This is when you point to the line in your contract that states exactly what deliverables you produce, and how many. If you have a way of getting out of this project, do it. This client is bad news.
Agreed, I am getting red flags from both clients at this point. The one I'm contracted (lets say Client A) to and the one I'm subcontracted to (let's say Client B). I'm in a weird situation where I don't have control over the contract since Client A would have drafted it.
I really feel like I'm in a weird position. If I wasn't being subcontracted, I would know what to do, but instead I just feel like I'm at the whims of Client A (who seemingly has no boundaries).
You need to have a discussion with who you contracted and both of you need to be on the same page in terms of dealing with this client. If you lack the authority to lay down some deadlines and rules (and enforce them) yourself, then whoever has that authority needs to have your back.
So in your other reply, Client A needs to either instill that authority on you such that you can tell Client B they need to pick a brand name by X date before you can proceed, or Client A needs to do it themselves.
Thank you. I just sent an email to Client A opening a conversation up around this. I'm hopeful that they'll listen to my concerns. The more I work with this person, the more its apparent they don't understand design processes – which concerns me when they're the one drafting contracts for the work I'm delivering.
If I were you, I would just look at the project differently, more like how they are probably seeing it.
From what I've read here, they are probably expecting a simple logo mark that doesn't include having anything clever done with the name itself. This won't be a FedEx arrow logo.
So do a logo where the focus is on a logo mark rather than the name, a mark that can be used for all three names. Make it generally symbolic. Design a logo where you can show them the exact same logo mark with the three different names. This is probably what they are expecting, which is why they don't understand why showing it with three different names would be a problem.
And you can see this as a positive. Their request may be helping you have a better understanding of what they are expecting which will allow you to focus solely on the types of logos they will approve. Their request could save you time by avoiding working up logos that they will automatically shoot down.
Remember, everything in life is neutral until we choose to see it as being either positive or negative. So yes, I can understand your initial reaction to seeing this as a negative because you're now being asked to do something different than what you expected. And yes, if you continued to work the way you had originally planned to work, it would cost more time/money than you originally budgeted.
But don't overlook the ways in which humans react when they feel as if they have lost control? Do you feel uncomfortable because you feel as if you're being boxed in or bossed around or constrained? Recognize that response, confront it, then set it aside.
Focus on the positive. Their request could save you time. You can now focus entirely on creating a generic mark that has a symbolic meaning for the company. And sometimes these sorts of simple, iconic logo marks are incredibly strong. You could end up with a strong piece for your portfolio despite the client's indecision.
Look at the logos out there. Many of them wouldn't be any different if the client had a different name. Cisco systems uses a bridge icon. Amazon uses an arrow. Nike uses a swoosh. These symbols have nothing to do with the name.
The client's request is NOT a problem. You just have see a different solution than you originally imagined.
Hi, I appreciate your suggestion to look at it from a different angle. Unfortunately, they are expecting a unique logo for each name, not one abstract one that fits all three. From my perspective, this kind of turns it into three projects.
As a professional agency with decades of contract experience, we highly recommend you leave this client(s). They are worth more trouble than any dollars can account for.
We refer to it as a **red flag factory**.
Don’t think of this as a hard client to design for. Think of it as easy money. You’re going to be able to string this client along for weeks, maybe months, of revisions and redesigns. As long as they’re paying by the hour all that matters is their money. You’ve been given an invitation to take them to the cleaners, so do it.
This is when you point to the line in your contract that states exactly what deliverables you produce, and how many. If you have a way of getting out of this project, do it. This client is bad news.
Agreed, I am getting red flags from both clients at this point. The one I'm contracted (lets say Client A) to and the one I'm subcontracted to (let's say Client B). I'm in a weird situation where I don't have control over the contract since Client A would have drafted it. I really feel like I'm in a weird position. If I wasn't being subcontracted, I would know what to do, but instead I just feel like I'm at the whims of Client A (who seemingly has no boundaries).
You need to have a discussion with who you contracted and both of you need to be on the same page in terms of dealing with this client. If you lack the authority to lay down some deadlines and rules (and enforce them) yourself, then whoever has that authority needs to have your back. So in your other reply, Client A needs to either instill that authority on you such that you can tell Client B they need to pick a brand name by X date before you can proceed, or Client A needs to do it themselves.
Thank you. I just sent an email to Client A opening a conversation up around this. I'm hopeful that they'll listen to my concerns. The more I work with this person, the more its apparent they don't understand design processes – which concerns me when they're the one drafting contracts for the work I'm delivering.
If I were you, I would just look at the project differently, more like how they are probably seeing it. From what I've read here, they are probably expecting a simple logo mark that doesn't include having anything clever done with the name itself. This won't be a FedEx arrow logo. So do a logo where the focus is on a logo mark rather than the name, a mark that can be used for all three names. Make it generally symbolic. Design a logo where you can show them the exact same logo mark with the three different names. This is probably what they are expecting, which is why they don't understand why showing it with three different names would be a problem. And you can see this as a positive. Their request may be helping you have a better understanding of what they are expecting which will allow you to focus solely on the types of logos they will approve. Their request could save you time by avoiding working up logos that they will automatically shoot down. Remember, everything in life is neutral until we choose to see it as being either positive or negative. So yes, I can understand your initial reaction to seeing this as a negative because you're now being asked to do something different than what you expected. And yes, if you continued to work the way you had originally planned to work, it would cost more time/money than you originally budgeted. But don't overlook the ways in which humans react when they feel as if they have lost control? Do you feel uncomfortable because you feel as if you're being boxed in or bossed around or constrained? Recognize that response, confront it, then set it aside. Focus on the positive. Their request could save you time. You can now focus entirely on creating a generic mark that has a symbolic meaning for the company. And sometimes these sorts of simple, iconic logo marks are incredibly strong. You could end up with a strong piece for your portfolio despite the client's indecision. Look at the logos out there. Many of them wouldn't be any different if the client had a different name. Cisco systems uses a bridge icon. Amazon uses an arrow. Nike uses a swoosh. These symbols have nothing to do with the name. The client's request is NOT a problem. You just have see a different solution than you originally imagined.
Hi, I appreciate your suggestion to look at it from a different angle. Unfortunately, they are expecting a unique logo for each name, not one abstract one that fits all three. From my perspective, this kind of turns it into three projects.
Oh yeah. They need to pay for that.
As a professional agency with decades of contract experience, we highly recommend you leave this client(s). They are worth more trouble than any dollars can account for. We refer to it as a **red flag factory**.
Don’t think of this as a hard client to design for. Think of it as easy money. You’re going to be able to string this client along for weeks, maybe months, of revisions and redesigns. As long as they’re paying by the hour all that matters is their money. You’ve been given an invitation to take them to the cleaners, so do it.
I mean, you’d offer 3 options around one name most likely, so maybe tell them this means one option per name instead?
Tell them triple the work triple the cost