Ask any designer what makes the perfect client, and they'll all give you the same reply: the one who lets you do whatever you please. In a perfect world, all clients would be this way. As designers, we have the education, the training and the experience to know precisely what would work best for the target audience, and we're rarely short of innovative and creative ideas to engage that audience. The more we work on a job, the more we become excited about the designs we're creating, and the more certain we become that our designs are The Right Ones, and They Will Work. And of course they'll be beautiful, original, and almost certainly, award winning.
As students, you’ve been lucky so far to have guidelines that specify size, loose topics and other small details but the creative idea generation is largely your responsibility. You become the client, the company owner, the editor, the copywriter and the creative director all rolled into one. It’s your idea that gets pushed forward therefore you get to make the “rules”. There is no printing budget or photographers to pay. There are no government regulations to meet or bosses to please (unless you count your professor, of course). The account manager isn’t going to be looking over your shoulder begging you to get done so a press release can go out. Your ideas are what matter therefore ego becomes part of your process—it needs to be to make you a better designer.
The real world, of course, is never quite so straight forward. One of the greatest rewards about the design industry is that there will be times when you really are given full freedom, when the client is open to new ideas and is excited by your creativity, and will give you free reign to do whatever you feel is right. Sometimes, however, you'll find yourself working from pretty tight guidelines, where your client already has a good idea of what they want, and they require you to stick closely to those guidelines. Perhaps they have a particularly awful logo that they want you to use prominently, perhaps they have a color scheme as part of their branding that you're required to adhere to, or perhaps their design idea is just plain stupid, and they're not open to alternative opinions. So how do you respond to this as an artist? How do you work to meet their guidelines without losing your own creativity in the process? The easy answer is to say, “screw ‘em, I know what good design is and they don’t. I’m doing whatever I want to do.” Unfortunately, this answer is unrealistic. Oftentimes a client had good reasons for using a corporate color or specific logo or demanding only Helvetica be used— it’s their right as it’s their company. They are paying you to help make their company better and sometimes that means dealing with items that can’t be changed. 95% of companies have some sort of standards when it involves their branding. Some will provide you with entire manuals with what you’re allowed and not allowed to do. Many clients have some idea of what they need and want.
This isn't a problem exclusive to the design industry. If you're a writer, and hired to do a piece on cycling, they'll expect cycling to be the focus of the article. However, they'll expect you to give your own personality and flourish to the piece, for it to have an angle or a point of view. If you're an interior designer, your client will specify what colors they want the bathroom, or the kitchen, but you'll have the freedom to express yourself a little, to make it something wonderful. The same is true of graphic design - it's important not to lose your personality in the process, to use that training, experience and enthusiasm to give them what they want, and then give them more. It's one of the most important lessons to learn - how to give your clients what they want, and also give them what they didn't realize they wanted and love it even more.
But how far should you take this? Is there a point where you should accept defeat, go through the motions and give them what they want and move on? Or should you fight for the job, and try to give your client the best that you can and perhaps even surprise them? How far can you push that initial idea before you begin to irritate the client? Just where exactly is that happy medium, and should the client indulge you, so long as you're still keeping to the letter of their specified guidelines? How important is your ego in the creative process? Where does the role of your graphic design training fit in?
27 comments:
I think you should not just give in to the client and do only what they say, because there are still other small things that can be done to improve upon their ideas. I gave in and did exactly what an ad professor suggested my project should include and I ended up with a piece that my roommate and I affectionately refer to as "the Slinky Project" this title has become a euphemism for horrible suckfest projects that we see in books, magazines, or even in class. It is a kind of code we can use to show our displeasure with a certain piece or comparing how bad it is compared to that fateful "Slinky Project".
Once you have a "Slinky Project" on your resume however I think it really helps you out the next time you get cornered by a professor that is lobbying for a lousy idea. You just think back to that miserable project and convince yourself that you will never walk down that path again. Unless of course you need the grade.
JasonF_DB_GDII
First post!!! And people say i don't have intiative...
Anyway...
I am little tied when it comes to this matter. Personally, if the idea is sound and the client doesn't try to backseat drive the project and veto my own ideas instantly, I'd be more then happy doing work for them. Even if the client is seen by others as demanding, I'd probably still do the work.
I'd like to say that if the client had a really bad idea and was adamant about it, I'd make my own opinions clear and take the project in my own direction. Unfortunately, I'm a bit meek when it come to my employers, so I'd probably end up working on the project anyway.
I think that's why I'm going to be an illustrator. Illustration has much more freedom than the other aspects of Design. We aren't visual marketers, but more visual storytellers. That just seems far more attractive and somewhat romantic to me.
JonathanC_EC_GD11
I'd like to think that pushing the idea to it's very breaking point is the way designing should be.
YOU are the designer. YOU are the artist. The client should recognize you as that instead of a person who has simply the ability to get it done.
Art, whether fine or graphic, is a romantic aspect of human existence. The artist is only out to do one thing: Make something that attracts others visually. You can't forgt that. If your not allowed freedom to work the project with your own ideas, then it's no longer art, but someone else's idea brought to life with your hands.
The project becomes Frankenstein. And what did the villagers do to Frankenstein? They burned him in a windmill. Do you want that to happen to your projects!?
I didn't think so.
I'd like to think that pushing the idea to it's very breaking point is the way designing should be.
YOU are the designer. YOU are the artist. The client should recognize you as that instead of a person who has simply the ability to get it done.
Art, whether fine or graphic, is a romantic aspect of human existence. The artist is only out to do one thing: Make something that attracts others visually. You can't forgt that. If your not allowed freedom to work the project with your own ideas, then it's no longer art, but someone else's idea brought to life with your hands.
The project becomes Frankenstein. And what did the villagers do to Frankenstein? They burned him in a windmill. Do you want that to happen to your projects!?
I didn't think so.
To comment on this blog about how much ego you should put into your deisgn and exactly HOW far you should push it, I believe that there are many ways to go about it - but it all depends on HOW you go about it. Personally as a designer I take all I do very seriously. When I am approached with a new project, I do as much preliminary thought and research as I can. As designers, our wheels are constantly turning and we want to design largely on our own input. However, being empathetic is also really important. You have to learn to listen to all people involved with a project. Taking as many notes as possible is essential. After everything is gathered, you then go and sit down as your creative station and think, "ok now how the heck can I design with my own input YET still make all these people happy". WELL, thinking like that is wrong. Designing just to please everyone is not the way to think because you tend to loose yourself in the process. Instead, think of how you can take everyone's comments and amplify those ideas with your own. Take it up a notch while still keeping within the clients realm of guidelines. Try thinking outside THEIR box a little bit. That is what you're there for. You're an essential tool. You have the power to manipulate in just the right way while being able to listen at the same time. For example, say your wanting to paint your room this specific color and there is no way your going to change your mind on this color. You go to the store and are assisted by someone in finding this specific paint color. WELL, here comes a suggestion from this assistent about another color and BAM you just got thrown for a loop. Here you were a second ago having your heart set on this certain color and here you are now loving a new one of which you never thought of applying before. You were just thrown outside your box. Sometimes we need that. That is what designers are there for. They bring essentials to the clients table that they would have never thought of before. Hence the creative process. If everyone always did EXACTLY what the client wanted then there would be no need for designers because there woul dbe no room for creativity. As designers we have to always steady these circumstances of working with a client while adding enough of our own input and personality to make a substantial input on the client as well as everyone else involved.
SarahG_EC_GDII
To comment on this blog about how much ego you should put into your deisgn and exactly HOW far you should push it, I believe that there are many ways to go about it - but it all depends on HOW you go about it. Personally as a designer I take all I do very seriously. When I am approached with a new project, I do as much preliminary thought and research as I can. As designers, our wheels are constantly turning and we want to design largely on our own input. However, being empathetic is also really important. You have to learn to listen to all people involved with a project. Taking as many notes as possible is essential. After everything is gathered, you then go and sit down as your creative station and think, "ok now how the heck can I design with my own input YET still make all these people happy". WELL, thinking like that is wrong. Designing just to please everyone is not the way to think because you tend to loose yourself in the process. Instead, think of how you can take everyone's comments and amplify those ideas with your own. Take it up a notch while still keeping within the clients realm of guidelines. Try thinking outside THEIR box a little bit. That is what you're there for. You're an essential tool. You have the power to manipulate in just the right way while being able to listen at the same time. For example, say your wanting to paint your room this specific color and there is no way your going to change your mind on this color. You go to the store and are assisted by someone in finding this specific paint color. WELL, here comes a suggestion from this assistent about another color and BAM you just got thrown for a loop. Here you were a second ago having your heart set on this certain color and here you are now loving a new one of which you never thought of applying before. You were just thrown outside your box. Sometimes we need that. That is what designers are there for. They bring essentials to the clients table that they would have never thought of before. Hence the creative process. If everyone always did EXACTLY what the client wanted then there would be no need for designers because there woul dbe no room for creativity. As designers we have to always steady these circumstances of working with a client while adding enough of our own input and personality to make a substantial input on the client as well as everyone else involved.
SarahG_EC_GDII
No one ever said that graphic design is easy, if every day didn't push and challenge you would it be as exciting or fulfilling? Yes, it will be frustrating dealing with stubborn clients, but that is a huge part of the job. Without the client there would be no job to do, we would all just be “starving artist”. Its true with any profession the client is always right (even though most of the time they’re wrong). There is only so far you can push an idea on a client before they go somewhere else to get what they want. The fun part is the challenge of convincing them to buy what they are selling them. As designers we know what they need to sell or promote their product or company, but often they are still going to think they are right. Remember that it is their product or company so we need to at least keep their request in mind when we are designing.
Keep in mind though not to give in right away, because how will we ever grow as designers if we give in to unrelenting clients every time. Also, as juniors in an art major we should all be able to talk our way in or out of anything. Who hasn’t saved a messed up a project by convincing the professor that it was intentional and works so much better for the design, or told our high school art teachers that we meant to put that large streak of black paint through the center of the painting. Just convince them that it is what they need, which it probably is, they just don’t know it.
Most of the time it will come down to how far the client will let you go. I think you should always push it as far as you can, and not give in right away. But, don’t waste a ton of time on someone who isn’t going to give in to your ideas. All people are different and have different opinions on what is right, and sometimes you just wont see eye to eye with a client. So make it as good as they will let you, make them happy, and maybe the next client will be more open to your creativity. It will be frustrating, but I can’t think of a single job that doesn’t consist of some form of cooperation. Its part of life, it comes down to sucking it up and doing your best anyhow.
MelissaR_EC_GD11
Ego is important with any design job, but one must remember that compromising is a must with a client. I think that you must pick and choose your battles when dealing while your employer. If the client wants you to use a certain color, and you really hate that color (for example, urine yellow). If this is what they really want and you can still make an appealing design, then get to work. You really need to stand your ground though, when the client crosses the line. If they want you to make a logo for their soda and they want it to look like Pepsi, only slightly tweaked, then there is a problem. In this case, you will get in serious trouble, which could be easily avoided by just dropping that client. Its better to loose the job then loose your respect in the design world.
JanelD_GD11_EC
I think you must pick and choose your battles with clients over what to use or not use in your designs. If they have a terrible logo and want you to use it, you're sort of stuck using it, unless you could persuade them to let you redesign it. They are going to want to keep their identity consistent to not confuse their audience. You must stand up for your designer morals when a client wants something that could get you in trouble. If they want you to make their logo just like Pepsi's, only in orange and black, you have a problem. It is better to pass up a job then get in major trouble and stain your career with a poor decision. So work with your clients and allow them to guide you in the right direction, but remember, in some cases, they are not always right. Be wary in your business endeavors.
JanelD_GD11_EC
This is a topic whose responses could vary totally upon the designer replying. I think the answer depends a lot on the designers reputation. Someone with well known skills or a lot of experience may be awarded a little more freedom in the process. A student perhaps less freedom. With the little experience I have, my take on the situation is that it's always balancing act that depends on the relationship between designer and client. For instance, I volunteer at Eckhaus and I'm given, for the most part, permission to do whatever I want. There may be a show or event coming up that dictates what the theme or message will be, and there are of course the technical restraints (no bleeds, only process colors, cheap paper, etc.). But other than that, I can do whatever I want. I think I make it work because I know the client (in this case, Eckhaus and its student staff) and what kind of image the client is going for. So a certain designer/client familiarity is necessary for this kind of freedom to work. Other jobs, like Designathon, taught me that complete freedom doesn't always bear fruit. Our client said she was open to anything. It was the first time I'd ever heard of the client too. So we ended up with two results—one a little more conservative than the other. She ended up picking the more conservative of the two, whereas I preferred the one with a little more edginess to it. Bummer. But the point is, she was happy with the result she chose.
I think it can be hard to swallow your pride and cave into a client's wishes, especially since we are the ones that are supposed to know good design. That said, some gentle persuasion couldn't hurt. So I think it's important to recognize that we as designers are the ones with the better judgement for design. So ego is important, for sure. Ego only becomes a problem when it starts costing you jobs. If you think you are too good of a designer to settle for some crappy idea, remember that part of being a successful designer is sometimes making crappy ideas work.
MattT_DB_GDII
In my personal opinion when your designing for a client it's your job to do what they want. That doesn't necessarily mean that you get to design the way you want. That means that you design the way the client wants the design but try to keep a little bit of your style, in essence "leave your mark" so to speak on the design. As a designer we have ways of putting personal subtle touches in our work that other people don't recognize. For me my way of designing and knowing its mine,is enough of an ego trip to know thats I did the design. Even though I might not get to design the way I specifically want, thats life.
TrishaB_EC_GD11
Well from my experience with clients when i worked for PrintConcepts. A lot had to do with not only what parameters the client would give me but also what the head designer wanted and expected. So in some cases it was a double whammy. Most of what I've ever done for a client has been only to what they wanted. But it was always nice when you would get that one who was a little more free spirited and you could do a few optional things for them. I feel as though I have already adapted myself to such constraints. And like Bosler said in class you have to be the one to design it despite the restraints to the design.
CarissaKe_DB_GDII
This subject, to me, isn't a matter of ego. It's a matter of using what we've learned and slaved over in school to do the best job we can possibly do within the parameters of the client’s job. I couldn't ever imagine saying to myself "screw them I'm doing what I want," just because what I think is right, it's unprofessional, and sometimes we need to tell our inner design freak selves to just shut up and deal with it.
I mean they obviously came to us because they want whatever needs to be designed to look attractive, so that would mean we have the option to always suggest something that might be a little different from what they want. But the client, in the end, is ultimately in control and can shoot down our ideas, it sucks but that's what reality is like.
I'm sure there will be lots of jobs we get that are going to end up not being like we would imagine them looking, but we will also have the ones where we will have endless creative limits. If you think about it, we are sort of used to this kind of stuff already, I mean honestly who really wants to spend their weekends doing thumbnails and marker comps, we complain but we all end up doing them anyway.
AndreaF_DB_GDII
To me, this seems like the essence of being a Graphic Designer: How to make an interesting and fun design that still satisfies the requirements of the client. This is what I assumed to be the major task of the graphic designer - how to express yourself without being egotistical or putting too much of your own voice into a piece that is largely for someone else. Personally, I would offer the client at least two different possible solutions; one that was exactly what they asked for, and one that was perhaps more "designerly". Although the latter may not be exactly what they asked for, they may end up liking more and you may be able to convince them why your second design would make for a superior choice.
JimG_DB_GDII
I think that there is a fine line between using our graphic design training and pushing the client too far. I think us as designers should integrate our knowledge of the graphic design field just enough to come up with the best end product without getting our egos in the way. If we listen to the client 100% then where does our creativity come in? Also, if we follow the client's rules completely, we could very well turn out one ugly project, and it could be seen by other potential clients.
I think that as long as you produce one project that is what the client wants, and you do other variations still within most of the clients guidelines, who is to say they might not pick your idea over their own?
KatrinaK_DB_GDII
even when following the clients guidelines you can still add a little bit of your style into the piece to make it your own. After all your name is going to be on the work so even if its not what you originally had in mind you still want something to be proud of and not some stupid suckfest.
JasonF_DB_GDII
I think it's particularly important for the client to be happy with the finished product, since after all, he or his company is the one paying for the work to be done. (I know, I know, this makes me somewhat of an artistic sell-out,) however I am just trying to be realistic and business savvy. Weighing things fairly, if I was not so "artistically inclined," and was more into the business aspect of things, I would expect my money to go as far as possible, sticking to the usually previously-defined conventions of the company. For this reason I think that the clients' opinions DO matter, even if the ideas are bad, color schemes awe\ful, and typefaces banal.
However, as a designer/artist/a person who can B.S. (a lot) to make my point across, this goes without saying that I would truly TRY to convince the client that my idea, the idea of a specialist in this field, is recommended because it is more creative and alternatives (if allowable,) to the standards they expect, usually give the company/product a new, modern image.
I would first try to explain the importance of setting your product/ company/ etc. apart from others and then tell them that (sometimes) the rules ARE made to be broken.
ReginaI_EC_GD11
I'd say maintaining your ego is very important when dealing with clients. you have to back up your work, or at least sound like you support it. Sounding skeptical and having no backbone on your own designs looks bad on you in that you appear that you have no idea what you're doing and you doubt your piece's potential effectiveness. We're trained in this field and therefore we should convey this fact to clients whenever we deal with them. Woo them into the design if you will. Of course there will be those that feel that they know more about design than us but that's when we'd have to bs to them about our piece and tell them it will not only move people's hearts, but the product as well. Of course, if we're as well rounded designers as we think we are, than we should be versatile in our designs. Yeah the client will sound like a pain in the butt if we can't change our styles to suit the project correctly. knowing the client better and even asking them what kind of styles they're interested in makes the design process that much easier and much much more likely that you'll be able to please them.that way you'll both be pleased, they'll get what they want and you'll be able to maintain your ego by knowing that it was your design with your own twist.
DanielF_DB_GDII
I agree with quite a few of the comments. Designers are certainly a necessary tool in the creative process, but unless the project we're doing is strictly for ourselves we must be considerate and willing to fully understand who we are working for and what they are about. You need to remember that you are being hired for a job, and while it's your responsibility to do what you think is best you also need to make sure that is truly what is best for the client. I don't care how big your own ego is, if you can't learn to compromise you're never going to get anywhere. If a client tells you they like your idea but it needs to be toned down a little, I'd be the last to tell someone that their opinion about what they want is wrong. Sure if I thought something could be done better one way over the other I'd certainly try to make my point but to me the person who's writing out your check has the last say-period.
Ultimately you need to understand yourself first. What are you willing to do (and not willing to do-what do you think is ethically wrong) and what kind of company will suit you best. If you are strictly doing freelance jobs-unless you've been working with the same client that has grown to know you and vise versa then I would think that a new designer probably won't have as much freedom as they anticipate.
JennaP_EC_GDII
to start off this jazz, my ideal clients are the ones that are simple to work with, and have fat budgets ;). i've been freelancing for like 3 years now. i've delt with many many different clients. some are easy to impress, some are extremely picky, some are polite, and some are straight up pains in the asses.
it's important (well, to me at least) to keep the clients that are easier to work with closer. if it requires me to do extra revisions and concepts to please them, then so be it. once you've delt with a good client a few times, you (as a designer) generally know what they like, and dislike (fonts, colors, style of design, etc). these same clients usually refer you to their friends, and that's always a good thing :D
as for freedom in design, it's good, but sometimes it leads to guess work. if i know my client wants me to design them a web 2.0 logo, i know what fonts to go for, what colors to pick, what text effects to use (reflections, reflections, reflectionsssss), and knowing that they will fall for a black to white gradient over the type, set to soft light blending mode at 20% opacity.
joeL_EC_GDII
The world is run on rules and regulations; no one can escape them, so why should a graphic designer be any different?
You just have to decide whether to abide by them or not, or in better terms, whether you are going to put dinner on the table that month.
I haven't had much experience out in 'the real world' of design, other than creating a CD cover for my friend's band, but I did gain a lot of insight from it. I made several designs for him to choose from and eventually he ended up choosing one that wasn't my favorite, but I sucked it up and made it the best I could.
I think that is really all you can do. It's our job to put together the ideas of others but through our creative eye. We have the training that enables us to compose correct navigation, composition, color, hierarchy, etc. and people hire us because they aren't able to do those things. We are a tool, but that doesn't mean we can't put our own spin on things. I believe that you do have to stick some elements into the design that the client wouldn't expect, and if they don't enjoy them, you just take them out.
No matter what though, I believe you have to let your voice be heard in the design, whether it's a faint whisper or an indisputable scream. When I do graduate and move onto real clients and real jobs, I will speak through my work. If I am not happy with the end result, I don't think I will have an issue with holding my ego high and turning it away, even if it means I live off Ramen for the next 30 days.
AmyW_DB_GDII
Ok, I guess I'm a little different from everyone else who has previously commented because I am looking forward to having to adhere to certain guidelines when it comes to a client's project. Sometimes I find it very difficult to have to constantly come up with new and exciting ideas, it's exhausting being creative all the time on top of a crazy life outside of school.
I think that when we all find ourselves out there in the work force it will almost be a welcome change to have to follow some rules. Who knows, I could be completely off base, but I think that the paychecks we receive for our work for a change will make everything a-ok in the end.
I realize and understand that we all want to make our mark in the design world, but realistically not all of us are going to change much if anything at all. It's good to have pride in the work that we make, but I don't believe that ego has any place when it comes to designing for a CLIENT; do what they want, add a bit of your own flare, change what they want you to change, and be proud that you were even considered for the project. If you are so concerned with not being able to design how you want to, do some freelance work to satisfy that urge. It's a tough market, all all my fellow KUCD students are making it even more competitive.
ErinS_EC_GDII
I've discovered through my many years that there is two lovely tools that everyone has that allows you to do almost anything you want. These amazing friends of mine are called sucking up, and knowing how to be really good at bullshitting... both of which I pride myself in.
The clients needs will always come first, its that simple. Flatter them with their good ideas, but let them know about their bad ones. Always have a reason as to how your idea would work better, even if you make it up on the spot. Convince them as to why yours works, why their consumers would value it more.
Im not saying to be blatantly obvious in sucking up or bullshitting, but show them that you know more about design then they do. You did spend countless nights hunched over a screen kerning and screaming at your type as they slept soundly in their beds.
I think its very important to put yourself into all the work you do. As I've discovered, if Im not thrilled about a project, it is crap. It may please the client and look great, but I will never look at it again. If you are truly passionate about your work, it shows.
Every aspect of life has its ups and downs, and so will your design. Just as in school, we get assigned some projects that aren't as exciting or cutting edge as others, so will your jobs out of school. There's no reason to get all bent out of shape, because a few days or weeks later you will be assigned to a project that kicks ass and you won't even remember the horrible project or client from the week before. Whether its graphic design or anything else you do, there is no point in half assing, always strive to be do the best that you can. Theres no point in trying if you want to be second or third.
BillR_DB_GDII
This topic is great for debate. I am currently taking a Campus Graphics class, which means I am assigned a client to work with and create for them whatever it is they want. The good news, is that we still have our professor to go to for advise before every meeting with the client. It is so far, the closest thing to the real world I have done. The last time our class got together, we actually had this very discussion. There was a case where the client knew exactly what they wanted and wouldn't budge when the student provided suggestion. They were absolutely set on their vision and let me tell you, it was horrible!!! So what does one do? Does the student just go with it and produce a really bad piece? Or should they pry at their client and try to convince them to change up their idea with risk that they may offend them? Some of my fellow students said, "you should just listen to the client, do what they say, you are working for them." Others, and myself, think that the most important thing is the outcome of the project. If it is something that depends on being functional, and its purpose to grasp the target audience and get them to do something, then you really have to talk with the client and do some convincing. Be prepared with a great reason for why you think your good ideas will work better. It is possible to do this without cutting down the clients ideas. Take what the client wants and keep it there, but improve it. Because after all, just because the client might be happy in the end, doesn't mean that what you created will function. I would rather have some arguments throughout the process and end up with a great product, than say I created a horrible one because I was afraid of the client. Be brave and good luck!!
LindsayK_EC_GD11
I don't belive that any designer no matter how experienced you are should just give in and accept defeat—giving the client exactly what they want and nothing more. We didn't go to school this long, work so hard, and spend all of our money to not be able to express ourselves. What good is loving what you do if you don't get to do it?
Although I'm not one to push the envelope, I still want my personality to show through in everything I create. Of course I would take a project with strict guidelines; however, I would offer other designs as well to show the client how great something could be. This would include pushing the design to it's limit because you never know, maybe they'll love it and it's just something they hadn't thought of before.
Of course with most any job in the real world including a designer, the client comes first. Basically, what they ask for you have to give them or either you don't get paid or they don't come back to you.
I feel it's important to give them what they want but with your own elements added to it. This not only keeps your "touch" in tune but also shows the client you can adhere to guidelines while staying true to your own design talent.
When I don't put my own touch into a design I'm not happy about it and I don't really enjoy working on it...which makes the piece not as strong as it could be. I feel it is always important to stay true to yourself as a designer while creatively fulfilling the needs of your clients.
Being a server for the past 3 years has taught me one thing- the customer is always right, no matter how wrong they may be. Ultimately, they are the ones that are laying that $5 tip on your table after they're done, or signing your check after a finished design job. If they're not happy, they don't pay- it's that simple. They come to you because they are depending that you execute the job that you are trained to do because they're not- they need you.
That being said, I think it's highly important to listen to everything your client is expecting , ideas, and input. However, I also think that you need to take some creative license within their guidelines to come up with something that speaks to the audience. It's all about stretching the design while still being able to achieve a balance that stays within the client's rules-- that's why we are going to school for 4 years. We are developing our creative thinking skills so we can tackle projects with strict guidelines in unusual ways to produce unique results.
JennF_DB_GDII
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