The follow up work to Friday's lecture ask us to consider the skills you need to deal effectively with clients and also to consider the relationship between the designer and the client.
Emma told us that clients expect value for money, evidence based research, innovation and creativity to name a few. Therefore I think one of the most important skills you have to have as a designer is good communication. You have to be able to understand in full what the client wants and produce a concept which meets all their requirements. Management of time and money is essential, clients will expect a lot of work to be produce in short time scales. Designers must be able to budget the costs of a project and also allocate enough time to complete it successfully.
I have only dealt with 2 real life clients during my time as a graphic design student but both experiences have taught me that the client is boss. You may have a really good idea or have produced a design which you are proud of but if the client wants you to change elements of it (often for the worse) you have to do it.
This is very different to the relationship a student has with their tutor. I have had several projects this year and have worked with four different tutors all of whom have their own opinions and ideas. Knowing what advice to take can be difficult but it is only advice. Unlike a designer/ client relationship where you have to take on board what they say and make changes, tutors are there to encourage development of ideas. They provide advice on techniques and approaches that you can take, and can help take your idea in an interesting new direction.
Having regular discussions with our tutors is a good way of preparing us for the discussions we will one day have with our clients!
Hopefully I won't be asked to make similar changes to those written on clientsfromhell.tumblr.com My favourite quote was: For a round DVD Disk Label: “Can you rotate the design by 1/8th of a circle, we like that angle better.”
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