1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Graphic Design

Working with Graphic Design Clients

Tips and advice for working with graphic design clients.
Dealing with Difficult Clients – Clients Who Turn to Family for Advice
Graphic design clients are often influenced by people close to them, and rightfully so. It’s no surprise that clients may say things such as “my wife wants the background blue,” because most people take advice from their friends and family. For graphic designers, this can become a problem… especially when the advice of these people goes against their design sense.
Dealing with Difficult Clients – When a Client Thinks a Task is Simple
Working with clients is a necessary, and sometimes frustrating, part of being a graphic designer. Without clients, however, designers don’t have much business. Therefore, it is important to learn how to deal with the various requests and comments that you will come across in a design business. One of those situations is when a client thinks a task is easier than it actually is.
Graphic Design Tip: How to Work within a Limited or Low Budget
When working as a graphic designer, you will inevitably come across clients with limited budgets. In some cases, this may mean you need to decline the job. However, other projects have benefits beyond pay, and you will find yourself looking for ways to work within the client’s budget. There are several reasons you may want to do so, and several ways to make it less likely to regret your decision.
Setting Up Payment Schedules for Graphic Design Projects
After working out a budget with a client, it’s important to set up a payment schedule. This helps to keep the project on target and makes both parties comfortable with the payments owed and the work being done.
Graphic Design Tip – Ask the Client What Their Budget Is
The most simple and straightforward approach to determining a budget is to ask the client what they can spend.
Negotiation Tip – Know Your Ideal and Low End Fees
When going into a meeting with a potential graphic design client, negotiating cost will often be the most difficult part of the conversation. In a negotiation, both parties should be looking for a mutually beneficial relationship; the designer gets a price he or she sees as fair for the amount of work, and the client gets quality work within their budget.
What To Do When a Client Insists on a Particular Style or Design
When working as a graphic designer, it is common to come across a situation where a client wants something that goes against your better design judgement.
What To Do When a Client Will Not Pay
In a perfect world, clients would always pay on time and in full. However, over the course of a graphic design career, it is almost inevitable to come across late-paying clients.
Explore Graphic Design
About.com Special Features

10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Credit

Easy steps to take control of your credit card debt. More >

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

  1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Graphic Design
  4. Design Business
  5. Working with Clients

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.