of the client base, our colleagues and even our friends have risen to new, unreasonable heights.

Though this is not an isolated instance of schedule disrespect, we do understand that not every potential client or colleague is going to hold on to these extremely elevated expectations, so this post is directed only at those who do. Do not misunderstand, there is nothing wrong with having expectations about a profession, but when you allow those unchecked presumptions to take you to a disrespectful place, then a line is being crossed. One that we hope to clearly draw in the sand, for any and all of those who share in this frustration, with this article today.

What’s the Crux?

Basically, at the forefront of this disrespect is the issue of time. After all, timing is everything. And it further seems, that when it comes to time, it is always on the verge of running out on everyone. From somewhere, came this overwhelming sense of urgency that seems to have tightly gripped so many people and it is not letting up. And for some reason, they expect this sense of urgency to be completely contagious. For everyone to pick up on this pressing sense and let it push them into action as well. Which is understandable for sure, but it is not entirely fair.

It also makes assumptions that further disrespects these professionals and their other clients. It assumes that they can devote all of their attention and time to you and your project. Which just further implies an importance that your project has over any and all else. Which it does. To you. But can you reasonably expect the same from everyone who operates off or online, who has their services offered to millions of members of the public? One would not think so, but it happens. For some reason our time, no matter the professional arena in which we hang our hat, is considered 100% theirs once a contract is in place or the agreements are made and the work begins.

Sometimes it is necessary to pull yourself away from work and just take a break. Image credit: Petra Fritz

Suddenly like doctors who are on call, no matter the day or the hour, seemingly with no consideration given to our schedules whatsoever, we are expected to be available and at the ready whenever the client needs us. Our websites and e-mails are treated as virtual help desks that we should be manning 24/7/365. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week for three hundred and sixty five days a year. No interruptions or distractions are allowed. Life, which typically has a tendency of getting in the way, is not permitted to do so for the actively, online business professional. How is that reasonable?

Once upon a time, there were those of us playing this business game who believed that it was completely unnecessary and unreasonable for us to take our work home with us. We’ve surely had times, when it was not easy to let the work stay behind as we clocked out, but it was not a constant element of our jobs. And there were those of us who believed that was just the way this game would play out. But we were apparently mistaken. It seems that to some members of the public, we have apparently connected dots which have led to a misunderstanding of our accessibility. What some might even label as a reluctance to understand rather than a simple misunderstanding.

Where Have All The Weekends Gone?

Time was, people would have a solid work week, which was commonly a day or two shorter than the full seven day cycle that filled our calendars. They would put in their forty plus hours squeezed into about five days and take two for themselves. It was not only welcomed, it became expected. But then something began to change. The landscape shifted, and those expectations were no longer extended to all fields of business. Including those whose business was largely, if not all, based online. Suddenly, these weekends were no longer sacred.

We were not allowed to be away or out of reach, not for a day, so certainly not for two. But why? Is this simply a reflection of the way that our ‘jobs’ are viewed by those outside of the field looking in? Is this a lack of respect, or is it something less sinister than that? Is it a personal thing that we need to cope with on our own? Is it a matter of self-organization and saying ‘no’ to people having such high expectations? Truth be told, it is almost certainly not any one answer, but more a combination of them. After all, we are dealing with a large segment of the world populous, so generally there is not just one route to the heart of this issue.

How Did We Get Here?

So just exactly how did we end up here? Maybe if we can understand how this came about, we can effectively combat these misconceptions that have led to this place of unrealistic expectations. This would make things go smoother for both the clients and the professionals involved in the project. When everyone comes to the table with reasonable expectations, there are fewer surprises to upset the flow and raise the stress level of the project. This is the best environment to work in, but we find a much more hostile one currently in its place. One that was wrought from a handful of contributors.

Oops, Our Bad!

First off, we should admit up front, that a portion of this blame could (and probably should) fall on our shoulders. So before we go pointing any fingers elsewhere, we should point the first one at ourselves. For years, many business professionals have been flocking to the Web and writing about the lengthy, dedicated schedules that we tend to keep, and how many long hours are involved in our choices of profession. Especially if our work centers around the Web. Perhaps this information has been completely misconstrued and misinterpreted into an endless accessibility.

Add the fact that many of us professionals get to work from home to that, and people surmise that means we are never far from our base of operations. This further leads down the road to people expecting us to always be checking in. After all, we are never going to be far from home, right? At least, not for any significant length of time.

The Mobile Web!

Another factor that helped bring about this landscape is the mobile Web and the near unlimited connectivity it offers. Given that a number of us have our businesses online, we are all expected to carry the Web with us any and everywhere we go. Thus eliminating any excuse for us to ever be out of reach. So many mobile devices bringing the Web into a more portable hand-held format was a game changer for many reasons, but this one was perhaps unforeseen by many in the online community.

Suddenly this Web trend exploded and connectivity not only became more accessible and common. It became an expectation. Especially for those working in the digital online realms, as we are seen to always be sort of ahead of the game when it comes to the digital media that shapes the Internet.

Rodney Dangerfield Syndrome

Sometimes, however, these unrealistic expectations stem from a fundamental lack of respect for the work that we do, particularly for those working from home or in any sort of creative field. Plain and simple, just like Dangerfield repeatedly lamented, we get no respect! There are always going to be people outside our field who cannot understand how much focus and finesse goes into our work, and as a result they undervalue our contributions.

Not only that, but there are those who underestimate the length of time it takes for the creative process to run its course. They think that we can just easily crank out the design, the code, the article, whatever the work is, with little to no effort. Therefore they tend to rush the project by setting unreasonable deadlines, essentially undercutting the effectiveness of the project.

The Weakened Economy

Another factor that could possibly offer insight into these expectations coming in way above reason is the decline in the global economy. Overall, the standard value of money worldwide has seen better days, and this has left many people needing to make their money stretch. This has seemed to leave them expecting more for their money. This could also put them in a less than trusting mood when they begin dealing with a faceless online professional who is virtually anonymous to them. They see little recourse should something go wrong, given that there is no physical source to travel to and personally take on. So they get a little nervous which can cause them to be excessively hands on. Unfortunately, their nerves do not get any better if they find that they cannot reach us when they need to.

Customer Privilege

The last road that led to this place we are going to look at here is one created by the corporate shot-callers of the past, and exacerbated by an entitled nature that many have adopted. Customer privilege. Or rather, the customer is always right, gone horribly, horribly wrong! Businesses around the globe sold consumers everywhere this bill of goods, and they ran with it. Believing that — no matter the context or situation — they are always right, and always deserving of our fullest attention whenever they feel they require it. The idea of other clients or projects requiring time does not work for them, because it is not their concern. They are priority number one in their eyes, and they do not understand that we do not share this outlook, because once upon a time, businesses everywhere, told them they were.

You don’t have to work every single day. It’s important to have side projects that are not directly related to work. This free time will help you broaden your horizon and bundle your energy for upcoming projects. Image credit: See-ming Lee

How Do We Proceed?

Now that we have got here, what can we do to alter this course? The road is already paved and everyone has been steered to this place, so what can we do now to reset this bar? Well, hopefully we can find some common ground of understanding and right this course as a team of professionals and clients. Going forward with a full comprehension of how we got to this place and why it is a bad place to be, we can start repairing these breaches that for too long have been a damaging bump in the business road.

The Under is Over

For starters, we have to agree to stop underestimating one another. This happens on both sides of the fence, so we as the professionals have some work to do in this area as well. We often underestimate our clients and their ability to fully grasp our concepts and ideas, so we try to work around them rather than work with them. So from both ends of the business relationship the underestimation has to end in order for some of these breaches to be corrected and the disrespect to stop. We both need to realize that it certainly takes two to tango in this case. Without the company, the client would be lost holding on to a concept that they cannot implement. And without the client, the business would have no work to finance their operation. It is a symbiotic relationship indeed.

Play it Passive

There are times when we have to realize that things will not change unless we force them to from our end. And this does not have to be handled in any abrupt manner that could potentially strain the relationship, in fact it can be handled quite passively. Just by simply ignoring these messages until we are back in the office (even if we never truly left it). Essentially, we can just set a schedule that allows us to take time off from urgent client calls — and also stick to it. Don’t allow the client or their concerns to encroach on our time ‘off’. The time we need to reset and unwind so that our creative outputs remain fresh and freely flowing.

This is not to say that we do not work on certain days, just that we put off getting back to people during those times. For instance, by simply explaining to your clients that you are willing to dedicate your weekend to your family and your personal life, they will respect you even more for your firm decisions.

Offer Other Outlets

Another thing that can be done to help alleviate some of these unreasonable access expectations is to let the clients know up front that through your standard contact information you have a 24 to 48 hour rate of return. This way if they tend to be the nervous type of client they expect to wait, and do not go forward with the idea that we are somehow always waiting at the other end of the proverbial line. This way they will not immediately assume the worst when they find themselves agitatedly lingering in antici…pation. Then you can offer them other channels to reach you in the case of emergencies. This can not only give them an added layer of peace of mind, but it can further let you know if what they need is truly urgent and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If the contact comes through the emergency channels then you know not to put it off.

Take the opportunity to put your feet up during the weekend and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with an old friend. Image and design credit: Julia May

Virtue Takes the Cake

Patience, what seems to be a long forgotten virtue, needs to be revived in a big way. Losing our cool, especially in a professional environment is not the way to successfully achieve our ends. Generally, this actually actively works against you, essentially getting in your way. Patience is the way to understanding, and as we said before, understanding is important for bringing about this change. So we need to be more patient with one another and not allow everything in our lives to be chaotically run by this oft-times unnecessary sense of urgency. This applies not just to clients, but to all of us — colleagues, partners, and maybe even friends.

Learn to shut off work, learn to switch off your cell phone and learn not to check e-mails on Sundays. Also, learn to communicate your working routine to your co-workers, partners and clients. Feel free to get creative and explore your imagination on your own during weekends, but don’t let the work become an urgent tyranny that determines the way you live. We have to remember that there are times when we need to think about important things which are not related to work at all. Be it education, self-organization, personal interests, attending conferences, visiting exhibitions, recreation or time with your family. Planting the patient seed with each of our interactions will slowly help us achieve this goal.

Contractual Clauses

One thing that a number of professionals insist on using is a contract to guard against any unrealistic expectations or diversions from being introduced at any stage in the project, but especially in the latter stages where most alterations being asked for are usually game changers that will additionally add undue stress and extra hours of work. Therefore you can use this tool to your advantage to guard against such things. By including a section that guarantees any and all changes made will be allowed at least 5 to 7 hours (during workdays) to fully process and digest before any implementation will begin, can help to ensure that the client is fully thinking things through before turning anything over to you. They will know that no matter what they need done, time will have to be allotted and allowed before it can be enacted, so they may consider all of their changes more carefully.

Forget the Chest, Put Your Cards on the Table

The last thing that we can do on our ends to try and help keep the expectations in a more reasonable place, is to no longer play our cards close to the chest where no one knows what we are going for. Instead, we need to lay our cards out on the table so that there is little to no guesswork left up. If we are open and up front from the start as to our routines and expectations, then that can set a precedent for clients, colleagues and friends to follow in suit. Open dialog is going to be one of our greatest weapons as we try to change this direction and fix this course we are on.

In Conclusion

We are living in the age of instant gratification and unparalleled connectivity, and that has effected our expectations with regards to communication and business. And we are all going to have to adjust and work together in order to prevent the impacts of this age from straining our professional relationships. Hopefully we can work together to get to a place where the expectation levels are set at a much more reasonable height.

Consider Some of Our Previous Articles

• How to Explain to Clients That They Are Wrong is a post that will help with client relationships, as it tells you how to tactfully approach various situations.
• Is John the Client Dense, or Are You Just Failing Him? is another recent Smashing addition that can help us learn more about client relationships.

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© Robert Bowen for Smashing Magazine, 2010. | Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us | Digg this | Stumble on StumbleUpon! | Tweet it! | Submit to Reddit | Forum Smashing Magazine
Post tags: expectations, weekend

As designers who deal with clients, we all have to face one situation, no matter how difficult and uncomfortable, and that is guiding the client to accept that your design is perfect. Now, you already have the project, so this is not a matter of convincing them to pick you for the job. This is about getting them to see that your design satisfies their requirements and contains everything they want. We all have to take on this role of virtual tour guide and lead them through the project’s twists and turns, ensuring that the best interests of the client and website are served.

We have to be the lighthouse, guiding the clients to shore. (Image credit)

In the end, the final decision falls to the client, but there are times — and most of us have experienced them — when the client’s lack of expertise in the field affect the quality of the design. In such times, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to convince the client that the design is perfect as it is, and that any further alteration would impair the website’s ability to communicate everything it needs to. This confrontation is not welcome by either party, but it is certainly necessary.

Many designers want to avoid conflict and, as a result, cave to their clients at the slightest sign of disagreement, rather than spend time trying to convince them that they stand on the right side of the design decision. This is often a mistake and does not serve the design, which should be the paramount consideration. We owe it to our creative work to argue for whatever serves the design beyond all else, even though the client is footing the bill. We may end up having to give in to the client, but at least we tried.

Below is an overview of some tips and techniques you can employ when you find yourself butting heads with a client. These approaches might work individually or in combination, but they all at least offer a launching point to help you put your best foot forward and lead the client exactly where they need to go.

Related Posts

• How To Explain To Clients That They Are Wrong
  As the title suggests, an article that helps you tell the client they might not be right.
• How To Identify and Deal With Different Types Of Clients
  Another Smashing post that helps you identify the various types of clients you’ll run into and how to handle them.

[Offtopic: by the way, did you already get your copy of the Smashing Book?]

Confidence Is King

Whatever the context, in every interaction with both potential and working clients, you want to present yourself confidently. This will make interactions with the client smoother and discourage them from challenging you. This is not a surefire recipe to get clients to comply — far from it. But the more confident we are in our abilities and skills, the less likely we will allow ourselves to get pushed around on a design decision. Some clients — not all — will pounce at the slightest whiff of uncertainty.

Just as the slightest sign of fear puts an animal in danger, in the professional kingdom, the slightest display of doubt could spell danger for the designer if it is detected by the client. We have to maintain an air of confidence whenever we deal with the client, especially if we are trying to convince them that the design no longer needs any tweaking. We know our proper boundaries, and if we are assertive enough, we might be able to keep the clients from forcing us cross them.

Talking Points

Here are a few things you could say to the client that might convey an air of confidence:

1. “While I think your suggestion could potentially benefit the project, I am confident that going with the design as is will yield much more positive results.�
2. “While I have considered alternative approaches, I am most confident that this route will serve the project best.�
3. “I do understand where you want to go with this design, but I sincerely have more confidence in what this approach offers.�

In Short

• Each meeting is an opportunity to be assertive and show your passion for the project.
• Always exude confidence, whatever the context of the meeting.
• Be assertive when discussing any and all design changes.

Remind Them Why They Hired You

Confidence leads to the next tactic for making design reviews go your way. You need to remind the client why they hired you. By that, I don’t mean to suggest you carry around your credentials and testimonials, ready to pull them out when your expertise is questioned. Rather, this has to do with constantly projecting the image of a passionate professional who is undivided in their focus on the client’s project… even if that is not a perfectly realistic assessment of your situation.

Subtly remind them that you are the expert. Your skills and ability are what made this project come to life. Never give the client a reason to doubt that. Don’t let them get the sense that you are distracted from the end game. When they ask you to make a questionable alteration, your know-how and experience should trump their wishful thinking. And it falls to you to remind them why they should listen. It is about establishing trust and making them defer to your judgment. Your skills and abilities will make this process go smoothly.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to say to remind the client why they should listen to you:

1. “I see what you’re saying. However, given all of the time I have spent in the field and knowing what I do about it, I must say, personally, that I would let the design stand.â€�
2. “I only want what’s best for your project. And from all of the satisfied clients I have worked with in the past, I have a very good feel for the market. So trust me when I say that this is your best way forward.â€�
3. “Given my extensive background, I firmly believe that this design perfectly satisfies all of your needs.�
4. “In my professional assessment, which is in part why you hired me, any further alterations would be detrimental to the effectiveness of the design.�

In Short

• Keep your skills and experience at the forefront of their mind.
• Show them your single-minded passion for the project.
• Foster in the client a trust in your abilities, so that they become comfortable deferring to you.

Comparing Success

If your gentle reminders about your qualifications are not inducing the client to defer to your judgment, then you could always compare the design — or at least the elements that are up for debate — to work of yours that has succeeded in the market. While not always the best approach, most business professionals are receptive to it. Given that their decision to hire you was likely based on your past work, such comparisons might be effective in convincing them to let the design be.

Sometimes, comparisons to your past successes can sell the client on your current recommendation. (Image credit)

This is not always the best strategy because it can come off as a bit defensive to some clients. If they say that the design needs something more, and you respond by recalling a similar project you had worked on that was a clear success, then they might assume this has become a matter of ego for you. Still, if you can tactfully steer the client to the right decision by describing a similar model that they can relate to and that effectively employed the same techniques and approaches, you might be on to something. Offer a comparison that will reassure them, because uncertainty is usually the cause of their resistance.

Talking Points

Here are a few things you can say that will help with the comparison model:

1. “That is a good suggestion, but if we look at _____, we can see that going in this direction could be counterproductive to your goals.�
2. “While _____ met with moderate success by following that direction, I believe your project will be better served by sticking with the design as is.�
3. “If we look to _____ as an example, you can see how well this approach has worked for them. And I have no doubt you will experience the same success in your own market.�

In Short

• Compare the design to a previous project of yours that has measurable success and that the client can relate to.
• Be tactful, so that you come off less like you’re trying to flex your muscle and more like you’re trying to address their concerns.

Make It Feel Like Their Idea

A trickier tactic is to make it seem like their idea to keep the design the way it is. Essentially, it will be their idea, but getting them to see it that way is not the simplest of tasks to be sure, especially if they get it in their head that the design is far from perfect and needs revisions. You need to stand your ground. Explain to them why you made the choices you made and how they fulfill what they were asking for all along.

Basically, show them how the design truly realizes their original request, and demonstrate that the design as is, in fact, reflects their idea from the get go. This frees you from having to tell them that they’re wrong, and rather just requires you to point out that their new request contradicts the original purpose and impetus of the project.

This is practically reverse-psychology, and it has worked for some designers in the past. With the right type of client, this approach works well. If you think this is the route for you, then ask the clients plenty of questions early on to facilitate the process. You’ll be able to sell your case much more effectively.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to say to make the client feel that the idea was theirs all along.

1. “While I like the new direction, I think your initial ideas, which spurred this design, are a much more effective approach for your field.�
2. “I would recommend not changing that aspect of the design, or you’ll risk losing the _____ idea you originally wanted to convey.â€�
3. “Implementing that change would almost certainly compromise the promise of your initial request.�

In Short

• Explain that the design was created from their specs, and point out each way this is true.
• Show them how these changes would contradict the mission they adopted at the start.
• Ask plenty of questions early on about what the client wants to make this an easier sale.

Don’t Get Defensive

Another thing to do during these exchanges that is also a bit difficult is to not get defensive. Ultimately, getting defensive will work against your purpose, and because you may be the only one who is truly serving the design in this case, you need to stay professional and level-headed.

The design will reflect on you and will shape your reputation, so as soon as the client questions one of your choices, your natural instinct is to get defensive. But to react this way would be a mistake, and you know it.

There are times when we have to lay down our shield and not get defensive. (Image credit)

You have no reason to take disagreement personally. The client is not attacking you. They genuinely care for the project — not to mention their bottom line — so do not make it about you. If they see you get defensive, then they will assume that your ego is more important to you than the project and will react in kind. And in that mindset, they will stop listening to your advice.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to help you convince the client without sounding defensive:

1. “That’s a good idea. In fact, I considered something very similar to that before ending up with this solution, simply because this is a more solid means of achieving what you’re asking for.â€�
2. “While I do see the merit of your ideas, implementing them would not only exceed the needs of the project, but could potentially add time and expenses to the bottom line.�
3. “I think your ideas would make for some interesting changes. But I’m not sure those changes would serve the requirements of the project.â€�

In Short

• Remain professional, and do not take requests for revisions personally.
• This is about what best serves the project, not your reputation.
• Getting defensive usually only leads to the client doing the same.

Don’t Challenge Them

Another reason not to get defensive when trying to get a client to follow your advice is that you do not want to appear like you are challenging them. Of course, you are not challenging them, and you need to make that distinction clear to them. This situation requires finesse; you want to appear as though you only want what’s best for the project, not that you are questioning their judgment or ideas.

Most people do not like to be challenged, especially by people they are paying, because it does not feel to them like the natural order of things. So, tread carefully. They should see that you are distilling their ideas, steering them to their logical fruition, not questioning what they’re asking of you. This might sound contrary to the premise of this post, but if at any time you lose the client’s favor, then you will be less effective at guiding them through the process.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to say to keep the client from feeling that you are challenging them.

1. “While the changes you’ve asked for are completely do-able, if you re-examine the design I have submitted, perhaps you’ll see that it already satisfies these goals.â€�
2. “You are completely right, that would be an interesting change to the design. However, I am not sure how it would serve the functionality of the website.�
3. “While I would never suggest that you are wrong, I do feel in this case that perhaps I have not fully explained the benefits of the approach I am proposing.�

In Short

• Impress upon them that you do not mean to challenge their ideas, but rather serve the design as best you can.
• Make them feel that you are refining their suggestions and refocusing them on ideas that were already there.

Talk Business, Not Style

As designers, getting hung up on style is all too easy, and when we do, we can lose the client fast. Keep the discussion on the business end of the decision-making process, focusing on why the design serves their business interests, not why it is aesthetically perfect.

They will be focused on their market, and you need to focus the dialog on it, too. Relevance is critical. They do not care whether the design will be the most stylish thing to hit the Web; they care whether the design serves their goals. If you convince them that you are coming from the same place, you’ll have an advantage in your disagreements. They’ll know that you understand their position and will be more inclined to listen and take your advice. Fight the urge to get caught up in the design when you are explaining why the website is perfect; keep it strictly business.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to say to show the client that you are focused on business:

1. “Looking at it from a completely business perspective, I see so much potential in the design as is. The changes you suggested, while good, could potentially disrupt the bottom line.�
2. “I think it is important to note that making those changes could upset the design’s ability to perform effectively in the market you are introducing it to.�

In Short

• Keep them on the same page as you. Always relate the discussion to their business, not the style.
• Make them feel like you know where they are coming from.
• Focus on their business needs, not on the attractiveness of the design.

Never Be Dismissive

The client needs to feel like you are hearing what they’re saying if you are to gain their trust; otherwise, convincing them to opt for your design as is will be harder than it should. Every effort you make to ensure that things go your way will make for a smoother design process.

Just as becoming defensive can make the client defensive, not properly considering the client’s position and ideas can make them unreceptive to yours. And then, all of your efforts to convince them that no further adjustments are needed will be futile. So, ensure that they understand that you have heard what they’ve said, perhaps by resorting again to comparisons. Show them instances of other brands suffering from having been taken in a similar direction.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to help you make the client feel that they have been heard:

1. “While I hear what you are saying, and I think that could be effective in the right circumstances, I am just not sure that taking that direction would be right for this project.�
2. “I really like the enthusiasm coming from you, but I think at this point that making these changes would hurt the design rather than enhance it.�

In Short

• Listen to their suggestions and ideas, and discuss them.
• Use comparisons to show why their proposed changes would prove ineffective.

Don’t Talk Down, Lift Them Up

If you want to assure the client that you have digested their ideas, then this next point will help you do that and convince them that the design is just fine. Don’t talk down to them as you explain your case. Instead, educate them on the finer points of the design process and how it can achieve their goals. Sometimes, language is the roadblock that prevents the client from seeing your point.

If you take care to explain the reasoning behind your direction, the client will appreciate it and open up to your way of thinking, a rarity in this field. The client will sense your passion. The best way to help someone see your point of view is by enlightening them on how you arrived at it. The client more than likely lacks knowledge of design, and you must do your best to bridge that divide.

Talking Points

Here are a few things you can say to start educating the client on your view:

1. “While I get where you are coming from, if I could take another minute of your time, perhaps I could explain how the current design already goes in that direction.�
2. “If I may be so bold, your suggestions tell me that you are missing some of the finer points of the current version. I would love to go over the project’s goals with you to show how each is being met.â€�
3. “I appreciate your uncertainty, and I don’t want to diminish your concerns, but if you’ll allow me, I can walk you through the current design and hopefully alleviate any apprehensions you might have.â€�

In Short

• Educate the client on the design choices you made and the practical reasons behind them.
• Break the creative language barrier between you and the client.
• Let your passion show through so that the client sees that the design is what matters.

Consider A Different Perspective

The client will have a business frame of mind, which is perfectly reasonable. Perhaps you should balance this with a different viewpoint, one that the client might be overlooking: that of the end user. Whenever you ask a client to compromise on their suggestion, show that you have considered all perspectives, because that shows that you are not just being difficult or defensive. You are acting in the best interest of the project.

In addition to showing that you are truly listening to their ideas, show that you have considered the perspective of the end user as well, who will be the recipient of the design. This makes good business sense, which is hard to argue with, and it reinforces why they should keep the design the way it is. Given their own limited perspective and the fact that you are supporting your viewpoint with consideration of a perspective other than your own, they are likely to hear you out.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to say to help the client see the user’s point of view:

1. “I see what you are asking for, but from the user’s standpoint, I think those changes would be more harmful than helpful.�
2. “Taking the end user into consideration, I firmly believe the changes you requested would create a far less friendly experience overall.�
3. “While I understand what you are saying, I am not sure it makes complete sense from the user’s perspective.�
4. “The changes you have asked for are technically sound, but the negative impact they would have on the user’s experience makes them unfeasible in this case.�

In Short

• Consider the design from the user’s perspective, and present that side of the coin.
• Demonstrates that your advice represents a reasonable business approach, which will make the client more receptive.
• Argue the numbers: client’s perspective vs. designer and user’s perspectives. Two against one.

Contractual Conscience Clause

This last one is not always the easiest to pull off but is certainly worth a shot: the so-called contractual conscience clause. This assumes that both you and the client are willing to sign a contract, which most designers would never work without anyway. At the beginning of the process, try to write in a clause that leaves all final design decisions up to you, especially if you determine that a requested alteration would have an negative impact on the product.

The contract may be the key to giving you final say in the project… if you set it up right. (Image credit)

Not every client will agree to this, but in the right circumstances and with the right client, this is an effective way to avoid headaches when you see a design as being finished but the client wants more. Try to get the client on board by reassuring them that you would exercise this clause only to protect the best interests of the product. Allow them to add stipulations if that would make them feel more comfortable surrendering the final cut to you.

Talking Points

Here are a few things to say to help the client see the benefit of including a contract conscience clause:

1. “Of all of the clauses in the contract, this one does the most to make the best interests of the project paramount in importance.�
2. “Without this clause, I feel like the design would be open to potentially being damaged by unnecessary additions or inclusions.�
3. “If you want to ensure the most effective design for your project, then this clause is nothing to worry about, because that is its only purpose: to serve the design.�

In Short

• Write a clause into the contract that gives you final say on all design decisions.
• Give the client the option to amend the clause until they are sure it will work.

That’s All I Wrote

That wraps up all of the advice and approaches we have to get this discussion started. If you have any comments about what I’ve said so far or any words of wisdom on the subject, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.

Further Reading

• A Handy Set of 20 “Convince Your client of Anythingâ€� Templates With PDF Chart
  An insightful look at convincing your clients to follow you in whatever the situation.
• What To Do When the Client is Wrong
  A post from Freelance Folder that offers helpful tips on how to handle the situation when the client is wrong.
• 10 Sure-Fire Ways to Make Your Clients Love You
  A post to help you convince clients by winning them over.
• 30 Tips on How to Get, Convince, Keep and Deal With Clients, Be It in Web Design, Writing or SEO
  Another useful post that you should definitely check out.

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© Robert Bowen for Smashing Magazine, 2010. | Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us | Digg this | Stumble on StumbleUpon! | Tweet it! | Submit to Reddit | Forum Smashing Magazine
Post tags: client, communication