Brian,

I’m unable to view the images of the logo. Not sure why, which is a shame.

Mari,

I always provide clients with original files, and feel it would be wrong to hold them back. Should the client go against advise and alter the file, well, that’s their prerogative. Glad you found this article and the excellent comments of use.

My question to you is how do you feel about final file formats for clients? Should they get source files that they can edit as they see fit and have complete license over? I’m finding that many clients don’t just want the final design, they want the original file so that they can make changes, i.e. business cards, in case their address changes. Any thoughts?

Check this cartoon out. It hits what you are talking about on the head.

The line, “I know what I want when I see it” is a classic.

Vivienne,

Most of the clients I’ve dealt with have had a strong idea of what they want from poster designs, and the preference is always for a call to action. I’m in agreement with Ed, too. A response should be invoked by design.

Design by committee never works. I totally agree.

Char,

I’m sure if a few of my print clients had websites I dealt with, they’d also be asking me for extra line breaks here and there.

Damien,

I don’t know why people still want flash intros. I really don’t.

Jo,

I can empathise with your client computer settings. It’s all about educating people, so we have to take on the role of teacher quite often too.

David,

For a perfect page on all browsers you have to do a lot of cross-checking. Unfortunately Internet Explorer tends to throw up quite a few variations that other browsers don’t.

Ed,

Thanks very much for the contribution to this article. I know I only touched the surface with my input, but of course you have much more experience in the field than I.

I know exactly what you mean about presenting variations. It’s almost inevitable that the design you think is the weakest will be chosen.

Interesting to get your take on presenting clients with a choice. I wonder how many designers have the same outlook? For me, your rationale is a very sound one.

I usually get it on the first hit with a bit of additional tweeking 90% of the time. I also attribute this to my experience, and I don’t view this as arrogant. I don’t apologize for my expertise.

Another thing I don’t understand is: are we the only profession where the client thinks that they are as qualified as we, when it comes to design of logos? I put more into my logos than just creat a “cool” image. I am considering the target market, how it will be used, and several other considerations before I ever put pencil to paper to begin my thumbnails. I don’t appreciate comments like, ” I could have done that” or “I showed my wife and we didn’t like…” I often wonder, do they question the expert opinion of legal counsel? For instance, “My nefew (who loves to watch legal shows) thinks we should handle the suit this way…”

Because so many in business view graphic design as art not a profession, I think we are constantly having to prove our worth. Young designers consistently undervalue their work.

I could go on and on here David. This subject struck a cord with me. Over the years, I have had this discussion with fellow designers and have come to the conclusion that we are our own worst enemies. More times than not I have had discussions on the design process and have noticed a complete lack of appreciation for marketing and reason why we are designing something in the first place - to sell something. Not to hang in a gallery. One favorite line I once read from a top NY art director was-

“It’s not creative unless it sells!”

In graphic design I believe this to be so, because if it fails to sell it’s just art.