Beginning a new design project is always exhilarating. You’re energized and excited about working on the project and creating something effective and beautiful. But have you ever had a project that, by the end of it, you just “want to get it done”? You stop caring so much about the design because you’ve been forced to change it so many times since the original concept, you don’t even feel like it’s your work anymore?
I’ve been there.
This article will attempt to help you find the root of this design burn-out problem. Here’s a hint: maintain control of your project by limiting client revisions. Don’t get me wrong, revisions are important and, many times, necessary. But limiting the number of unnecessary revisions will help you have a more effective design process.
A lesson from Chris Spooner
I was recently examining Chris Spooner’s personal design portfolio. On the contact page I noticed, among other tips for those who would solicit Chris’s work, these words:
Don’t ask how many revisions are included in the cost
This is my most hated phrase in the design industry. It seems to have stemmed from those cheap logo design websites that offer a ‘5 for $50 deal’ with ‘3 free revisions’. It gives me the impression thatthe work the designer creates is ‘wrong’, and then needs ‘correcting’. I always create designs withreasoning behind the graphics, therefore I don’t tend to work on a revision basis. If a change needs to be made that’s not a problem, if I feel differently I’ll always offer my view, but as long as it fits within the proposed time quota it’s no trouble. However if the change creates additional work beyond the initial budget, advice will be given on any additional costs. (taken from spoongraphics.co.uk by Chris Spooner)
Chris makes a few great points here. Let me examine them a little more deeply:
Lots of revisions means little confidence in your work
“It gives me the impression that the work the designer creates is ‘wrong’, and then needs ‘correcting’.”
While you may not quite feel as experienced or confident in your design work as Chris, it is still important to understand what you are saying to your customer by allowing for countless revisions. Essentially what you are telling them is you do not feel confident enough in yourself to get it right the first time, so you will be counting on them to fix any problems you create during the design process.
Who wants to hire a designer who can’t deliver a good product the first time? No one.
Do your homework and be prepared to discuss your reasoning
“I always create designs with reasoning behind the graphics, therefore I don’t tend to work on a revision basis.”
In a popular post here on GDB titled “7 tips on presenting logos to a client” we discuss the importance of making design decisions based on rational thought, research, and effective coordination with your client. As you design with the intent to meet the needs of your client (more than just make things look pretty) you will find that there will be less need for revisions and you won’t get burnt out so quickly.
Don’t Misunderstand–Revisions are okay
“If a change needs to be made that’s not a problem…”
Lest I have a lot of angry designers leaving comments on this post about the importance of revisions in the design process, let me say the following: Revisions are important. If the client needs something changed or adjusted, do it. It is important to satisfy the needs of your client.
What I am ultimately getting at with this article is the importance of limiting the number of revisions you allow your client to do–not get rid of them altogether.
What is a revision anyway?
The other problem with giving your client an exact number of revisions is in defining what a revision actually includes. Is it every time you send the document via email, is it every 5 times they have content changes, and what about if they just have a little thing to change–does that count for a while revision?
See the problem?
As I sat down recently with a group of management, we decided to replace the word ‘revision’ with ‘draft’. This helps the client understand that they should include all the changes they would like to make to a design in one consolidated document, send that to you and they can expect a subsequent “draft” in response.
So what should we do?
Burn-out in the design industry is a huge problem. Designers get tired of changing their designs for no logical reason. How can designers avoid this problem? Let me sum up this article in a few easy-to-follow steps:
- Work closely with your client in the research, planning, and designing phase
- Provide a solid design that fulfills the needs of the client as discussed in step 1 above.
- Strive to limit unnecessary revisions as much as possible. Remember, you need to work with the client, but discuss changes together.
- Avoid burning out.
What do you think?
After all is said and done, every designer’s situation is unique. What tips or advice can you offer to the rest of us when dealing with designer burn-out due to too many revisions?
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Twitter: @gmsdesigns
OK here’s the thing. Revisions, however you define them, need to be in the contract. I do my revising with the client either via phone, email or video conf on Skype before I put a single pixel on the screen. By the time the work begins the client and I know with some degree of certainty what the finished product will look like. If they insist on making changes after that it’s in the contract and it’s not inexpensive. There is an analogous concept in the building trades called a change order. Clients who ask for it pay for the service. Spelling this out in your contract puts them on notice and I think discourages the revisionist. If they get pissed and walk from the project I would hope you have a cancellation clause. We all know that everyone differs in terms of how they manage clients. You have to be comfortable with your own policy and stick to it. The worst mistake I ever made was doing it differently for two different clients who happened to know one another and compared notes. Best of Luck. Gerry
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Twitter: @Synergyeffect
I usually give clients a certain number of revisions and anything over that I start to charge an hourly rate (if at a fixed project rate contract). Although I hate to say that I am all in for the money (cause I am not), let’s not kid ourselves. We are doing this for a living and getting paid does motivate us somewhat. A reward is always a good reason to motivate ourselves and keep going. That’s how I see things.
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Preston D Lee
Twitter: @prestondlee
@Chris Takakura,
I would definitely agree, Chris. The truth of the matter is, a lot of times people think we are in it to build a portfolio or get experience or exposure. While that may be the case sometimes, we also have to make some money, right.
Thanks for your comments.
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Twitter: @amberweinberg
This is one of the reasons I stopped offering design services. I’d feel bad about giving a set revision limit of 30 minutes, and then trying to charge the client after that. It made me feel bad because I didn’t want to stick the client with something they hated, but felt like I needed to be compensated as well. Development is so much easier bc as long as its done correctly, there’s very little revisions involved.
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Amber.. its probably for the best that you stopped offering design services.
A graphic designer that feels bad because they don’t want to stick the client with something that they hate is not a very good graphic designer.
When you sit down to design something, you dont just ask teh client what they want and start going at it. You really delve into what the client’s likes and dislikes are as well as what their target audiences’ likes and dislikes are. You work on rough concepts and make sure that you have a working understanding of what they need and they have a working understanding of what you are going to do.
Then you design.. and you better design with a purpose because if you design something because it “looks pretty” you will never be able to stick to your guns. I have gone into many client meetings where the clients questioned certain parts of my design, but because they have a reason, I almost always walked away with a complete project and no revisions.
There is and will always be a little bit of a power struggle between designer and client because, depending on the client, people seem to think that they know good design when they see it.. but most dont – or they know it when they see it, but when it comes to their business they are entirely blind. Having a solid reason for doing what you did makes you look like you know what you were doing and makes the client confortable with your choice.
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Preston D Lee
Twitter: @prestondlee
@Lindsay,
Thanks for sharing. Reasoning behind your design is always the way to go!
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TheAL
Twitter: @just4thealofit
@Lindsay, I agree. I also wonder what Amber means by “development.” Programming for software/web? I don’t see how that’s any better. I build and code as much as I design, and whenever you’re making anything for someone there will be “project creep” and revisions. If she closed Photoshop and opened a code editor and hasn’t had revision-nagging thrown her way since, she must have found some magic clients.
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Twitter: @chrisspooner
Thanks for the feature in the article, glad to see it’s helped share some tips.
As you’ve already mentioned in the article some revisions are definitely good, I’ve worked on a few projects where a client’s change has improved the design for the better.
Having this kind of statement on your website does help flush out the ‘I don’t know what I want, but I’ll know when I see it’ types of clients. I think everyone has experienced those jobs, where it goes on forever.
If they know up front that they don’t have X number of revisions available, they’ll often make a more conscious decision about what they want before the designs are started.
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Preston D Lee
Twitter: @prestondlee
@Chris Spooner,
Thanks for the contribution, Chris. Good to see you here at GDB. Best of luck to you in all.
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Twitter: @ghostlabds
A phenomenal philosophy by Chris and a great breakdown by Preston. It seems to be a thin line that we as designers tread between supporting the professionalism of our work without being accused of having an “artist’s ego.”
What you guys have managed here is lay out a a rational way in which we can both support the quality of our work and remain flexible to individual client needs. I will definitely go forward with this in mind for future projects. Thanks so much!
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Twitter: @jdishner
I am an architect (the kind who designs buildings) in my own small practice and while my experiences might be a bit different from a graphic designer or a web designer, there are some parallels. I agree with the axiom that one must meet the expectations and the basic pragmatic parameters the client has provided. In the world of buildings, the thing has to work for the intended use. While I also do not limit the number of design revisions, I find keeping the design process fluid, heard by listening to the client during the preliminary design discussions and incorporating their ideas. if their ideas do not work in the design solution, explain why they were not incorporated. One must be prepared for some hurt feelings and try to assuage them tactfully.
Give in sometimes. While their idea may not be the best, give in to a small idea which will not sacrifice the design, but will allow them to feel they are part of the process. While sometimes this is a power play, sometimes just marking their territory, it engages the client more. This method can also be used successfully by stating that your design idea was from a comment or an idea they had. You just developed it further.
Many times, I have to keep my design ego in check. While I approach every design from the beginning as a potential “masterpiece”, I do know that it takes three people to execute the design: the Architect, the Owner and the Builder. Each brings his own expertise and desires to the project. Only experience can separate the ego from the good ideas.
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Twitter: @michaelcawcutt
Fully understanding the clients wants and needs is foremost important. The fact is you can express and give your opinion until you’re blue in the face, however in the end … the client calls the shots.
With that being said it’s up to us as professionals and designers to explain our ideas, methods and reasoning’s thoroughly to the client so that they fully understand why and what we do.
No designer enjoys revs—I hate em, but it’s all part of the process. What really gets me boiling is when client provides feedback or revs with out fully understanding why or what they’re doing.
Bottom line is know the client and know what their needs, desires and wants are. If after a few meetings and client still doesn’t know what they want, or cannot provide feedback etc …
Get a new client. :)
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Nice article.
If you’ve done a good job of getting your client involved at the beginning before they even see a design then your likelihood of getting significant revisions is greatly reduced.
If revisions are a chronic problem then I would examine how well you are engaging your client first and foremost rather than trying to solve it entirely with contractual clauses.
The client that wants revisions isn’t necessarily a bad client. The client that won’t help you understand their needs probably is though.
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Twitter: @andhertoonz
This obviously also stikes a chord with me on a daily basis as an illustrator too.
I always start by explaining to anyone enquiring that, although I’ll sketch something until they’re happy, as soon as they give the nod for me to take it to the computer then any major revisions will be charged for as they take longer to rectify after this stage in the design process.
I always ask new clients for an upfront deposit aswell, which is almost never a problem. It also shows that they respect my time and have confidence in my work based on what they’ve seen. (Which is why they are wanting my service in the first place i assume!)
I also agree with Lindsay in the fact that it is extrememly important to fathom as much information as possible before even starting to put pencil to paper as it always saves alot of time on revisions in the long run.
Regardless of the commission though, providing a design serivce professionally will amost always encounter revisions on every project in some capacity. We are the visual artists, where the clients (usually) are not so unless we are mind readers it’s unlikely what we draft from our minds will be 100% first time. At the end of they day, they are paying you so should be given what they want.
If they are clearly taking the p!ss and being exceptionally difficult then i would be tempted to remind them of their own deadline peerhaps, before cutting my losses and either offering them thier deposit back as a gesture of goodwill (If it is MY decision to terminate the contract) or just learn never to accept work from said client again after the commission is (Finally!) complete. Live and learn! :P
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Twitter: @TRexoftheSouth
Great article and a topic that can really ruin a project’s momentum and worth. I made this one of my three links on my Design Thought for the Day blog:
http://designthoughtfortheday.blogspot.com/2010/02/02-10-social-media-budgets-googles-buzz.html
All the best, Ted
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Twitter: @iTraveller
I believe that you have written your article from the point of view of the Freelancer. And I agree. However, in an agency, especially one that’s Client Service tilted, it’s they who should take a call. AND THEY NEVER DO. Believe me, they never do. The only reason I see is that they really don’t know what is to be delivered and they do not have faith in their designers. Isn’t it a good idea here to share the creative brief with the client and get a fix on it before the creative is even briefed? If that sounds like logic, I wonder why it has never struck the Client Service…
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Twitter: @studioconover
revisions, especially in this buyers market, are tricky. often a client can make you feel as though a change (you feel is a revision) is either a) part of the original scope of work or b) necessary because of your lack of technical or creative expertise / project knowledge / understanding (pick any you wish).
and while it helps to clearly state your position regarding revisions (often termed: changes or client alterations) in your original estimate, it does no good if the client is unaware (usually always) without you pointing it out beforehand. that’s a long-winded way of saying: put it in writing and verbally state it before getting started. it won’t guarantee that you will not encounter extra revisions but it will give you the confidence to discuss them in regards to the original budget while the job is in progress or when the work is completed.
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Twitter: @madshock
Great article. I agree to use the word “draft” instead of “revision.” Sometimes designers are frustrated with almost endless revision from his/her client. However on the client side, they are also frustrated because they feel that the designer don’t understand or deliver what they expect or want. It is important for designers to deliver satisfaction to their clients but one should also need to ask their client what they really want to avoid misunderstanding by both parties.
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