A short translation of the article “10 things you should NEVER ask a designer” by the Go Designer team…

Designers are responsive and friendly people who love their profession and want to make this world more beautiful. Until the master does the work for them or dictates what to do next. We decided to tell you what you shouldn’t offer to a designer if you don’t want the Wakom pen to get into your eye.

-one-
“At the moment we have no content, could you make the site without it yet?”

No problem! Don’t have content, haven’t you decided on the name of the company yet? Then it’s time to create not only a website, but also a logo … We’ll paint teddy bears there, or flowers … Is that okay? No? And why? Well, you said that you have not decided on the content, and you completely trust me….

How to answer the designer: “Before starting the design, it is imperative to discuss the most important formulations and discuss what tasks the site should solve. Otherwise, there will be no end to the improvements. Let’s save your money and time right away. “

-2-
“And you can do it like in [название известного всему миру бренда]”

We understand that you have seen a bunch of role models, and they turned your head, and you already see fortune …

Firstly, hardly any of the respectable designers will approve of the idea of ​​stealing other people’s means of expression.

Secondly, it will be a shame to put such work on public display in the portfolio, because the pros also know a lot about good other people’s examples!

Thirdly, it would be unethical on the part of the brand – to be a copy of someone there already – to the laughter of the chickens!

Fourthly, for non-compliance with copyright, you can answer to the court, especially if your company is somehow noticeable in the domestic market.

Therefore, do not try to be equal to Apple or Coca-Cola. Want the same design? Pay the same royalties to dozens and hundreds of designers, and your generosity will be in demand no less.

How to answer the designer: “I really like this style, I think it’s not bad. And by the way, you saw my work for [название бренда]? This solution is less obvious, and in your case it will also solve the problem perfectly “

-3-
“Well, you still get fun out of your work. Do me a favor out of friendship … “

A good old trick: link a designer to make a commercial project for free. Here is, in short, what foreign colleagues think about this.

We believe that this is indecent. You are not asking to whiten your teeth for free, or are you not promising to advertise the store among your colleagues if they give you a pair of jeans ?! Well, excuse me, you are not the Queen of Great Britain, and not such an opinion leader to demand such a thing. The days of subsistence farming are over, and the country seems to have almost reached a new stage of economic development, where you have to pay for everything.

How to answer the designer: “Sorry, now it’s so busy that there is no time for free projects”

-four-
“Can we have the source? We just want to move the layers of the house. “

Let’s be honest, because you are not going to do it yourself, but are thinking of giving the layout to a familiar designer for revision. Such a betrayal will not be tolerated by any creative person, especially since his layout will change beyond recognition and hardly for the better.

Remember that you are hiring a designer because they have better artistic and technical skills, a sense of composition and other knowledge than you. Otherwise, you would not have to turn to him for help.

How to answer the designer: “Uh, you know, the file is unrealistically heavy, and in layers the devil himself will break his leg. Only I can figure them out. If something does not suit you, say, we will discuss … “

-five-
“Could it be brighter?”

The reason you shouldn’t say that is because fluorescent paints are unlikely to make a design better. Therefore, before you blurt out nonsense, identify the essence of your concerns and discuss them with the designer.

As a rule, bright colors create a cheap look, while complex shades and unpredictable scales are better remembered and respected.

How to be a designer: try to figure out the essence of the client’s concerns, explain to him the reason for the chosen palette. If he still insists, show him the same after a while, and ask: “Is this better?” Although nothing prevents you from pulling up the “Levels” in the jeep, and see, maybe a compromise is for the better!