Terms in Graphic Design That Drive You Crazy

Terms in graphic design that drive you crazy!!!!!
CLEAN - Tired of hearing it. I'm a designer not janitor. I know what you're
getting at when you say it but it's been said too much over the years and
it just irritates me. What's a graphic design term do you hate?
5 months ago
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Cheryl Growvogel, Rhonda Van Buskirk and 233 others like this
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TeresaStop Following Follow Teresa

Teresa Blen • "work your magic"...I try to hold back and state that I left my
wand at home.
5 months ago
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OwaisStop Following Follow Owais

Owais Baig • "place my logo here, a yellow strip there, a pink circle there,
the text there, this is the picture, place it there....the rest is your
creativity...show me how creative you are!!"
5 months ago
PamelaStop Following Follow Pamela
Pamela Reitmeier • Wow...I hope you're in the minority b/c then I'll have to
change my tagline...OR maybe I am seeking a janitorial designer position?
Hmmmm, could be the niche I've been looking for...thx.
Oh, hate is a very strong word to pose in a question...IMHO.

5 months ago
JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

Jeff Marinelli • "Take it to the next level"
You want me to go upstairs with this?

5 months ago
GregStop Following Follow Greg

Greg Shaffer • "Make my logo bigger but look smaller."
"Everything looks great. All we need to do is change this and this and
move this and change this and make this this color and reword this and...."
"I want to stand out from the competition. Can you make it look just like
this company's?"
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "You can't use yellow. My wife hates yellow."
5 months ago
JulioStop Following Follow Julio

Julio Ramos • "I don't know what I want... but I will know when I see it"
5 months ago
TraciStop Following Follow Traci

Traci Stoddard • "That should only take you a couple of minutes to
change..."
5 months ago
Robert GStop Following Follow Robert G
Robert G Boulay • "I need it yesterday."
5 months ago
MohamedStop Following Follow Mohamed

Mohamed Emad • "Using my character I need my website to be typically
like this company website"
and i laugh out loud when i complete this F**K copy design he told me,
OMG, this is very similar to that website .... where is your creativity?! and
when i try to be creative he told me you are so far to the sample that i told
you about
5 months ago
MohamedStop Following Follow Mohamed

Mohamed Emad • Robert G Boulay .... I'm 100% Agree
5 months ago
Jeff Marinelli • "Isn't there a place where you can download stock photos
for free?"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "Just drop this logo into the brochure. I don't have the
original artwork, all I have is this fax of it from 12 years ago..."
5 months ago
ChristopherStop Following Follow Christopher

Christopher Porter • "Think outside the box." Almost always the mention of
the box means get comfy we're staying inside for sure.
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "I'm trying to run a business here, OK, Mr. College
Education?"
5 months ago
SalStop Following Follow Sal

Sal Randazzo • "Make it pop!"
"Make the colors pop!"
"Work your magic!"
"What do you mean you cannot use some of my PowerPoint art/decks to
print with your 4c printer?"
"Can you please fill this page design with larger logos, type, etc."
"Why can we not go to your 4c printer to print my Word and PowerPoint
documents?"
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • I want something web 2.0! Seriously dude if you say
web 2.0 one more time I will stab you with my wacom tablet pen.
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • I want Client 2.0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 months ago

Robert G Boulay • Wished there were "Like" buttons here. Some good
ones!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "What do you mean you're not done yet? I gave it to you
an hour ago!"
"Reflex blue, yes!!! That's the color I want! With red type on top!" (hurl)
Mike Kelly • "Thanks, you design work and production are superb! Your
work is going to really help our marketing effort. Now, about your bill......"
5 months ago
CherylStop Following Follow Cheryl

Cheryl Growvogel • Hahaha this discussion is great! Although I'm not a
graphic designer, I am a writer and collaborate often with designers; I
share their pain. One of my faves - "Looks good buuuuut, I just have one
minor change..." That usually means you have about 1,000,000 more
"minor changes" ahead.
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • I thought there was a button in Photoshop that just
did that for you.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "It's just cut and paste. What's so hard about that?"
5 months ago
NedStop Following Follow Ned

Ned Hoste • "I want you to use the space creatively" - translates as" I want
you to fill every last square centimetre as tight as you can with type".
"I want this to appeal to everyone" - translates - "I don't know who my
target market is"
"I want it lovely" - translates - "I don't know who my target market is"
"We are one a really tight deadline for this - and we'll give you the copy
about an hour before it needs to go to print in 2 weeks time"
"Can you author this in Word?"
"Word art will be fine for the illustrations"
"Can you print this on cheap recycled paper"
"I have an interest in typography - can you use Comic Sans"
"We though Arial would be different - no one else is using it"
"Could you do all the 10 design concepts for free and we'll chose one to go
to print and pay you for that one"
"Can we print metallic in CMYK"
…I could go on!!
5 months ago
StephenStop Following Follow Stephen

Stephen Smith • "Do that magical thing you do"
"Can you make everything bigger?"
"I hate to do this to you, but I need it today"
5 months ago
WilliamStop Following Follow William

William Lam • "Just do everything you were told to do.
But never show anything you don't like."
5 months ago
Robert G Boulay • Love that one, William!
5 months ago

Pamela Reitmeier • William, excellent! Well played.
This isn't towards a client but it drives me crazy when a know-it-all

designer has "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..." running throughout their
website...as well as repetitive copy blocks.
5 months ago
FeliceStop Following Follow Felice

Felice Croul • How 'bout this one – "Isn't there a website where you get
free photos?"
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "I could get a high school kid to do that for 50 bucks!!!!!!"
5 months ago
MikeStop Following Follow Mike

Mike Kelly • I can get a barrio bum to do that for 5.00 and a bottle of dad's
Rot Gut
5 months ago

Mike Kelly • It doesn't do anything for me.
5 months ago

Mike Kelly • Can you recreate this brochure? I can't get the original files
from the designer who did this work.
5 months ago
Jeff Marinelli • We couldn't afford the designer we really wanted so we
called you instead.
5 months ago

Robert G Boulay • That one hurts, Jeff!
5 months ago
RandStop Following Follow Rand

Rand MacIvor • Can you make the logo bigger?
(Sorry Greg, just saw you posted that earlier...)

5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "If the client moans and sighs
Make the logo twice the size
If they still should prove refractory

Show a picture of their factory
Only in the gravest cases

Should you show the client's faces"
5 months ago
RandStop Following Follow Rand

Rand MacIvor • "I know I said I'd get you the text two weeks ago and I
know the text I'm sending in this message (see word doc attached) is
twice as long as I said it would be, and we still have a deadline of
tomorrow, but could you please fit the type into the layout as is? It's
already been approved by the committee..."
5 months ago
MaryStop Following Follow Mary

Mary LaFleur • I hate the words 'graphic designer' because it has become
such a catch-all description. There seems to be a naive categorization -
lumping web developers, sign makers, powerpoint creators, etc. under this
title. I am an old school art director, but now I feel like Big Foot - rare and
little known.
Randall Holbrook • My email wont open your invoice, can you send it
again?
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Oh Randall...that's nice or "gee, I just don't seem to be
getting your emails w/the invoice attached..."
"Can you just work from my MS Publisher document??"

(OMG>>>>>Really???? Just hold a gun to my head)
5 months ago
JoeStop Following Follow Joe

Joe Kohnen • "can't you just stretch it to fit?" (type, photo, etc.)
5 months ago
KikiStop Following Follow Kiki

Kiki Kaloudi • I have heard almost everything from the above :) my
favourite is the 'can we make something to move on the page / or I would
like more movement on the page?'
5 months ago
ToddStop Following Follow Todd
Todd Poteet • "just pull the content from my web site."
"I really don't like all this white space, could you fill it with these 12
pictures, but keep it airy and uncrowded."
5 months ago
JodyStop Following Follow Jody

Jody Latham, Mgnt Dip (Open) • "Can you copy this Publisher document I
have?"
5 months ago

Jody Latham, Mgnt Dip (Open) • "I havent charged the client for this so can
you do a quick botch-it job, but make it pop!"
5 months ago
Jody Latham, Mgnt Dip (Open) • "can we have it sideways?"
"you mean landscape?"
"huh?"
"can we have it upwards?"

"sorry what?"
"upwards, you know longways but going up"
"you mean portrait?"
"huh?"
-gotta love account managers!!
5 months ago
DouglasStop Following Follow Douglas

Douglas Mark • "They're looking for a new look, but don't spend a lot of
time on it."
5 months ago
TimStop Following Follow Tim

Tim Rogers • make my logo bigger...
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Can you read this floppy?
Yes, kind of like that, but different.

5 months ago
WarrenStop Following Follow Warren

Warren Westbo • Being instructed: "I want it to be impactful". WTF is
"impactful"? After 40 years I still don't know. I agree with the earlier
posters. "Work your magic", "clean" and "take it to the next level" are
right up there.
5 months ago
GailStop Following Follow Gail

Gail Oliver • "I sent you the photo (we got it off Google Images), can't you
just blow it up to fill the page? I want it to be the main focus."..... It's 72
dpi and an inch wide, copyright?....
O_o argh!.... or,
"I want to make changes to the work you did, but it won't open in
Acrobat... can you send me your files and a copy of your program? Oh and
I need the fonts & photos too".......
H@LL NO! .... or,
"How come you charge so much?, I can do this myself in MS Publisher."
Be my guest and good luck... I've learned to just walk away, WARNING!!!!
Will(a) Robinson.... nuisance client ahead!
5 months ago

Jeff Harmon • Are you a Rockstar Designer? Can you manage 250 projects
at once? Can you design and program a website in 5 minutes while
answering our phones and taking out the trash.
If so you'll be perfect for our company!
$10 per hour
A little exaggerated, but there are a ton of these want ads in Los Angeles
at the moment.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • LOL Jeff! Oh my...
5 months ago
Christopher Porter • Can we have diagonal scroll bars? (True story)
5 months ago
JenniferStop Following Follow Jennifer

Jennifer Blatz • Here's a link to an image on Google. Just use this image. It
looks great on my screen.
5 months ago
MarkStop Following Follow Mark

Mark McDougal • "Make it sexy!" (What the hell does that mean?
Seriously, you can't come up with a more descriptive adjective?)
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Jennifer and Mark...I have heard those before.
Christopher - diagonal?? Wow, never heard that one. Must have been a
very interesting client to say the least.
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • You have no idea. A sitcom in the making.
5 months ago
true 80 1872 groupItem?seeMo

Traci Stoddard • I bet! wow...
5 months ago

Warren Westbo • A former client once asked if I would show her assistant
how I "design in Quark, Photoshop and Illustrator", so she can save money.
5 months ago

Mike Kelly • Warren, I've heard that one before.
5 months ago
CynthiaStop Following Follow Cynthia

Cynthia Ho • "Can he (the designer worked with me) try another font?
What about a funnier ones?"
".......................funny font?............(What the #^%$#&^$#*& do you

mean?!)"
5 months ago

Mike Kelly • Try using a font that has the little thingies on the bottom...you
know, the fonts that have little feet...
5 months ago
Jeff Marinelli • Them: "I don't like that font"
Me: "You mean this typeface?"
Them: "No, that font."

5 months ago

Christopher North • I had a client (who bought Pocket Pal and therefore
knew ALL about design) once demand that her brochure be printed in 'spot
RBG'.
5 months ago

Pamela Reitmeier • Christopher N...thx for that, it's priceless!!!
Never heard that one before.
5 months ago
Tim Rogers • spot RGB... that's classic!
5 months ago
CynthiaStop Following Follow Cynthia

Cynthia Ho • spot RGB... unforgettable :D
5 months ago
PattiStop Following Follow Patti

Patti Britton • "Create a design that you are afraid to present." Huh?
"I want an award-winning design"
"No that isn't what I want, I'll send you a photoshop cover of what I want"
5 months ago
BruceStop Following Follow Bruce

Bruce Bauer (Linkedin Open Networker) • "It looks good on my computer
screen"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "Can you walk me through how to place this in Word and
make it look as good as your brochure? I just want to print it on my
printer" (then later on...) "Wow...what did you do to make that file so bad?
I couldn't do anything w/it!!!"
Back to the original post...Christopher, the phrase I dislike most..."We only

have X amount of $...make it work."
5 months ago
SharonStop Following Follow Sharon

Sharon Hayes • "just click on it"
um - yeah - sure.... just hope I don't click on that "delete" command there.
5 months ago

Christopher North • And of course, everyone's favourite........ "Make the
Logo Bigger!"
5 months ago

Sharon Hayes • don't forget the starburst - must have a starburst so they
know it is important.
5 months ago

Robert G Boulay • Client: "We have to follow the brand standards. We paid
them enough for this shit."
Designer (me): "Okay. So what do you want me to do about this odd one?"
Client: "I don't give a shit. Just do what I want."

Designer (me at the bar after work): This shitty client..."
5 months ago

Patti Britton • "Perceived value should be $10 more than the actual value."
This is for wine packaging design.

5 months ago
RickStop Following Follow Rick

Rick Wolff • Him: "I need a piece of art I can put into a PowerPoint slide."
Me: "No problem. Take the attached and place it into your PowerPoint
slide," (later) Him: "Yeah, I can't open it." Me: "Okay, do you want to OPEN
it, or do you want to put it into a PowerPoint slide?"
5 months ago

Robert G Boulay • @Patti: I can so relate to what you just posted. Let me
tell you a story.
Once upon a time, we had this well-dressed gentleman who wanted my

agency to promote his new fragrance. He was a chemist by profession and
he was confident about his new product. So we all gathered in the
boardroom and samples were distributed.
To everyone's surprise, this was really good. My boss, seeing the overall
reaction, declared: "I believe in your product. Let's sign a contract for
$250K and my team will make you a millionaire."
To which he answered: "Whoa! WTF are you talking about? I've got five
grand to invest in this shit."
My boss: "Your shit is good enough to sell for $80 a bottle at Holt Renfrew
(Neiman Marcus for my American friends).
Chemist: Nah. I want to sell it at Zellers (Walmart) for $9.99.
This is my most memorable moment: My boss raised from his chair, and
calmly said: "I guess you don't want to be a millionaire, like me." And he
exited.
Why work trying to sell five Chevys when you can spend a quarter of the
time selling one Cadillac and make the same money?
5 months ago
EmilioStop Following Follow Emilio

Emilio Ruiz [LION1K+] • I want it more edgy!!!!!!!!!!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Emilio, would that be torn, shredded, burnt or sliced
edges? :)
5 months ago
Emilio Ruiz [LION1K+] • Usually burnt by the time you finish with most
clients, not all. Thank God.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Ouch!
How about "Are we there yet?" oh wait...isn't that from a road trip or
something...everything is blending together...
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • As you're finishing up. . . . ."We've decided to go in
another direction"
5 months ago
NathanStop Following Follow Nathan

Nathan Cleveland • Make it pop! (So stupid.)
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Augh!!! Christopher...I've been through that so many
times and Nathan, that as well.
5 months ago

Patti Britton • That "we've decided to go in another direction" usually
mean "we want to use another designer".
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • oooh...true, Patti...for less cost and imagination
unfortunately.
5 months ago
RobertStop Following Follow Robert
Robert Levison • Tom Fishburne's cartoon 'The 8 types of bad creative
critics' says it all.
http://tomfishburne.com/design
Classic!
5 months ago
SueStop Following Follow Sue

Sue Thomas • "Oh and by the way it's MEGA URGENT"
5 months ago
FelixStop Following Follow Felix

Felix Huisken • "I allways design everything in Word myself"
5 months ago
Tim Rogers • "I need it yesterday, but rush charges aren't in my budget"
5 months ago
LindaStop Following Follow Linda

Linda Latino • and how about when they walk it around and ask the
secretary with the shrine to Elvis what she thinks : )
5 months ago
PattyStop Following Follow Patty

Patty Wall • "I'd like it in a green font."
5 months ago

Patty Wall • Or (handing me a horribly out-of-focus photograph) "Enhance
this so that it looks good."
me: "Um... I can't do that."
them: "Sure you can—I've seen it on CSI."
5 months ago

Patti Britton • Patty: I'm working on one of those now! "Can't you just
extend the door, put in some vineyards, and put the lady in a chair?" It
would have taken less time to re-shoot the photo but the lady is dead and
all I have is a black/white copy of her.
5 months ago
RyanStop Following Follow Ryan

Ryan Parker • I love getting requests for 10 different options.
To quote Steve Jobs talking about working with Paul Rand: {I asked him if
he would come up with a few options. And he said, “No. I will solve your
problem for you. And you will pay me. And you don’t have to use the
solution. If you want options, go talk to other people. But I’ll solve your
problem for you the best way I know how. And you use it or not. That’s up
to you. You’re the client. But you pay me.” And there was a clarity about
the relationship that was refreshing.}
More Paul Rand: "Good ideas rarely come in bunches. The designer who
voluntarily presents his client with a batch of layouts does so not out
prolificacy, but out of uncertainty or fear."
5 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Ryan...love it!
5 months ago

Patty Wall • Patti--I had one guy who would give me Photoshop
instructions like "Put in a mountain, and make this guy's face look
frustrated--like he wants to climb the mountain and can't do it..." My old
CEO wanted me to take an existing photo of a very pale little blonde girl
and "make her black," so that the ad could run in the city. I tried to tell
him that you can't just color in her skin and hair--it wouldn't look right. He
didn't believe me and I ended up doing about 20 versions of this same girl
until he finally let me go to Getty and buy a photo of a genuinely black
little girl.
5 months ago
NathanStop Following Follow Nathan

Nathan Cleveland • What an idiot.
5 months ago
Traci Stoddard • OMG...wow. TG I haven't had to do any of that stuff
(yet) :)
5 months ago

Tim Rogers • WOW Patti, thats crazy! I had a client ask me to "photoshop"
a great looking African American couple out of a beach shot for a
campaign we did because, in his words, "black people don't swim and it
would give the wrong message"
I had no comeback for that one at the time, it stunned me. What an ass!
btw, we left them in much to his displeasure :-D

5 months ago

Tim Rogers • back to the thread... i can't stand the term "photoshop it".
It's called retouching! What your 13 year old nephew does is

photoshopping, not us!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • ...Tim...or Paint
5 months ago
VannonStop Following Follow Vannon

Vannon Chiang • "Can you put an underline on that?"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Can you whip this up for me?"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • @ Ryan: Thanks for the Paul Rand quotes. I studied him
back in my school days and was really inspired by him.
5 months ago

Emilio Ruiz [LION1K+] • @Patti that client was as dumb as a bag of
hammers.
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • Precise instructions like:
"Move this logo by about a millimeter"
"Shrink the logo by about 8%"
At this point, I'm just a guy operating the computer.

5 months ago

Patti Britton • "I'm going on vacation in a couple of days, can you get it to
me before then?"
Emilio: I think you mean the other Patty. I'm still working on the design
with the dead lady. I got the door on the building, added the vineyards. I
can't believe I've been in business for 20+ years and am working on
something like this.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • wow...now Patti? unreal. I would like to see the final
product if you'd like to share.
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "This needs to pop more"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • As you are on the 9th revision... "Oh, you're right, let's
go with version 2"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "The client is in a panic for this"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Make it look good, but don't spend too much time on it"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Can I see this in the Ariel Bold font?"
1 hour ago
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5 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Wow Vannon...no issues w/your clients there huh? :) We
have all had this and sounds like my daily job! Vent, brother...Vent!!!
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Can I see this in Times New Roman?"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Actually (and don't burn me at the stake for this one...)
TNW or something closely does have its purpose, but certainly not on
everything.
5 months ago

Patti Britton • "My web guy is on hold because he's waiting for the
graphics from you. When are we going to wrap this up?"
5 months ago
MelissaStop Following Follow Melissa

Melissa Hendricks, APR • "Pretty it up." or "Re-work this." (Usually
referring to something that's all wrong to begin with or what a self-
appointed expert decides is a creative idea.)
...and, I agree with Julio: "I don't know what I want... but I will know when I
see it" (UGH!)
5 months ago
ShawnStop Following Follow Shawn

Shawn Jones • coming from a printshop, I hear a lot of these. There seems
to be a never ending supply of backseat driver clients, for certain.
And the boss is always saying, "just make it work... and hurry." Sure, let
me just pull out my pixie dust and rub my magic lamp.
5 months ago
AlgertStop Following Follow Algert

Algert Sula • "...ah, and can you please make that logo bigger!" :P
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • ok, so that logo needs to fit in a .25 x .25...why can't I
read my company name now??? duh!!!!!!
5 months ago

Sharon Hayes • Had to speak with one client about their print job and the
fact they faxed us all of the text. I could tell they used a program like Word
to type it out, but when I called to ask for the .doc file - I shouldn't have
asked for the "electronic file."
The next question was "What is an electronic file?"
I think my stunned silence clued her in on the fact she should have known
when working with print at that time. Her next statement was: "Maybe I
should get someone else to call you back and follow up with you?"
I could only respond with "Yes, please. I would appreciate that." Or

something close.
5 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Kind of reminds me of the people that think the CD drive
is a coffee cup holder...
5 months ago
KymStop Following Follow Kym

Kym Ramadge • Great list everyone, have really enjoyed reading all the
comments.
Think I have heard nearly most of them over the years....especially the
"Can you make it pop...", "Make our logo bigger..." and "We like this font,
its called Times New Roman..."
One I dislike the most? "I've just mocked this up in PPT and/or Photoshop
to show how I want it...."
Recent comment from a young marketing intern client "If they would let us
have the Adobe Creative Suite here, I could show you how I want this to
look..."
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "I don't like them, can I see another option?"
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • I want it to be a pucey, tealy kind of green like the curtains
in the reception area
5 months ago
JimStop Following Follow Jim

Jim Pallotta • "This should be an easy one." Of course it is. You gave it to
ME!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "Eh...lemme give it to my kid. They're a wiz at this
stuff...they did my Facebook page."
5 months ago
Christopher Porter • LOL!!!! Been there!
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • I had a client tell me once: "I studied art in college".
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • LOL!!! Dejavu!!! Maybe it was the same guy!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • ...on the walls of a bathroom stall at the nightclub?
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Can you add a drop shadow on all the copy?"
Vannon Chiang • On a website: "Can you make that headline BLINK on and
off?"
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • "So you must be the Artiste!"
5 months ago
PaulStop Following Follow Paul

Paul Silva • "Now lets get those creative juices flowing"
5 months ago
Patti Britton • "My wife is a painter."
5 months ago
JulieStop Following Follow Julie

Julie Demler • "All we need is a little one-sheeter. That shouldn't be so
hard." Translation: cram all our info into a smaller space.
5 months ago

Todd Curtis • All these comments should be added to this site:
http://clientsfromhell.net/
5 months ago
ZoeStop Following Follow Zoe

Zoe Sizemore • Just photoshop it!!!
5 months ago
BerticaStop Following Follow Bertica

Bertica Garcia Dubus • How long? Really? I'll have my secretary do it
then ... she loves playing in Photoshop.
5 months ago
JesusStop Following Follow Jesus

Jesus Cardenas • "I don't know what I want, but that looks similar to what I
want, but change it a bit and make it look edgy"
5 months ago

Jesus Cardenas • "Just LAZZO it"
lmao
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Jesus...I'm sorry but you look a little similar to Johnny
Knoxville...lmao! :)
5 months ago
RonaldStop Following Follow Ronald

Ronald Paredes • "It doesn't look good, I don't like the colors you are
using, can you change them because it doesn't look good in my computer"
...and the bastard is using a 15 years old cheap chinese computer screen.
5 months ago
AndrewStop Following Follow Andrew

Andrew Gowers • Two that irk me:
"Can you knock something up"

"I've done this in Publisher...."
Think we all know what comes after that!

5 months ago

Jesus Cardenas • Traci, lol I had to change my photo after that one, that is
the first time that I've heard that one.......
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Jesus, it's not a bad thing. No need to change. :)
5 months ago
ClayStop Following Follow Clay

Clay Skougard • Can we make it "POP"?
5 months ago
ClayStop Following Follow Clay
Clay Skougard • You did a really good job on the burger but, "can we make
it a little more burgery?"
I almost fell out of my chair. Also have heard from the same person, "cake
it less cheesy". The burger had melted cheese all over it...
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Can you add more sesame seeds on the bun?"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "That pickle looks like like a butter pickle. Can you make
it dill?" (great, now I'm hungry...)
5 months ago
Vannon Chiang • "That cheese looks too melted, can you make it a bit
more like a fresh slice?"
5 months ago
KhalilStop Following Follow Khalil

Khalil Mounji • client :" i made posters with 'paint' and 'ppt'....
5 months ago
ThomasStop Following Follow Thomas

Thomas Wilk • "We're looking for something out of the box"
5 months ago
JulieStop Following Follow Julie

Julie Demler • "We need MORE calls to action." Great, so now the reader
will be totally confused about what you want them to do.
5 months ago
JanellStop Following Follow Janell

Janell Conner • At my first design job, for the cover of an important
government publication for 5 different organizations, "Since it's close to
Thanksgiving, I'd like to see a cornucopia with the logos of the 5
government organizations spilling out of it, or maybe a fruit basket, with
each of the logos on different types of fruit".
5 months ago
KarieStop Following Follow Karie

Karie Williams • I found this font that I like; it's called Scriptina.
5 months ago

William Lam • Not a term, but a bad sign:
Directly from a well paid senior designer, a FA file for CMYK printing, it has
over 18 Pantone colors in use, numerous RGB imports, and bleed photos
that include no bleed.
5 months ago
Christopher Porter • Vio Con Dios.
5 months ago

Greg Gutbezahl • Art director. It used to be a position one would strive for
after a number of years, one which was attained on merit (usually). Now,
anyone with a computer is an art director.
5 months ago
JoelStop Following Follow Joel

Joel Lapinski • Looks great...but now can you send it to me in Word?
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • " We need this right away. Do you mind if we pay you in a
few months? "
Sure, I'll just tell the bank to hold all of my bills until then.
5 months ago

Greg Gutbezahl • Joel... argh. Been there. We did an entire set of 24 forms
in InDesign, with the client's direct approval (they wanted them to look
very professional). Then we got an "oops, we need to be able to edit them.
Can you import them into Word, but keep the formatting?"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • (Heard this one today)...can you fix that copy in that web
page (ie...that web page linked to someone else's page that I have no
control over). My own company...Really??? LOLOLOL!
5 months ago
TerryStop Following Follow Terry

Terry Pacifico • "What are you gonna do to fill all that white space?"
5 months ago
FawnStop Following Follow Fawn

Fawn Gracey • The poster looks great. Can you send it to me in
PowerPoint so I can edit it? We changed all the text.
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • I suppose that will do.
5 months ago

Bruce Cohen • "Bulk Mailing Permit #,"
What's that, we have to mail in two days

5 months ago

Patty Wall • "... but I was taught to ALWAYS put two spaces after periods.
Can't you go through the (350 page) manuscript and put them all back?
5 months ago

Joel Lapinski • How about "is it too late to make a little change" ...as the
piece is being plated.
5 months ago

Greg Gutbezahl • Joel, you are the winner! NOTHING is more annoying that
that sadly oft-heard phrase.
5 months ago
Christopher Powers • Wanna scream every time a new client sends me a
JPG of their logo, and when I ask for a vector version...we go through this
song and dance til I finally hear what I dread most... They don't have an
original file because they paid someone on Guru or Elance on the other
side of the world who only gave them a GIF and JPG... I get this once a
month..it just kills me...
5 months ago

Todd Palmer • "I get nervous when I don't find any mistakes."
5 months ago
WayneStop Following Follow Wayne

Wayne Rowe • Awesome list guys.
My peeves are: "don't spend more than an hour"

and "the WOW factor"
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • Ahh yes the infamous "WOW Factor"
5 months ago
MeganStop Following Follow Megan

Megan Wright • I really want it to pop.
I feel we need to do something with the empty white space.
5 months ago

Paul Croubalian • "Give me something elegant and sophisticated, and I
like this font (balloony comic-book font)"
"We need the corporate brochure to match well with the reception decor"
"We want a corporate brag-book like you did for (name witheld, but this
was for a start-up by two post-grad students.... what the F!!CK do they
have to brag about)
And my personal fav.....
"We want it to be completely different, but use the existing text, logo,
colors, and pix"
5 months ago
Mike Herbst • "Look at all this room. We can fill that up, can't we?"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Ahhh...the awesomely crappy jpg or gif logo....PUKE!!!
then you have to redraw them in illustrator and...wait for it...."Gee, can
you do this to it?" Really????
5 months ago
RochelleStop Following Follow Rochelle

Rochelle Sollish • When asking for direction, client offers "it needs some
oomph. Bigger. Brighter colors. I want it to say we're best...you know what
I mean..." No I don't.
5 months ago
SouleyeStop Following Follow Souleye
Souleye Cisse • reading these comments brightened my day. really!
started looking for the 'like' button. remember this is not facebook. but i
hate facebook! I'm not a graphic designer, so nothing drives me crazy
about it. I cringe when a client tells me 'I wanna sit with you'. lucky they
didn't say 'sleep'. how much am I gonna charge you for babysitting me?
some people wanna control every pixel of the layout. 'that pixel, can we
go back to photoshop and you increase its value by 3.753%?'
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • Let's be a little fair here though. If they knew the exact terms
to use, or if their logos were perfect and in the correct formats, and they
had good taste, they may not be our clients.
5 months ago

Christopher Porter • Boo Jim. Boo
5 months ago
LauraStop Following Follow Laura

Laura Lencioni • Client comes in with a really bad photo, low res,
underexposed, bad composition, and says, " You can photoshop this,
right?"
Well, truth is, you CAN work miracles with photoshop...but some things are
beyond saving!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Boo Christopher, Boo...Jim is right to some degree. "If
they cannot do it themselves, they need to find a person to do it for them."
In any trade that is correct...ie...plumber, carpenter, DESIGNER, banker,
etc...
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • My favorite quote came from a sign at a auto repair shop:
Rates:
$25 per hour if you bring in to us and drop it off
$50 if you tell us what's wrong
$75 if you tried to fix it yourself first
I think that fits for design as well.
@ Christopher. I don't mind the client that doesn't know all the proper
terms. That's not their job. It's mine. What I do mind is the client that
doesn't know what he's saying but thinks I'm the one that's wrong.
5 months ago

William Lam • Jim : That auto shop sign says a lot. Got any picture of it?
5 months ago

Shawn Jones • many people don't trust or believe that the designer (or
many professionals) knows best, because they often think/feel they're
getting sold something they don't want.
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • I wish I did. That was a long time ago.
My second favorite sign was at a bar and doesn't relate. Still funny though.
T Shirts. $8.00 each or 2 for $20.00

5 months ago
MattStop Following Follow Matt

Matt Davis • On Wednesday the client emails and says "I will send you the
rest of the content on Friday." On Friday, the client emails and asks "Are
you done with the site yet?"
"I want you to use this font." After using the requested font: "Why did you
use such a plain, boring font?"
"Please blow up this photo and fill the left side of the page with it." The
photo they send is 72 dpi and about 1.5" x 2". It is the only file they have.
"I know exactly what I want." This is almost never true.
"This should be a simple site for you to design."
Actually, the word 'simple' bothers me because it is almost never simple.

5 months ago

Bruce Cohen • Then there's always "Don't worry, I'll make it up on the next
job".
Which is always combined with "The check is in the mail"

5 months ago
Sharon Wall • I've had people, when I ask them to proof my work, say "I
trust you". I then politely tell them that yes, you will proof it!
5 months ago
BobStop Following Follow Bob

Bob Hoot • This thread brings to mind a poem I heard from the senior art
director at my first job:
If the client moans and sighs,

Make the logo twice its size,
If it's still not satisfactory,
Show a picture of his factory,
But only in the gravest case,
Do you ever show the client's face.
5 months ago

Bob Hoot • Some of the most dreaded words I've ever heard ... more than
once, "We've decided to have a logo contest ..."
5 months ago

William Lam • Jim : Absolutely. It is an important part of our job to help our
clients understand our process. As conservative as some of my clients
might be, they all respect my expertise and our profession.
It is when these "terms in graphic design" came directly from (supposed to

be) a "creative type" that hurts the most.
5 months ago

Jim Pallotta • William. Oh I get it. I've had my fair share of nightmare
scenarios. Bone chilling in fact.
Some I won't post publicly. A simple one is in order:
"I can't get to the web site you built for us."
"Do you have the URL?"
"What?"
"The web address."
"Where do I find that?"
"Open a browser and type it in the top bar."
"Browser?"
"Find Internet Explorer."
"Where?"
"Maybe on your desktop"
"Okay, let me turn my computer on then you can tell me where to find
that."
And I'm shortening it. It took me a while to realize that not only did the
person not know the basics of even looking at a web site, but that the
computer was not turned on. They did have web access. By accident I
think.
5 months ago
SouleyeStop Following Follow Souleye

Souleye Cisse • how about this one?
'do you have an idea what you want the logo to look like?'
'no, we don't. if we did, we would do it ourselves'!
5 months ago

Sharon Charteress • Can you just print this in large format... No it's only
72dpi, when will people learn !
5 months ago
BrianStop Following Follow Brian

Brian Yeats • Don't you have like piles of DVD's with free photos on them. I
just need a photo (insert odd photo Imagery).
5 months ago
JasonStop Following Follow Jason
Jason Schnabel • ("creative" "director" hands me an open issue of
CommArts with a post-it stuck next to a featured design)
CD: Just make it look like this.
Me: Ummm. Well... I could use similar colors and rethink the layout and...
CD: No. Don't. Just make it look exactly like this one.
Me: ...
5 months ago

Brian Yeats • How come the proof doesn't look like my screen!
5 months ago

Patty Wall • I had one client who had a two-color job with a specified PMS
green. He didn't like the fact that the green on the proof didn't match the
PMS color exactly. I gave him the PMS swatch and told him that the color
would look JUST LIKE THE SWATCH. He wanted me to get a comp PRINTED
with the PMS color--but he didn't want to pay for it.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Yeah, Brian/Patty/Everyone...some people just don't get
it. :)
5 months ago

Patty Wall • For all those who have not yet seen this—bon appetit.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell
5 months ago

Melissa Hendricks, APR • Patty! This is great! What's really annoying is
when the client who screwed up the original design beyond recognition
gives you all the credit for the final product... being the "selfless leader".
5 months ago
CeciliaStop Following Follow Cecilia

Cecilia Torres • "Edgy"
5 months ago
DonnaStop Following Follow Donna

Donna Randles • SharePoint
5 months ago
JudyStop Following Follow Judy

Judy Hall • I love this statement, usually made on the 4th or 5th round of
proof revisions: "Um... guess we should REALLY read it closely now, right?"
(no... please just skim over that rate card proof; I'm sure a misplaced
comma or two won't matter much to your customers! In fact, we can
probably still make a few corrections once we get on press.)
5 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Judy, how about they only 'really read it' when they get
their 100,000 printed pieces and say, "Hey did you know such and such is
wrong??"
5 months ago
JillStop Following Follow Jill

Jill LeVan • ASAP! I had a boss years ago who said it constantly for every
project. I still cringe when I hear it. (ASAP is not a deadline...) This same
boss loved yelling at people. One day when he wasn't thrilled with a
design I had come up with yells at me, "I want creativity and I want it
NOW!"
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • Loved the cartoon Patty! Made my Friday.
5 months ago
CarolynStop Following Follow Carolyn
Carolyn Tierney • "High-end", as in "I want to make sure this looks 'high-
end'." As opposed to...a piece of crap with neon colors, clip art, and 8
different fonts? I generally try to stay away from designing THOSE kinds of
pieces as a rule of thumb. ;)
5 months ago

William Lam • Jill : That's really sad.
It hurts most when "it" came from a supposed to be "senior creative type".
In my experience, clients in general are very professional with designers.

And I have found that the higher rank my clients are in their companies
the more they respect designer's recommendations. Retaining a very
positive and productive relationship.
5 months ago

Jill LeVan • William: No, he wasn't a creative type, just the business owner.
He had issues...
5 months ago

Patty Wall • I worked in the art department in a publishing company where
all the brass thought that their work was the most important. I had a great
boss who told them, "There is no such thing as ASAP. Just tell me when
you reasonably expect it and I will tell you if it's possible. If you write
ASAP, it will go behind all the jobs with real dates and times on them."
5 months ago

Patty Wall • In a previous job the situation got downright silly.
EVERYTHING was ASAP, so people started writing adjectives in FRONT of
"ASAP," thinking the more adjectives they put, the faster the job would get
done. We started finding jobs on the job pile saying things like "SUPER
FAST BLAZING HOT RUSH ASAP!!!!"
5 months ago

Jill LeVan • Patty, ack! I'm cringing. But that was a nice boss you had who
put ASAP at the bottom of the pile. Smart.
5 months ago
KathleenStop Following Follow Kathleen

Kathleen Kinney • "Why does it have so much blank space. Can't we put
more on here?"
5 months ago

Kathleen Kinney • "Publisher"
5 months ago

Kathleen Kinney • "My 12 year old daughter doesn't like it"
5 months ago
AllaStop Following Follow Alla
Alla Kerker • "There is too much white space, let's fill it in with something"
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • My dog won't pay attention to the flash...what's the deal?
5 months ago
StevenStop Following Follow Steven

Steven Gross • CLIENT: "I'm not a visual person." (Followed by:) "Can you
do 8 or 10 comp'ed treatments; I'll know what the right one is when I see
it."
5 months ago
JayStop Following Follow Jay

Jay Archambeau • I need it by EOD / EOB...when exactly is the "end of
day" or "end of business?" In a designer's world, that would two-thousand-
never! :)
5 months ago
StefanieStop Following Follow Stefanie

Stefanie Kenyon • Can you make it stronger? Only if you can articulate
what you mean by stronger.
My favourite is "this is easy" to which I respond "you do it then".
I once made a label called "make graphic" and stuck it on the F13 key.
When clients said "just make a graphic" I'd say "okay, I'll press the "make
graphic key" and you would not believe how many of them thought it
would really make a graphic.
5 months ago

Jill LeVan • Stefanie, classic! I agree with the "this is easy" annoyance. I
once worked with an AE who said that EVERY TIME he gave me a project to
work on. I got so tired of it that one day I said, "If everything I do is so
easy, why don't you go out on the street and get a homeless person to do
it. You could probably pay him less and save some money." This was the
same AE who liked to call me The Blond Wrist. "We're only interested in
you from the wrist down."
5 months ago

William Lam • Jill, that last "comment" ought to be among the saddest
ones on this list.
I hope you are working with a better company now.
5 months ago

Shawn Jones • Jill, that is the saddest thing I have read today... mostly
because I've been treated the same way. Some co-workers don't see us as
talented designers, we're just button pushers, and get to 'play' on the
'puter all day.
5 months ago

William Lam • Jill and Shawn : It is a big sin to bury creative talents. This is
million times worse.
Until the day businesses recognize the importance of true design, and
start taking care of their very culture for creativity, with sick characters
these abuses will continue.
And yes it does hurt the most when it came from within (supposedly) your
work "team".
5 months ago
Stefanie Kenyon • Ah, Jill. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I call
myself the colourer-inner at work because then everyone knows what I do.
Jealousy has a funny way of being expressed by people who think they are
so "creative". I've worked with creative directors who were seething
masses of jealousy and insecurity (and should be because they weren't
very good) and it was obvious they were bad at their job by the way they
put the ADs and designers down.
The other thing I hate is clients/colleagues referring to my equipment

(Mac, cinema display & Wacom tablet/pen) as toys. Yeah guys, I'm just
playing all day here. I'm surprised that you pay me for having sooo much
fun.
I'm still laughing about 'spot RGB' from that earlier post. Man, that's made
my year.
5 months ago
CindyStop Following Follow Cindy

Cindy Weinstein • "Perfect! We just have to run it by compliance and then
we're good to go."
5 months ago

Jay Archambeau • Similar to other postings: "It's just an email design,
right?" In design, "just" is a dangerous term as it diminishes the value we
provide. This may be compared to the quantifier of "easy." My opinion.
5 months ago

Paul Sousa • Your charging me how much? It's just a simple logo!
5 months ago

Bob Hoot • "My wife sketched out this logo ... could you just clean it up a
bit?"
5 months ago

Joel Lapinski • Bob...that's a good one...how about this variation "I've did
the logo in Word using clip-art and Word art...can you touch it up a bit?" I
am thinking how I can put it to them in the nicest way that it is better to
start over.
Mike Tippett • "this shouldn't take you too long."
"...but I sent you their website logo for you to use on the brochure."
5 months ago
DanielStop Following Follow Daniel

Daniel Couper • Could you just make a small change to this?
Two hours later:
Could you just make a small change to this?
Two hours later:
Two hours later:
Two hours later:
Two hours later:
Next day:
Oh, in fact, we've had this idea, we're not quite sure about the original
design, so could we do something completely different?
also, 'creative': We want something a bit more 'creative', we just don't

think that's quite 'creative' enough, we want a 'creative' solution. We
haven't actually given you any concrete specifications but I'm sure that
you'll do something really great and creative that we will pick apart and
make you redo from scratch because we never gave you any
specifications
5 months ago

Wayne Rowe • @ Daniel - therein lies the importance of including the
number of revisions in your quotation. ; )
Not really a "graphic term", but since we are bitch slapping our clients, I
have always been annoyed at how they perceive us as commodity sellers
assuming the more they buy, the cheaper it gets.
A friend was asked to faux marble paint one of 16 pillars in a big

restaurant. The client wanted to see the quality and negotiate the
remaining 15. My friend did the first one for $750. When the client loved
the result he asked for the remainder to be done for $250 each. My friend
replied with a quote of $1000 each and said "the first one was fun".
5 months ago
EileenStop Following Follow Eileen

Eileen MacAvery Kane • "Have fun with it" - as in "I'm giving this to you
because I think you'll have a lot of fun with it," as if graphic design has no
work involved, or skill, we're just fooling around all day.
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Nothing fancy, just something that looks good."
5 months ago
Traci Stoddard • "We want the WOW factor." "It just needs a little more
oomph."
5 months ago

Bruce Cohen • I once worked under an AD who was notorious for looking
at a layout/mechanical (this was prior to computers) and saying "This
wants to be…"
Well, one day I had more than enough and I put my ear on the layout and
said "Nope, that's not what its saying at all".
Needless to say, I was fired on that Friday. But it was worth it.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • LOL! Bruce...how wonderful that must have been! :)
5 months ago
NinaStop Following Follow Nina
Nina Gomez • "Pop".
I would like very much to never hear that something does or should "pop".
"That design is beautiful,but perhaps we can add some yellow to make it
pop"
"You know how...."
"You know how you go to a page and it has this...you know how...like it
sort of moves? Can you do that?"
5 months ago

Mark LeBay • "This is very important, it NEEDS to grab attention" ... "This
is very important, it NEEDS to grab attention" ... "This is very important, it
NEEDS to grab attention" ... "This is very important, it NEEDS to grab
attention" ... "This is very important, it NEEDS to grab attention" ... "This is
very important, it NEEDS to grab attention" ... (all of course in reference to
the same document, page, ad what have you.)
5 months ago

Bob Hoot • "Could you put that information in a burst?"
5 months ago
DavidStop Following Follow David

David Speakman • In general, it's the overall thought that we're being
"difficult". Like it's all a conspiracy. Not being able to use a logo from a
website, or your fax cover sheet. There being no resource for free stock
photography. Not being able to commercially print your powerpoint or use
your powerpoint graphics in print. For that matter, not even knowing how
to use powerpoint or any of those other programs that everyone else uses.
How about, "you're into computers, how do I connect to this projector and
then to the internet?"
5 months ago

Jay Archambeau • David Speakman and Christopher Robinson: Absolutely
(and thank you for the well needed laughs)!
5 months ago
GoyoStop Following Follow Goyo

Goyo Amaro • "That looks pretty"
5 months ago

Robert Davis • Mac -- the computer for the rest of us.
5 months ago
JoeStop Following Follow Joe

Joe Kohnen • "Could you add some glitter to it?"
5 months ago
PatriciaStop Following Follow Patricia

Patricia Fernandez • "I'll email you my logo" .... I open up the email... Its in
WORD.
5 months ago
Patricia Fernandez • "can you throw something together...".
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • Patricia, in the back of your mind, you'd like to "throw"
them something too.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • ...Vannon...a grenade :)
5 months ago

William Lam • When trying to explain the fact that design is a skilled
expertise,
the immediate response was "Every organism designs."
Traci, what should we throw for this one?
btw, that response came from a "designer", now feel any differently?
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Sounds like that 'designer' needs a brain thrown his/her
way... too many fumes??
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • Spray mount fumes
5 months ago
ClaireStop Following Follow Claire

Claire Kaler • I'm taking this layout home for my wife (cousin, nephew,
etc.) to look at. She is very talented.
5 months ago
Bob Hoot • "I thought we owned that logo. I know we didn't select that
one, but another department saw it and liked it, so they just added their
name underneath. That's OK, isn't it?"
5 months ago

Jay Archambeau • Claire,
I never minded this practice too much. It is good for me to receive the
third-party (once or twice removed) feedback. There's always something
to be said about those who aren't classically trained in design in terms of
the responses they offer. Most times, I find that unfiltered perspectives
such as these keep me grounded and designing for the real world. Just a
thought.
5 months ago

Brian Yeats • Comic sans should be outlawed.
5 months ago
Bob Hoot • Brian,
I once applied for a job as editor and creative director of an alumni
publication at a specialty journalism department at a prestigious public
university. In spite of almost 20 years as a editor, designer and publisher
of magazines, I didn't even get an interview. But the part that really hurt
— the email rejection was in Comic Sans. Ouch!
5 months ago

Bruce Cohen • @ Bob-
Cheer up, it could have been typed in Dom Casual (the ugliest typeface in
the universe).
5 months ago

Bruce Cohen • When I was freelancing, a rather new client returned some
presentation boards with this comment attached "This looks like shit".
Needles to say I dropped them like _____ , you fill in the blank!!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "spice" it up a bit. What would you prefer, habanero,
jalapeno, cayenne?
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "You need to make it more contrasty or something"
(I had a client say this. I am not making this up.)

5 months ago

Brian Yeats • I need a quote on a print job, Its four color, RGB and White.
5 months ago
Ron DavidStop Following Follow Ron David
Ron David Ben Ishay • The text is too small....make it in red...no
blue...mybe grey, WTF.. i am the Designer or you? so for what you are
paying me so much money?
can you make it this blue..no no no...more bright...more hue...more
situration...hey..it's green already...
i will never understand what peaple want from us...you pay me for my
knowladge, let me do my work quietlly ..please!!!
5 months ago

Claire Kaler • Make sure it doesn't look expensive...
5 months ago

Jennifer Kuells • "Make it POP!"
5 months ago

Bruce Cohen • Claire,
I love that post of yours, been there heard that

5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • "Make it black, bold, underlined and italicized.... with a
slight drop shadow."
5 months ago
JohannStop Following Follow Johann

Johann Rosario • Corporate Client says: "It needs to be consistent."
Meaning: repetitive, linear, safe and restrictive.
Which also means: "Take no risk." "Keep it formal." "Make sure it pleases
everyone by making it into something that meets the lowest common
denominator of satisfaction for everyone. That is; If even one person
objects to anything, then it's not being consistent."
He also likes the word consistent because it sounds knowledgeable in

meetings when it's his turn to talk. Its the perfect word for essentially
saying nothing at all, while still sounding involved. "Yes! Make it
CONSISTENT! That's it!
Just one question: Consistent with what?

5 months ago

Cindy Weinstein • A lot of my success as an art director has come from my
willingness to act as interpreter, translator and sometimes mind reader.
We are a service industry. Our clients, by definition, do not speak our
language or know how to interpret what they want into a precise request.
In my (probably not so humble) opinion - that's a huge part of our job.
That's why we meet with our clients and get to know them and their style.
"I want it to pop" just means they want that idea to be more of a focal
point. "Can you change the font to comic sans" means, "I want to try and
speak your language and that font is too plain/conservative". @Vannon -
"black, bold, underlined....etc." is just your clients way of saying that this
word or phrase is really important and they don't think the context is
communicating that.
I don't know about the others on this list, but the fact that after 25 years i
can listen to all that non-designer language and translate it in my head
and then deliver a product that looks good AND makes the client feel like
they had input and got what they wanted, is THE reason i continue to
enjoy my work and earn a decent living.
5 months ago

Vannon Chiang • So true Cindy, that makes a lot of sense. It takes some
work to interpret what the clients like and want to see.
5 months ago
William Lam • Cindy : Absolutely. That was the point I was trying to convey
in earlier posts.
It is an important part of our job to help our clients gain better

understanding of what we do. And often times we do have to do some
"translations" for them, because we are visual people and they (most
likely) are not. We need to bridge that gap.
My experience with my clients have been all fantastic. They are smart
professionals and I enjoy working with them. In fact I have found that the
higher rank my clients are in their companies, the even more appreciative
they are of what we do.
May be I have been lucky.

5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Deal w/it on a daily basis, as do we all. Still there are just
really graphically-challenged-don't-understand-the-deal people out
there. :)
5 months ago

Cindy Weinstein • @William - Well, I can't say it's been all sweetness and
light for all these years. I "paid my dues" in some pretty ugly
environments and learned what one learns during those times. For the
most part I've had very good experiences with clients that are,
themselves, decent people. I guess my point is that a huge part of our job
is to take what our clients say to us and translate it. I am imagining a
mechanic complaining because the best i can do is imitate the noise my
car makes when something is wrong.
This whole track circles back to another conversation regarding the
phenomenon of crowd sourcing and what makes our services superior to
what someone gets from a crowd sourced experience.
5 months ago

William Lam • Cindy : I am not immune, I too had been through "some
pretty ugly environments". Where those in whatever position that "did the
wrong things" were supposed to be in the same "team" working for the
same company, I do not consider them my (direct) clients.
These two types of relationship are actually very different, contrary to

what some management “gurus” suggest.
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • How about having one boss, but then again 200 of them?
Mind overload!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • I have an AWESOME boss now, but I don't work in an Ad
Agency, I work in manufacturing. One-woman dept...everyone has input,
but my say is pretty much final.
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "but my say is pretty much final."
Oh like whoever heard of a woman in THAT position?!?!?!?!

5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • :P Jeff Ma.... :P
5 months ago
Jeff Marinelli • (Jeff acts al innocent)
"Me?
Were you looking at me?
You didn't mean ME, did you?"

5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • hmmmm...now I am...feeling guilty? oh guys don't feel
that do they?
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • (Jeff whistles nonchalantly as he looks at a corner of the
ceiling)
5 months ago
JoannaStop Following Follow Joanna
Joanna Orton • We've written a detailed brief for you to follow, picked out
all the images and put together a list of the Pantone colours we like - but
you have complete creative freedom on this one, so show us what you can
do - wow us!
5 months ago
JohnStop Following Follow John

John Thomas T. • It is nice...but not convincing
5 months ago
HopeStop Following Follow Hope

Hope Reagan • make it bigger!
5 months ago

Shawn Jones • Exactly, Hope. "make it bigger!"
I always then ask, "but how MUCH bigger?" Percentages and typeface
point sizes, please.
Traci Stoddard • or maybe..."Can you remove that leaf from that lizard's
head and make him look like a zebra instead" (oh my...I believe I must be
a rap artist now...lol!)
5 months ago
ShannonStop Following Follow Shannon

Shannon Haynes • "Please resend the proof in WORD."
5 months ago
CarolineStop Following Follow Caroline

Caroline Fish • "I just don't like it."
5 months ago
LeanneStop Following Follow Leanne

Leanne Siegenthaler (Geese) • "Let's add about 2 pages of text in a 5 inch
x 5 inch area and don't change font size or leading"
5 months ago
KevinStop Following Follow Kevin

Kevin Mau • I'm hesitant to say that I've heard and felt most of these
"words" in my career. Would it mean I'm dating myself, or confiming that
we hear this shit a lot (I'll never tell).
My skin has grown pretty thick over time, but the one thing I've heard that
still always seems to make the hair curl of the back of my neck — maybe
this is just a personal issue — when you deliver creative to a client and
they happily, and in a giddy, very surprised tone say "this looks so
professional!" I know they mean well, but were they expecting something
less than professional?
5 months ago
KimStop Following Follow Kim

Kim Arden • I "just" want... AND I hate being called a Graphics the (s)
Graphics Designer. Last time I looked I was not plural.
5 months ago
Lisa SueStop Following Follow Lisa Sue

Lisa Sue Smedberg • "I'm looking for that WOW factor." You will find that
in the Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence. Ask for David...
5 months ago

Cindy Weinstein • @Lisa - i LOVE that come back! Makes me want to send
emails to craigslist want ads that are all looking for the WOW factor for
$15/hour
5 months ago

Warren Davis III • "I'll pay you once it gains speed and turns a profit"
5 months ago
NettieStop Following Follow Nettie

Nettie Lynch • "We've decided to go with that very first one..." (after 36
revisions)
5 months ago
NancyStop Following Follow Nancy
Nancy Krause • Could you do something like this? (while handing me a
lame, thoughtless, slapped together piece) - Really? NO, NO a thousand
times NO! -
5 months ago
JaneenStop Following Follow Janeen

Janeen Vitalie-Shember • i love the client who was looking for the "white
space" on a red and black brochure"
5 months ago
AnthonyStop Following Follow Anthony

Anthony DeCrescenzo • "I don't have much to spend on it now, but it could
really turn into something if it works out, so could you do it for…" (insert
mind-numbingly low price here). (No, lower.)
5 months ago
Claire Kaler • Yes, Anthony and how about doing a job for a portfolio piece!
Would someone put a roof on my house for a portfolio piece?

5 months ago

Brian Yeats • We would like to do something different this year, real classy
and gorgeous, maybe gold stamping, unusual paper, spot and dull
varnishing, multi-level embossing. BUT we have a very tight budget this
year and we need to spend less than we did last year.
5 months ago

Anthony DeCrescenzo • @claire Right. I promise I will let EVERYBODY drive
by to see your fine roof work. It'll be great for your roofing portfolio. OK?
5 months ago
RussStop Following Follow Russ
Russ Gazzara • "I like the color you used on that one and the way the R is
bigger. But the swooshy thing on the other one is better than that star-
shaped thing. Could you use the green you used in the first one and the
swooshy thing from the second one? Oh, and I really like the lettering on
the third one best. Remember, it has to fit in a square AND a circle, okay?"
5 months ago

Jeff Marinelli • "And put some penguins behind the Barca-Lounger®!"
5 months ago
Catherine AlvinoStop Following Follow Catherine Alvino

Catherine Alvino Manzione • one word -- "tweak"
it never is just a tweak.
5 months ago
Russ Gazzara • "Which on do you like?"
Russ Gazzara • "It doesn't look like the printout."
5 months ago
SallieStop Following Follow Sallie

Sallie Mills • "Use your creative juices..." Ewwwwwwwwwww!!!!! Where did
this one come from?!
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Russ...it never does. ugh!
5 months ago
SusanStop Following Follow Susan

Susan Katherine Rits • "If we have to make that title bold it will set the dev
department back 2 weeks." Oh really? "<em>" two weeks of work?
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Here's a good one...get a translation from a trusted
source, have 25,000 boxes printed and find out that that particular person
at that trusted source misinterpreted....current situation...
5 months ago
JustinStop Following Follow Justin

Justin Gotthardt • " I need a poster done, i can't find the logo/picture can
you use the one on the internet"
5 months ago
ShelleyStop Following Follow Shelley

Shelley Nelson • symmetrical...as in, "I want an edgy, contemporary look,
but please keep it symmetrical." ack!
5 months ago

Brian Barclay • "Sexy"... hate it when someone tells me to make the
website "sexy".... what, do you really want my definition of sexy on your
website?...don't think so.
5 months ago
JaykumarStop Following Follow Jaykumar

Jaykumar Suresh • 1. Something better
2. Something better
3. little bit better
4. Out of deadline
5 months ago
Mark SpencerStop Following Follow Mark Spencer

Mark Spencer Reynolds • client: [wanting me to work for free] "I'll take
care of you!"
me: [having been burnt before] "Then take care of me now."
5 months ago
YvonneStop Following Follow Yvonne

Yvonne Sletten • client: "...can you make this [100px by 100px, 72ppi]
image bigger??"
me: "I can, but don't recommend it."...
5 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Ugh...so many of these posts hit home!!!
5 months ago

Patricia Lavoie • Can you "TWEEK" that. Which means can you take my
crappy logo and fix it, without me having to pay you for your extra work.
5 months ago
LorettaStop Following Follow Loretta
Loretta Uriarte • This should only take you about an hour!
4 months ago

Brian Barclay • In regards to logos for print, "just grab it off their website."
4 months ago
CaseyStop Following Follow Casey

Casey Gibbons • I can't stand it when the AE is standing over your
shoulder and saying how much they LOVE the ad you just created, but
they feel compelled to ask you to change the typeface, make the logo
bigger, and move the text, and can you find a different image.
Exactly, what was it that you LOVE about this ad!
Boy everybody wants to be an art director.

4 months ago
Jeff Marinelli • My sister teaches art and she said you could do it.
4 months ago
TonyStop Following Follow Tony

Tony Davis • Too many to list here...but here is the most popular (for
websites), profit sharing, Client says..."I can't afford to pay a deposit right
now, but since you came highly recommended, I would be willing to share
my profits with you for a few months"!
4 months ago

Jason Witenstein-Weaver • "heighth" - it's not a word!
4 months ago

Russ Gazzara • Not a graphic design term, but I had a client once suggest
to me that we "run it up the flagpole and see it it floats." Truth.
4 months ago
ElleStop Following Follow Elle

Elle Cardenas • When I started out, I got this a lot: "We LOVE your designs;
we would love to have you work with us— but we want to see a sample of
how you would design OUR posters. ::hands over a complete spec sheet
before ANY contracts are signed/payment negotiated:: if you could just
come up with a design based on that writeup, we could decide if you'd be
a good fit."
4 months ago

Johann Rosario • "...if you could just come up with a design based on that
writeup, we could decide if you'd be a good fit."
"...and in doing so you would perfectly demonstrate to us how hopelessly

desperate you are, and how unbelievably lucky we are going to be. You
may now assume the B.O.H.I.C.A. position, thank you"
http://www.no-spec.com/faq/
4 months ago
Brian Barclay • Elle... you win... that one is the WORST, it drives me out of
my tree!
I've toyed with the idea of retorting with, "no problem, and I'd like to test
drive your health insurance, payroll and corporate discounts for the next
week...to see if it's a good fit for me."
4 months ago

Elle Cardenas • HAHA Brian— I love it. It's just so messed up and I really
hope there is less of that bs going on these days. If that ever comes up
again, I'm totally going to use your reply. Brilliant~!
4 months ago
JeannineStop Following Follow Jeannine

Jeannine Owens • takes all my restraining abilities to stare at the client all
doe-y-eyed and say "Gee, thanks" when they say this to me:
"Wow, it looks so... professional!"
4 months ago
Jay Leslie • Definitely hear that too much. Followed by "jazz it up".I'm
sorry, I don't know what that means.
4 months ago
RachelStop Following Follow Rachel

Rachel Rowan • "That's not what I had in mind." Ok well, then could you
please share what's in your mind in greater detail?!
4 months ago
KimberlyStop Following Follow Kimberly

Kimberly Hawkins • woah --how funny, that clients say the same sh*t to all
of us. The classic, must be: "think outside the box." --seriously? Wait, you
know that I'm an artist right? That all my life, I've had this 'gift' --right? and
most of us are also A.D.D (I'll speak for myself on that one) --for one day,
even for one minute, I'd CRAVE to know how it feels .... just for a second of
time... how my brain and how it would calm the blood charging through
my veins and how to look at an ordinary object and see simply that and
not think of what else it could be and how it could be used for various
purposes and then another voice simultaneously stating the industrial
designer who originally designed that object --and the color pallet should
be altered.... to quiet all of that noise... for one second to think INSIDE that
damn box.... now THAT would be something! Tell me to do that, for I
struggle with that,...
4 months ago
LorettaStop Following Follow Loretta

Loretta Uriarte • Remember "push the envelope"? That was pre-"outside
the box" and still as meaningless!
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • @Elle, Johann & Brian - yes, "spec" is hands down the the
word that we hate most.
A guy in Australia by the name of David Thorne posted an email exchange

with a client requesting spec work that had me in tears....
http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p2.html
4 months ago

Brian Barclay • Wayne... I'm dying over here... this is perfect!
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • Ya - David's my hero.
4 months ago

Daniel Couper • Please design and build me a house. I am not quite sure
of what I need, so you should use your discretion. My house should have
somewhere between two and forty-five bedrooms. Just make sure the
plans are such that the bedrooms can be easily added or deleted. When
you bring the blueprints to me, I will make the final decision of what I
want. Also, bring me the cost breakdown for each configuration so that I
can arbitrarily pick one.
Keep in mind that the house I ultimately choose must cost less than the
one I am currently living in. Make sure, however, that you correct all the
deficiencies that exist in my current house (the floor of my kitchen
vibrates when I walk across it, and the walls don't have nearly enough
insulation in them).
As you design, also keep in mind that I want to keep yearly maintenance
costs as low as possible. This should mean the incorporation of extra-cost
features like aluminum, vinyl, or composite siding. (If you choose not to
specify aluminum, be prepared to explain your decision in detail.)
Please take care that modern design practices and the latest materials are
used in construction of the house, as I want it to be a showplace for the
most up-to-date ideas and methods. Be alerted, however, that kitchen
should be designed to accommodate, among other things, my 1952
Gibson refrigerator.
To insure that you are building the correct house for our entire family,
make certain that you contact each of our children, and also our in-laws.
My mother-in-law will have very strong feelings about how the house
should be designed, since she visits us at least once a year. Make sure
that you weigh all of these options carefully and come to the right
decision. I, however, retain the right to overrule any choices that you
make.
Please don't bother me with small details right now. Your job is to develop
the overall plans for the house: get the big picture. At this time, for
example, it is not appropriate to be choosing the color of the carpet.
However, keep in mind that my wife likes blue.
Also, do not worry at this time about acquiring the resources to build the
house itself. Your first priority is to develop detailed plans and
specifications. Once I approve these plans, however, I would expect the
house to be under roof within 48 hours.
While you are designing this house specifically for me, keep in mind that
sooner or later I will have to sell it to someone else. It therefore should
have appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers. Please make sure before
you finalize the plans that there is a consensus of the population in my
area that they like the features this house has. I advise you to run up and
look at my neighbor's house he constructed last year. We like it a great
deal. It has many features that we would also like in our new home,
particularly the 75-foot swimming pool. With careful engineering, I believe
that you can design this into our new house without impacting the final
cost.
Please prepare a complete set of blueprints. It is not necessary at this time
to do the real design, since they will be used only for construction bids. Be
advised, however, that you will be held accountable for any increase of
construction costs as a result of later design changes.
You must be thrilled to be working on as an interesting project as this! To
be able to use the latest techniques and materials and to be given such
freedom in your designs is something that can't happen very often.
Contact me as soon as possible with your complete ideas and plans.
PS: My wife has just told me that she disagrees with many of the
instructions I've given you in this letter. As architect, it is your
responsibility to resolve these differences. I have tried in the past and
have been unable to accomplish this. If you can't handle this
responsibility, I will have to find another architect.
PPS: Perhaps what I need is not a house at all, but a travel trailer. Please
advise me as soon as possible if this is the case..
4 months ago

Stefanie Kenyon • I love this. I've used the house analogy to clients
myself. Would you ask an architect to design a building without giving
them the dimensions, style, inclusions?
Hey get me Frank Gehry on the phone. I want a traditional California
bungalow, Frank, not one of your arty creations. The block of land may be
2 hectares or 20 metres square, we won't know until you start building but
please get started on the plans. No, I don't think Frank would still be
listening.
4 months ago

Johann Rosario • "Thinking outside the box" should mean, "to employ
nonlinear thinking by exploring unconventional possibilities that are
beyond the problem area, and are often overlooked by self imposed
restrictions. Great ideas are nebulous by nature and subtle to the regular
crowd, so exploring in other areas of disciplines can produce great
discoveries."
"Go to a place in your imagination where such-and-such is not a problem.

What would you do different?"
All this sound good until you start saying what is actually on your mind,
and people start rolling their eyes looking at each other thinking "Is this
guy crazy, doesn't he know that "thinking outside the box" is just a figure
of speech, to see who's the idiot that fall for that? Doesn't he know that
these meeting are all about C.Y.A. (cover your ass) where you say as little
as possible and agree as much as possible, so as to not say a single word
that might make you look "uncool?"
4 months ago

Kimberly Hawkins • Well it must be said, if it wasn't for my clients, I would
be living in a box, a cardboard one...
4 months ago

Stefanie Kenyon • No. Kimberley. You'd find other clients or you
should/will. Let's face it, half (at least) of the people you meet in this life
are oxygen thieves and you'd cross the street to avoid them as people.
Same with clients. Would I spend a second of my free/social time with
them? Noooooooooo.
I 'm lucky, mine are fantastic now and some in the past were great too,
but some were madder than a cut snake. Ah, memories.
Seriously, I feel like there should be a complimentary psych degree with

this job.
The people I'm with now are great. Opinionated but know how to articulate
their ideas and listen to me, too. And I'd be happy to hang out with them.
4 months ago
JamesStop Following Follow James

James Wardell • They all ring true. 'think outside the box' ' where's the
wow' 'value added' That last one realllllly makes my skin crawl. It's come
to mean 'work for free'.
But I think the one term that has always driven me crazy, and we've all
seen it.....FREE GIFT
What other kinds of gifts are there?
Jeff Marinelli • You didn't get pizza?!?!?!?!?!
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • Or beer?!
4 months ago

Traci Stoddard • and Friday's has the best baked brie....you missed that
too?
4 months ago

Johann Rosario • Hey you're right! I should probably come up with a list of
the things I would do for pizza and beer, now that I think of it...
4 months ago
MitchStop Following Follow Mitch
Mitch Smith • From this week:
"You did a great job. Perfect. Now make the letters in the logo run
vertical."
"You'll hate me for this, but..." (I almost always end up cursing their name
sometime after they say this. They must all be prophets or something.)
"Go crazy with it." [a week later] "That's a little too 'creative' for us. We're
just a small company."
"I want what you did for that cookie company [an avalanche of sugar and
chocolate chips with two 'miners' enjoyably trapped in the mixture] for my
business [a business suit tailor]."
edit - an avalanche of pinstripes and plaid engulfing two guys in their

undies?
4 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Mitch...HURL!!
4 months ago

Elle Cardenas • http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_changes
4 months ago
StanleyStop Following Follow Stanley

Stanley Roberts • I hear; Why does it cost so much? I'm thinking; Do you
ask the plumber, electrician or other service based profession why? Short
answer; I'm doing something you can't
4 months ago

Kim Arden • OK this one... Looking for a "talented" freelance designer.
OMG, like we're all NOT talented ;)
4 months ago

Kim Arden • Wait... looking for the NOT talented freelance designer. Help!
4 months ago
Kimberly Hawkins • freakin' funny Stanley --I called + shared this with my
friend because we've both worked for a penny-pinch client and laughed
and laughed! and ya, I do ask my plumber why he's so expensive --I think
I'll stop doing that now ;-D
4 months ago
BrandonStop Following Follow Brandon

Brandon Youngblood • "Make it look like this." -- design work from
someone else, sigh...
4 months ago

Bob Hoot • "Make it look like this." (Design work from someone else.)
Reply,"Why not hire that designer?"
"Wouldn't copying the design be cheaper?"
"Not if we're sued."
"Well, it would be different."
"How?"
"I want more copy, can't afford new photography and need to do it in a
different format. I'm not sure I can afford color."
"You're right, they'll never recognize it. But why not start fresh?"
"I really like this piece and wouldn't it be cheaper if you don't have to do
any design work?"
"No."
4 months ago
Greg Gancas • "Make it pop."
"Do you have to follow brand guidelines on EVERYTHING?"
"My wife says to use Helvetica."
4 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "Make this a priority." Over all the other priorities you've
already given me that are due in a week...hmmmm.
4 months ago
JefStop Following Follow Jef

Jef Maddock • "Could you add this? I just grabbed it from someones
website."
Excuse me. Then explaining everything that is wrong with this.
4 months ago
James Howard • "Here is the picture of my logo."
-Logo sent from Camera Phone-

4 months ago
NinaStop Following Follow Nina

Nina Peci • I hate it when they say "I'm not convinced" or "I don't like it".
Please expand on that!! What is it that you"don't like"!?
And then of course there are the ones who say "Can't you just use Comic
Sans?!" That's usually when I get up and leave.
4 months ago
SteveStop Following Follow Steve

Steve Maynard • Send it with a 'bleed'. When I think bleed, I think
blood...like blood red. :)
Steve Koshlap • Art Director: "Don't spend a lot of time with this. It's just a
comp. Really quick, down and dirty!"
Me an hour later: "OK, here you go!"
Art Director: "What is this crap?"
4 months ago

Brian Barclay • Steve, the comment "Don't spend a lot of time on this, it's
just a comp," was a daily fixture in my last job. I would have a perplexed
look on my face and ask, "Well, don't you think if we spent a little time on
it and made it look professional and original the client would be more apt
to buy it?" Response: "Don't worry about it."
4 months ago

Robert Davis • After spending hours looking for just the right font to be
used for "graphic treatment" in a corporate brochure, the client says,
"That font is too hard to read."
4 months ago
JanetteStop Following Follow Janette

Janette Wright • scary that we all get the same freaky comments in
different parts of the world. why pay a designer if you want to do it
yourself....badly
4 months ago
Steve Altan • I'm an art director in fashion. The new term is perceived
value. " This t-shirt graphic needs more perceived value"- What the hell
does that mean? " It needs some rhinestones, flocking, gold foil"- Isn't that
real value? You do need to pay money for these things you're adding and
raising the price on the garment. "Whatever just add it" - Ok. Sample
comes in over budget- production team comes to me " Remove all stones,
flocking and gold foil"- After revising it 6 times- the t-shirt is dropped.
FUN!!!!
4 months ago
JessieStop Following Follow Jessie

Jessie Nunez • "I need a clean, 100-page site full of pictures, Flash, music
and bells and whistles. My budget is $250"
4 months ago
KarenStop Following Follow Karen

Karen Myers • I always cringed when, after being presented with 5 or 6
logo designs the client said, "I'm not sure what I want, but I'll know it when
I see it."
4 months ago
SeanStop Following Follow Sean

Sean van der Sluis • They send you the logo from their website, (72 DPI,
50 x 80 pixels) to make a gatefold brochure, you request high resolution
logo....
"huh?"
Ok, i need a bigger logo, the one in the email is not big enough for
printing....
"uh, ok, Il send you what we did about 2 years ago....
You get a PDF scan (96 DPI, black and white)... "its bigger, isn't it"
/me gnashes teeth......

4 months ago
SamuelStop Following Follow Samuel

Samuel Ballard Jr. • "Don't worry, this will only take a minute."
4 months ago
FergusStop Following Follow Fergus

Fergus O'Donoghue • " I love the website...it's modern, which is what we
need...the only thing missing is an animated spinning chrome email icon
on the contact page"
4 months ago
LudoStop Following Follow Ludo

Ludo Roessen • We're almost there, just needs to be freshen up a bit....
4 months ago

Steve Pinkston • Make it "edgy". What's "edgy"?
4 months ago

4 months ago
4 months ago

4 months ago

Steve Pinkston • Sorry 'bout all those postings. I'm on my iPhone and have
a severe case of fumble fingers.
4 months ago

Stefanie Kenyon • It's okay Steve. We understand. It's like designer
Tourrette's syndrome.
I can tell you what edgy is. Edgy is the great design you do that's too
"edgy" for them and they ask you to make it more conservative. They
don't want edgy, they just think that they should ask for it to show how hip
and down with design they are.
I keep getting the "it looks too expensive" and when I explain that I'm an
in-house designer so there's no extra cost and the printing is standard
offset 4 colour, they still ask me to make it look less expensive. Excuse
me, but I don't do crap and what's wrong with looking expensive,
especially when it's not. I dream of die cuts and foils but that's never going
to happen.
Someone needs to make a booklet. Partly funny, mostly informative called

" How to brief a designer on what you really, really want". I'd buy 20
copies and hand them out to my clients just to save my voice and that
slightly shrill inflection I get when they say "it's easy" and I explain that
"no, it's not, it's possible, but not easy" (and you can't do it anyway, so
how would you know). I feel like such a nag and my clients are really quite
lovely. I'm a horrible person.
4 months ago
JanetteStop Following Follow Janette

Janette Wright • do the booklet girl! and i am sure you are (not) horrible!
4 months ago
Rob HelleshøjStop Following Follow Rob Helleshøj

Rob Helleshøj Christensen • "Do you really believe yourself, that that is a
good design?"
"You're the creative one! (but I did not tell you what to do more that 'make
a cover for this')"
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • "I'll pay you quickly"...
... 90 days later "the cheques in the mail"
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • when discussing a USP and I ask "what do you want to be
known for that sets you apart from your competition?" They answer
"quality".
How unique - now there's a concept they can really take ownership of.
4 months ago
FergusStop Following Follow Fergus

Fergus O'Donoghue • The design needs to be slick and professional. See
attached link.
(the link is to an ancient DIY amateur site with badly cropped images and
spelling errors)
4 months ago
EmmanuelStop Following Follow Emmanuel

Emmanuel Turner • Not exactly design related but I once had a family
friend offer me $300 to build a programme that was a pixel-for-pixel copy
of an older version of MS-Publisher. He had brought in bulk some cheap
training materials for MS-Publisher, not thinking that it mattered it was an
older version. He was trying to resell the materials and was getting a lot of
returns. Lol.
4 months ago

Emmanuel Turner • Client: My budget is $X.
Me: Okay, I can work with that, but there will be only time for one round of
revisions
Client: Fine because I'm not going to pay for work that isn't what I want so
we only need one round of revisions.
4 months ago
Emmanuel Turner • Client: What do you mean I pay $X per hour for
meetings. It's just talking, not working!
4 months ago

Claire Kaler • Just got this one the other day...
"The headline has to run at the top of the page (almost touching the top)
and keep all the white space below it."
No fooling, empty page!
4 months ago

Anthony DeCrescenzo • @claire - does that client pay? want to pass them
off?
4 months ago
MauroStop Following Follow Mauro

Mauro Toledo • "I'm a visionary. You need to follow my lead."
4 months ago
LoriStop Following Follow Lori

Lori Ravnsbeck • make it pop
4 months ago

Steve Koger • The one I get the most is "Can't you just.... Blah, Blah, it will
only take you a minute. We are out of money."
4 months ago
GinaStop Following Follow Gina

Gina PRESTON • Day one: "do it this way"
Day two: "no do it another way"
Day three: no, go back to the way you did it the first time"
Etc.
4 months ago
JackStop Following Follow Jack
Jack Rotoli • not a term, but a sentence that has become dear to my heart:
"I can't afford to pay you, but you'll get plenty of more work from this."
4 months ago

Robert Davis • "You see, an advertisement is like real estate except that
instead of square footage, you have column inches. The more stuff you
can get into an ad, the better the return on your investment." (insert
condescending tone)
4 months ago

John Lepp • Can you "sexify" this? Uuuhhhhhh....
4 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Hey, you can design right? I want you to do this video
footage and edit it now...
4 months ago

Cecilia Humphrey • Laughs! I love some of these. Have to admit I was
writing a description for a case study and wrote ' the clean design' then
deleted it thinking, 'I'm so sick of that word.' One that I am tired of hearing
and is so over-used is branding. Branding this, branding that, develop the
brand. Does everything have to be branded?!!
4 months ago

Cecilia Humphrey • Another pet peeve of mine, and I know this is sort of
off the subject here, is when clients send you copy With Every Word In The
Sentence Capitalized Because Every Word Is So Important. You then have
to show them that emphasizing every word, diminishes the emphasis on
words that truly should be capitalized.
4 months ago
Brian Yeats • I had a client who asked for a line of type to be double
bolded (what ever that is), italicized, underlined and while your at it make
it red.
4 months ago

Gina PRESTON • @ Cecilia Humphrey -I was thinking the same thing this
morning about "branding" - enough already! LOL. I often wonder if those
who throw the word around know what it really means.
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • "branding" is a hard word to replace and integral part of
what we do. But it does get misused and many who throw the word around
loosely only have a vague idea of its full meaning. But to answer Cecilia's
rhetorical question, yes, everything does need to be branded. Selling the
product and not the brand promotes the competition as well as our client.
Christopher Stets MA., BA., Cr. Photog., CPP. • Not a term, but the one that
makes me nut's "We don't have it in the budget to pay you at this time,
but nice job"
4 months ago
ScottStop Following Follow Scott

Scott Adcock • This post is awesome and just made my day - really
needed some camaraderie in this today. laughed all the way through.
Thanks :)
4 months ago

Laura Gonzalez Perez • It will only take you a couple of minutes, won't
it?....
4 months ago

Laura Gonzalez Perez • It is an easy assignment...I want this text here,
that there...and this in the other side but it has to
be...and...and...but...but...but...you know what I mean, don't you?
4 months ago
Thomas Snoreck • "Can you fix this?"
When you have a failing foundation, you don't remodel.

4 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "But...I really like Comic Sans!!!" (choke, barf!!!)
4 months ago
CharlesStop Following Follow Charles

Charles Nelson • Papyrus nuf said!
4 months ago
Aubrie AnnStop Following Follow Aubrie Ann

Aubrie Ann Glennon • It's a quick resize
4 months ago
SeanStop Following Follow Sean

Sean van der Sluis • "I want it so that when someone opens their mail, the
Jpeg should immediately open up full-screen, with crisp sharp text an lots
of images in a high resolution, but it must be less than 200Kb, because I
don't want to have the recipient wait... oh and by the way, it must not
show as an attachment......"
4 months ago
Atiya.Stop Following Follow Atiya.

Atiya. Zaidi • wow, seriously there should be a like or love button here :)
the gospel truth on clients being creative.
4 months ago
BrindaStop Following Follow Brinda

Brinda Gita • "Think out of box", clients dont realise what they are asking
"Think little creative guyz"
Ï can only send a jpeg image of my logo to add on to the hoarding"and
when the logo is pixelating they tell i dint expect this from you
"Hire a copy writer"
4 months ago

Brian Yeats • Wayne is right, branding is not problem it is just part of the
process, Micro-Managing the creative process is the bigger issue.
4 months ago

Bob Hoot • "I took these photos with the camera on my photo. I think
they're pretty good. Let's use them in your design."
4 months ago

Wayne Rowe • Genrally speaking, the bigger the company and the more
experienced the client contact is, the more they ask me what to do. The
smaller and less experienced the client is, the more likely they are to tell
me what to do and the less satisfied they are with the results. Why can't
they see that?
4 months ago

Robert Davis • @Wayne Ditto. The Fortune 500 co's with their highly
experienced Product Managers and Marketing Directors are far, far better
and easier to work with than some "mom and pop" retail chain...which can
be a major pain in the rear. They want to play artist with the designs and
they nickel and dime the charges as if it is coming out of their own wallet
instead of a well conceived marketing budget. They tend to want author's
alterations after the work has been approved in stages. Then the son or
cousin chimes in. lol.
4 months ago
VictoriaStop Following Follow Victoria

Victoria Adams • Can you back-save the files to an older version, provide
.jpgs, EPS and tiffs in low res and high res, in colour, black and white, and
grayscale, with tagline and without, transparent gifs, and size as an
outlook signature. . .
4 months ago

Kimberly Hawkins • Victoria, you forgot to add: "and can you place in a
WORD file"
4 months ago

Traci Stoddard • No Kimberly..,,Publisher! lol :)
4 months ago
QuinnStop Following Follow Quinn

Quinn Ianniciello • "I trust you to make it SHARP"... (In all caps, every
time)
Inigo Laugermann • "Make sh*t shine!" and "It's amazing what these
computers can do these days" as if some button was pressed and *POOF*,
out came the requested work.
4 months ago
LeonorStop Following Follow Leonor

Leonor Graça Moura • "These fonts are too expensive. Can´t you just draw
some letters yourself? It should take you an hour or so..."
4 months ago
TomStop Following Follow Tom

Tom McCartin • There's nothing I hate more than "Maybe you could play
with it a little and show me what you come up with".
We don't "play" with the client's work. It's a serious business.

4 months ago
TrevorStop Following Follow Trevor

Trevor Swart • "You know, add some sizzle"
4 months ago

James Skidmore • • "There's too much white space", no... there's never
enough.
• "Make that smidge larger", sure let me get out my smidge ruler.
4 months ago
ZakStop Following Follow Zak
Zak Krispis • We don't have copy yet, no title, just design the ad and we
will give you the copy next week!
4 months ago

Emmanuel Turner • You'll get the content later = you get it the day before
the deadline
4 months ago

Mike Pascale • "It looks busy."
The term is supposed to be "cluttered". "Busy" is an active verb. PEOPLE
are busy--not layouts! :-)
4 months ago
DiahannStop Following Follow Diahann
Diahann Lohr • "No one really cares about design. Just lay it out and send
it to print."
"And charge me less."

3 months ago

Gina PRESTON • Thought you all might appreciate this little video
http://ginapreston.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/we-write-ads-or-people%EF
%BB%BF-die-its-that-simple/
3 months ago

Brian Maddox • "Oh and we need social media, where can we put that?"
3 months ago

Brian Yeats • Don't you have lots of CD's with stock images that I can use,
of cource it's free right. I always tell them that I didn't see any in my
breakfast cerial as the prize this morning
3 months ago
ChelseaStop Following Follow Chelsea

Chelsea Windlinger • "Make it look more designey" What's designey?
3 months ago
PerryStop Following Follow Perry

Perry Diavatopoulos • "There's a blank space over here on the layout, can
you put something there, it looks empty... I don't know you're the
expert?!"
3 months ago
CorinneStop Following Follow Corinne

Corinne Barnes Delargy • As said to me yesterday 'Yes I like it, but can
you just try it with a great big triangle behind - just to give it a little lift'
(VOMIT!!!!)
There's too many 'marketing chickens' walking around with bad taste and
this has a detrimental effect on our fabulous designs!!! GRRRRRR!!!!!
I see crappy graphics everywhere - on vans - in magazines etc. People

with bad taste should be shot. SHOT I SAY!!!!!
OK I'm done now....

3 months ago
SampathStop Following Follow Sampath

Sampath Sri Warnakula • "We will bring BIG works for you in future, so we
need the best price"
3 months ago

Melissa Benoit • Can you put me a "Dynamic" or "Modern" font in there?
Usually they mean "Italic"....
3 months ago

Emmanuel Turner • @sampath - I hate that. If you ever do get the big
work they'll want to lowball you even further.
3 months ago
NilsStop Following Follow Nils

Nils Eikelenboom 林胜利 • I always use COMIC SANS in Word™, so what's
the problem using it?
3 months ago
MarcusStop Following Follow Marcus

Marcus Romero • "The Clients are visual people." which in fact means they
lack the ability to visualize anything, unimaginative and visionless.
3 months ago

Tony Davis • Pantone Matching System...Clients say..."must match our
PMS Colors".
3 months ago

Tony Davis • I can get the PMS colors really close but there are so many
variables to printed colors especially on different colored backgrounds. So
to explain to the client, I end up printed their PMS colors on white, black
and then embedded on the design piece and it just take so much more
time.
3 months ago
luiz henriqueStop Following Follow luiz henrique

luiz henrique padovan de moraes • Nils, your answer "Nils Eikelenboom 林
胜利 • I always use COMIC SANS in Word™, so what's the problem using
it?", is a worldwide issue!hehehe
I am an art director in Brazil and at once a week I heard this kind of

bullshit.
or, could you make my Logo bigger!
the newest was a client asking for "Petroleum Blue Marine" to the color of
the title.
and what fuck is "petroleum Blue marine", could you at lest e-mail me a
sample, a reference!
3 months ago
Emmanuel Turner • @Marcus: "The Clients are visual people." means they
have their own ideas so you get to be a Mac Operator while they art direct
you. Normally their ideas are multi-coloured vomit pastiched onto paper.
Oh, and comic sans.
3 months ago
PriyaStop Following Follow Priya

Priya Kapoor • How about 'wow' and 'jazzy' as design briefs!
3 months ago

Nils Eikelenboom 林胜利 • "I already made >everything in Word™< for you,
so you're almost done, right?"
@luiz henrique ,it's not entirely a global thing; lucky enough no comic sans
for Chinese ;-)
3 months ago

Jeff Nissen • Client: "Change this, this, this and this. Move that. Take that
out and make that bigger, add this, put that over there and this here,
move that down and let's see what that looks like." Changes made,
presented to client again and client says "What do you think?" What do I
think?! I think you just "art directed" the ad into the sh!tter! That's what I
think.
3 months ago
MichaelStop Following Follow Michael

Michael Burke • "I need you to pretty this up for me." It especially irritates
me when a CSR who thinks they know everything about being a Graphic
Design tells me this, because they designed a logo once for their cousin.
Everybody is a Graphic Designer these days. The VP of the company I work
for has Photoshop on his Macbook, so he is also an expert.
3 months ago

Nils Eikelenboom 林胜利 • "Can you send me the original files so I can
change them my self?"
"You sent me Illustrator files but Word™ says it can't open them"
3 months ago
JoanneStop Following Follow Joanne
Joanne Lille • How about..."I knew you guys didn't have the time to do this
brochure in-house, so we went outside and had it done by a friend of
mine's buddy"... and when we received the files for print, they were all low
res done in Illustrator - that when recreated for print would cost over
$4,000 in Getty images. The comment back to us was "oh, he's a "Concept
Designer"..... a what??? How do we get that gig?
3 months ago
TimothyStop Following Follow Timothy

Timothy O'Keeffe • "Fonts... What Fonts are you using ...."
I design with TYPE not Fonts....
#2 are you the "Graphix Designers" guy
#3 SO you do the "desktop publish" stiff
grrrrrr
3 months ago

Steve Altan • Here's a bit of insanity that actually worked out in my favor
at the end. Client: "We need to design 5 images for a trade show booth 3
feet wide by 6 feet high @ 300dpi and we have to send it to the printer at
actual size". Me: "That makes the file size of each about 2-3gigs. I don't
have enough RAM to do it". Client: "We'll get you more RAM". My MAC now
has 14 gigs of RAM and a Solid State hard drive. SCORE!!! Still took a while
to finish.
3 months ago

Russ Gazzara • Try real hard to hang on to that client, Steve.
3 months ago
AdrienneStop Following Follow Adrienne

Adrienne Wilkerson • Client: "I just have a few minor changes."
Translation: The 'minor' changes effect core design elements and I might
as well start over.
3 months ago
CorinneStop Following Follow Corinne

Corinne Barnes Delargy • Adrienne - that is a CLASSIC!!!!!!
3 months ago
Jill LeVan • And, of course, those changes are "easy, easy" and will "only
take you a few minutes."
3 months ago

Jack Rotoli • I was commissioned to do a t-shirt for a day camp. They
wanted white water rafters, mountain climbers and mountain bikers, which
I did. I submitted my rough, it was approved, I did the finish, except for
some 'minor' edits it was ready to be printed. "The six helmeted and life
jacketed people in the raft... take three out, make them kids, ethnically
diverse and make the raft a canoe. make the guy n the bike a girl and take
out the mountain climber all together, we don't do this at the day camp."
I should also put out there that this was LOOOONG before the days of
computers. The illustration was done manually in pen and ink and the
colors were film cut in amberlith. Does anybody even use that stuff
anymore?
Needless to say, I had to start over...
Russ Gazzara • When did AA come to mean "Always Arguable?"
3 months ago
TimothyStop Following Follow Timothy

Timothy O'Keeffe • IN Publishing AA = Authors Alteration ....billable
EA = Editors Alteration.... could be billable,
3 months ago

Steve Koshlap • ...and in my past, PE- Printer's Error. Not billable, and one
too many of those will get you OTD- Out The Door!
3 months ago

Emmanuel Turner • PE reminds me of my favourite industry insider
acronym from my days in IT. PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard
And Chair.
3 months ago
RobinStop Following Follow Robin

Robin Sheehan • "Um, no, that's not what I really wanted. It's too... too...
You know? it is. What do YOU think?"
Sir, I just showed you what I thought. (grits teeth, smiles)

3 months ago
FarahStop Following Follow Farah

Farah K. • "Where is the background?"
" I don't like the empty spaces"
"Can u make the type bigger to fill up the 0.5cm margins u left on each
side?"
"If I knew how to work on photoshop I can finish your 6 hour work in 5
minutes"
"I do not know what I want, but I want something creative." after long
hours of work and finally a client who appreciates our need to express our
crazy ideas in design..."I said I wanted something creative. This is not the
style that I am looking for. maybe you should try designing something like
the logo I designed on paint. Lets paint the town red!" with a wink. Oh I
will paint the town red alright....right after i slaughter u!
Ok I sounded crazy with that last comment...But hey...we r discussing

terms that drive graphic designers crazy...aren't we? ;)
3 months ago

Farah K. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCjcwBGQtiw
3 months ago
Farah K. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2u_zvV0xW0
3 months ago

Farah K. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTpzgAW5NA
3 months ago
AratiStop Following Follow Arati

Arati Devasher • "My daughter is very good at art, you know. This is what
she thought would work. Can you make it look like you did it?" Actual
client comment. Said daughter 9 years old.
Any ideas on what graphic design term we could use to define this
situation?
3 months ago
BetsyStop Following Follow Betsy
Betsy Pulick • I agree... I would like almost all of them. lol
3 months ago
JamieStop Following Follow Jamie

Jamie Manship • I come up with the ideas and you (graphic designers)
make it look pretty.
3 months ago
nishStop Following Follow nish

nish wickramasinghe • The printer is sitting downstairs waiting for a disk.
3 months ago
nishStop Following Follow nish

nish wickramasinghe • Can you make the font more readable, maybe
Arial?
3 months ago
SuzanneStop Following Follow Suzanne

Suzanne Millius • "We're almost there........."
3 months ago

Robert Kiesow • "Now make it pretty." That tops my list for most
demeaning comment (although I realize it often stems from a lack in
knowledge than a lack of respect).
3 months ago
JeanStop Following Follow Jean

Jean T. • Anything with the words "Publisher file" included.
3 months ago
JeanStop Following Follow Jean
Jean T. • I don't mind 'make it pretty' it's shorthand for 'work your magic'
hehe.
3 months ago

Christopher Porter • Never thought by starting this thread I would have
unleashed the pain and horror that has been shared. It's like I broke the
seventh seal and the apocalypse is now upon us.
3 months ago
RyanStop Following Follow Ryan

Ryan Gibboney • this time of the year I love: "Can you add a holly border
and make it look festive... really make it pop for the holidays!"
Ryan Gibboney • I consider the people that we work with VIPS....Visually
Illiterate People. You just have to remember that most of the time they
don't know that they don't know!
3 months ago
KeriStop Following Follow Keri
Keri Saunders • I think if I hear the term " at the end of the day" one more
time, I am going to puke. Also, when the client's daughter designs the logo
- oye.
3 months ago
CherylStop Following Follow Cheryl

Cheryl Desjardin • "I like the way the colors look in the pdf on my monitor.
Why can't the printed piece look exactly like that?"
3 months ago

Jennifer Hoffecker • Can you make it in Word
3 months ago
BetsyStop Following Follow Betsy

Betsy Pulick • "in my minds eye" i was seeing...
3 months ago
ArianaStop Following Follow Ariana

Ariana Toro • "Just make it 'look pretty'..."
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
3 months ago
KristinStop Following Follow Kristin

Kristin McCurry • "Jazz it up"
3 months ago
RogerStop Following Follow Roger

Roger Lambert • I want it to look brilliant, like Randolph Scott on a
Saturday afternoon.
3 months ago
Farah K. • Christopher, it is quite clear that graphic designers worldwide
share the same horrors..I think it is about time we fix this..or at least
try..our job is no different than that of a physician prescribing medicine to
their patient..we prescribe designs to better communicate ideas..we r just
not taken as seriously as a physician! The patient in our domain of work is
not the client.. It is their business! They come 2 us 4 solutions to lead a
healthier business..
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Farah...and they don't want to foot the bill, they just want
to pay the price of a box of Band-aids.
3 months ago
GaryStop Following Follow Gary

Gary Clarke • Make my logo BIGGER.
3 months ago
Christopher Porter • Do any of you ever rebuttal any of these asenine
remarks and comments from the client? If so I'd love to hear the witty
comebacks anyone has made.
3 months ago

Farah K. • Hahahaha well when they want to do so they can go the free
health center..they will get the box of band aids there..for free.. But the
box of band aids we provide is much more efficient.. They want the cheap
stuff.. They can have it.. But it is their loss!
3 months ago

Farah K. • Yes chris.when a client told me he could do my 6 hrs work in 5
min I said: u know wut here u can take my seat. I'll take 5. And left the
office. I came back after 5 min. And he was just standing there silent! He
didn't say a word as I worked. When he finally talked I said: I can't hear u.
He repeated what he said. I looked at him and said: I didn't say I didn't
hear u! I said I can't hear u! I was so pissed that day. He is still my client.
Except now he doesn't interfere in wut I know better :)
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Yes, as a matter of fact I did recently, Christopher. I was
asked to do a project 'for a price we could both feel comfortable with' with
the art due in a week. I found out his comfort zone was lower than mine. I
wished him a Happy Holidays and good luck finding someone else, and
when you want great work, don't forget to budget for it next year. :) It felt
great!
3 months ago

Farah K. • Traci I love ur last comment
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Farah...and so many times have I wanted to do what you
did. Bravo!
3 months ago
Russ Gazzara • Although not particularly witty, this is one of my favorite
comebacks:
• Good, fast, and cheap -- pick two.

3 months ago
TamiStop Following Follow Tami

Tami Melamed • "I'm not a designer....but i made a sketch in powerpoint.
Now all i need from you is to make it in your photoshop.... so....actually
you don't charge me for more then 1 hour work...is it?
3 months ago
JaredStop Following Follow Jared

Jared Lantzman • "This one is easy." While asking for your assistance on a
particular project, the client seems to diminish what it is you do at the
same time.
Jared Lantzman • I also like "add a starburst!" I mean they make tasty
treats at least...
3 months ago
CandiceStop Following Follow Candice
Candice Jacobus • Put it in BOLD
3 months ago
ChristianStop Following Follow Christian

Christian Van Schepen • "Isn't this design nice? My daughter made it"
3 months ago
JobStop Following Follow Job

Job de Graaf • Change the yellow to blue, or blue to yellow, etc. Maybe a
good idea to start a thread how to say politely / find other phrases for P""""
O"F
3 months ago
DeborahStop Following Follow Deborah

Deborah Mitchell • "Don't spend a lot of time of this."
3 months ago

David Peters • make it pop! uggh
3 months ago
ArthurStop Following Follow Arthur

Arthur Petrosian • please "reproduce, replicate, duplicate, cut & paste"
this "template" all while you "think outside the box"
3 months ago
Sarah E.Stop Following Follow Sarah E.

Sarah E. Jurecka • "Make it jazzy." And of course the ever-popular, "this is
great, but just center and bold it".
3 months ago
GarethStop Following Follow Gareth
Gareth Coxon • 'You know what to do' :)
3 months ago
PeteStop Following Follow Pete

Pete Aguanno • "Make the logo bigger!"
3 months ago
RoyStop Following Follow Roy

Roy Lindaas • Make it pop!...that my favorite
3 months ago
maryStop Following Follow mary

mary arneson • "I need this color to match exactly...the color name is
maroon"
3 months ago
JanisStop Following Follow Janis

Janis Olson • I'm not a designer (writer here) but I have two pet peeves:
the age-old request to "Make it pretty" and...people that think typography
is a particular font.
3 months ago
StaceyStop Following Follow Stacey

Stacey Yongue • Ad rep: "Thanks for getting this proof to me so quickly,
but I don't think the client's going to like this."
Well, Einstein, let's see...

First, I don't work quickly for you, I work quickly for the client. Second, why
don't we let the CLIENT decide whether he/she likes the design? The
speaking-for-the-client-before-the-client-sees-the-proof thing drives me to
the bottle at 10am. Arrrrgh!
3 months ago

Stacey Yongue • If I get "add a starburst" one more time...agree totally,
Jared!!!!
3 months ago
JanisStop Following Follow Janis

Janis Olson • "Make it bigger"
3 months ago

Stacey Yongue • Sales rep who designed the ad in her copious spare time
(thought you we're supposed to be s-e-l-l-i-n-g ads!): "Increase the font
size from 8 to 9 points and send me another proof..."
Reset ad for 4c, leave font at 8 points, send proof.

3 months ago

James Kempster • "I know I said the drop-dead Armageddon every-one-
loses-their-jobs deadline was yesterday, and the printer has already sent
us the final proofs, but we need to add this eulogy written by a trustee for
a donor from the 1960s who died two years ago."
"A consultant told me white space is very important...and branding...so
make sure there’s a lot of white space and branding."
"What do you think: should we twitter?"

3 months ago
JolmaStop Following Follow Jolma

Jolma R. • Love this post!
John Wilson • Looks great! Let's send it around the office and get some
feedback.
3 months ago

John Wilson • What about that white space around the logo.
3 months ago

John Wilson • My kid took the product shots, can you clean them up.
3 months ago
DmitriyStop Following Follow Dmitriy

Dmitriy Baronov • Great topic. My favorite 3, and by favorite I mean the
ones that irritate me most:
"That should only take you a couple of minutes to change..."

Oh, so you're not planning to count this as a paid revision then?
"Why can't you use my PowerPoint / Word files to re-design them?"

FYI, these aren't design programs, and different versions of these
programs will actually make your files look different.
"I need it yesterday."

Then you should have come to me two days ago!
3 months ago
DanStop Following Follow Dan

Dan Ringelberg • We like these 2, so combine them.
3 months ago
GuyStop Following Follow Guy

Guy Smalley • "This should be an easy project to do" code: Low budget
"My wife/ husband thought it would look good this way" one to one
direction, committee discision
Why is their plenty of time for the project when bidding it but the deadline
always changes after the money is set?
holding on to the roughs for days and then dropping it on me to complete

on set deadline.
3 months ago
RonStop Following Follow Ron

Ron Hoopes • "Hey, you're artsy, can you do me a logo? Are you okay to
trade it out?"
First of all "artsy" is almost a four letter word. And second, "do me a logo,"
...really? Third, trading for pickled vegetables or pest control or whatever
you do does not pay the bills.
3 months ago
GuyStop Following Follow Guy

Guy Smalley • Hey Ron, I have bartered for a john Deer tractor, vacations,
Rifles, Limo services, Commercial refrigerator, Dinners, tree service,
sometimes it works lol but not aways
3 months ago
Stacey Yongue • Had a client once who wanted to trade wine for design.
Not a bad deal (it was good wine!) but in the end it was a major devalue of
my time and talent. Now if the client had harvested, pressed, fermented,
and bottled the wine personally, that would be a different story. ;)
3 months ago

Lori Mims • "What do you mean it's not legal to use this photo? It's on the
cover of the magazine I bought and it's a public magazine."
3 months ago
JonStop Following Follow Jon

Jon Lehre • "Can you add this <insert element here> and see how we like
it? If it doesn't work, then we'll just take it out again."
Drives me mad.
3 months ago
Lori Mims • In addition to John Wilson's comment: "My kid drew this
awesome logo and I want to use this instead!"
3 months ago

John Wilson • Was I supposed to proof this before it went to print?
3 months ago

Michael Gouveia • The best question ever came from a corporate client's
marketing manager who's primary colour is green:
"Why did you use green?"

3 months ago
Michael Gouveia • There's blank space here. Can we fill it up with
something?
3 months ago
JoelleStop Following Follow Joelle

Joelle Stevens • I like this from concept A, this from concept B, this from
concept C. Can you put them all together for me? (good thing they were
all meant to be different approaches)
I like white space.

(or opposite...)
we need more copy until there is no white space
Can you make the copy larger?

3 months ago

Kimberly Coles • What a great topic! One of the things I will never
understand is why people interchange the words... concept (big idea) and
comp (page layout of a proposed design).
3 months ago
DentonStop Following Follow Denton
Denton Pendergast • "play with it"....
3 months ago
JustinStop Following Follow Justin

Justin Gotthardt • "can you fix this pdf, I need this block of type to go here
and this one to go there. What do you mean you will have to rebuild it, we
are just moving type around"
3 months ago

David Speakman • "Can't you just Photoshop it?" ...last I checked,
Photoshop wasn't a verb. And there is no button in photoshop that
changes the shirt from a long sleeve to a short sleeve, the color from
green to brown and adds your logo on the chest.
3 months ago
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3 months ago
DeanStop Following Follow Dean

Dean Harris • I had a someone measure the art, with a ruler, on their
monitor to tell me how big it was
3 months ago

Lori Mims • "Can you make this picture of raw chicken look cooked?"
3 months ago

Lori Mims • "Just squish it in there. I don't care if the picture is
proportionate."
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • 'make a raw chicken looked cooked???" seriously Lori??
Wow!!!
3 months ago

Christopher Porter • Alright everybody I think Lori has taken it to a whole
other level. She holds the number one outrageous thing as far as I'm
concerned. And Lori what are you doing in here anyway? Shouldn't you be
frying that chicken?
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • LOL! Wow!!!! Christopher...great discussion as many
have already said :) I agree w/Dean....take everything and write a book. If
you're not willing to...I will if you turn over the rights to me and then tell
me how much white space is on the page, and how the starburst needs to
be placed! :)
3 months ago
SudhirStop Following Follow Sudhir

Sudhir Bagwe • Most of my client would say, it should look different, think
out of the Box, I have never figured out where is the box is it in your mind
that you are thinking of.
3 months ago
SummerStop Following Follow Summer

Summer Patterson • friend looking for free design help/co-worker/client
says: "can you just...." (insert anything that takes 2+ hrs that they seem
to think should only take seconds)
3 months ago
CharleneStop Following Follow Charlene

Charlene Prosser • (no words.. just standing behind me and watching over
my shoulder)
3 months ago

Charlene Prosser • this thread is great ... there are more like this at
http://clientsfromhell.net/ (one of my favorite "i-dont-feel-so-alone" blogs)
3 months ago

Charlene Prosser • the current post probably doesn't leave the greatest
first impression, but i think that the rest of the site (contributions by
readers) does share the same humor from this thread.. some profane and
extreme, but most are pretty funny!
3 months ago

Robert Davis • New client receives faxed design layout after I worked an
all-nighter to get it finished. He calls at 8:00 am and screams at me and
asks if I am drunk...he was irate, claiming that the layout was the wrong
size...calling me an idiot and everything else in the book. I assured him
that it was the proper size on my end. He again told me I was drunk. I
immediately drove to his office with the original layout. It turns out that his
fax machine had altered the size.
3 months ago

Joelle Stevens • I love this post.
This comment is about brand taste level...
I was freelancing this year for a client who had a new and innovative
sunglass product. I worked with a writer to come up with relevant and
engaging names for this niche market. We were also asked to present
literal names too (set up for failure). When the client was reviewing the
names (by committee) they said "these names are too sophisticated for
our product" so they chose a generic name that was literally aiming to hit
the customer over the head:(
My point is that why wouldn't you want your very expensive product to
appear sophisticated? Dumbing it down is brand failure.
3 months ago
David Peters • There's too much white space going on in here. The client
paid for full-color and wants to see more “bang for his buck.” Can we fill it
up with something?
3 months ago
LaureleaStop Following Follow Laurelea

Laurelea Conrad • Why so much empty space? Let's make the columns
bigger and add this and this and this. You've got the room.
3 months ago
JaninaStop Following Follow Janina

Janina Zylinska • "We're still not sure what our company name will be, but
you just keep on working on that logo #3 (out of five options I prepared
with the name they said before)." -> W.H.A.T?!?
"Make it more dynamic." (but this one may be just Polish equivalent for
pop)
love the thread btw

3 months ago
Laura O'Reilly • "Love the logo, but the name did not clear.... that's a small
revision, right?"
3 months ago

Dean Harris • with all the grief they give us,
I find if they pay on time, and the check clears,
all is forgiven ; )
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • A check that clears? What is that Dean? (kidding, but
have been there).
3 months ago
Dean Harris • Happy New Year Traci : )
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Happy New Year to you as well Dean and everyone else!
3 months ago

Mike Kelly • Your fired.
That's a term that gives me a bad case of the barks.

3 months ago

Christopher Porter • On the flip side of that "Your fired" has been a
welcomed comment for me sometimes.
3 months ago

Mike Kelly • Good point, Christopher. I prefer "you can take this job and
stick.....well you know.
It's true what you say. Getting kicked out opens new doors.
3 months ago
JolmaStop Following Follow Jolma

Jolma R. • Here is another one, "Center it".
3 months ago
DominikaStop Following Follow Dominika

Dominika Marcisz • "Can you send us a jpeg of that file." (Turns out they
wanted a high res TIFF two days later).
"Can you make that logo look more 'realistic'."
"It needs more punch."
When designers justify their visual solutions by saying they wanted them
to look more 'simple'.
3 months ago

David Peters • "These sketches are great! I especially like this one here.
How long will it take for you to make me a logo out of this?" Give me a few
days I say, to create a simplified look of this idea and supply you with a
usable vector file.
Unknowingly to me the client took a photocopy of my thumbnails and had

his own "graphic designer" scan it (GIF) and reproduce it on store gift
cards. When I finished the line art, he showed me his gift cards and said
"NO, I need it to look EXACTLY like this!"
You can imagine my reaction.

3 months ago
PatrickStop Following Follow Patrick

Patrick M. Kronin • It needs more "EYE CANDY"
3 months ago
Jennifer Jenkins • I just love it when people refer to graphic design as
“making pretty pictures”...
as if design (and what I do for a living) as no real value.
It puts a smile on my face every time before I roll my eyes.
3 months ago

Claire Kaler • Actual quote off of email:
Please send me just the logo with the tag line way below.
And as snazzy as it can look if it goes to an outside printer. Or on my web
site.
3 months ago
AlStop Following Follow Al

Al Lemieux • Swirls. "Can you put more swirls in there?"
3 months ago
Stacey Yongue • Actual Ad rep question, in my email right now: "Could you
please clear up the ink smear above the girl on the right (in the picture
submitted). Not sure if it was on the picture it self or if it from constructing
the ad. Please check this."
Really? What would I have to gain from adding an ink smear to a photo?
I'm busy enough without creating extra work for myself! :)
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Oh Jennifer...I have termed that in my place...
'Gee...you don't need my input on that because all I do is make pretty

pictures.'
and then I give them the 'stare'....

3 months ago
lucStop Following Follow luc

luc LEBRAULT • Nice to hear that english advert terms are as brilliant as
french ones!!!
In Paris you will find quite often 'classe popu' ; it's a bit as if you'd say 'has
to suit both working and upper classes' : very easy!
'sexy' is also very used, waitin' for the 'sexy classe popu'... : you can't
imagine how many sexy things you're passing! I was myself able to work
on sexy perfumes, sexy cd spots, and even sexy food in my carreer...
what are the sexiest things you've been able to work on?
3 months ago

Steve Dwyer • a client once said about a corporate ID project.....'ive done
the hard work for you, this is what I want its in word'
3 months ago

Jason Daniel • "I quite like this design that my cousin's, nephew's, sister's
dog did for me and it only cost me £50 and a packet of jelly tots, do you
think you could do something better for a similar budget?"
AAAAAAAARGH! A bit like http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=HyTpzgAW5NA
3 months ago

Jack Rotoli • A former coworker found out I was an artist and asked if I
would be willing to do an album cover for his band. "Sure" I said then
inquired about his music style and what look he and his band was looking
for.
Now, this guy was a contractor and I know he was making a nice salary.
When I inquired about his budget he said, "Oh we can't afford to pay you.
We haven't gotten any paying gigs yet. That's what the album was for;
promotion."
He never spoke to me again after I answered, "I can't afford to work for
you."
3 months ago

Christopher Walker • "Think outside the box, but don't go bleeding edge."
"Why is the blue on the brochure different than the blue on the monitor?" I
REALLY like the first one (After 3 revisions). You mean I have to PAY
YOU????
3 months ago

Brian Yeats • I always love when I get asked "when is the last minute I can
get the copy to you and still have my material ready for my big meeting",
and they always reply that my answer is ridiculous.
3 months ago
aAronStop Following Follow aAron
aAron Soderberg • "Can't you just put a white outline on the type...?" "This
should be easy for you..."That's a little too creative for us..."
3 months ago

Patrick M. Kronin • I always get a kick out of these creative rants and I too
enjoy the slam. I've seen where making fun of stupid client commentary is
just downright entertaining when shared because just when you thought
you heard the dumbest client response, there is always another that splits
my ribs.
I'm going out on a limb here, but I think Bravo could do a great REALITY
SHOW on The Communication Artists of New York (Hear that BraVO
echooooo and squeaky talk). Sequels would include alternate cities and
countries like The Housewives of Atlanta, LA, New York and so on....Hong
Kong. Or even Top Chef-Top CD or Top Stylist with Tabitha....Top Client
with the NIKETiger...OK I watch too much Bravo...I get it, but bare with me
here...this is really funny.
Jerry Delafamina and/or Jay Chiat would be raiding select lame-corporate-

clientele nominated by undisclosed agency creatives and really laying into
the marketing managers, VP's, coordinators, CEO's and any other idiot
who is aloud to give an opinion of creative work presented. The ultimate
prize (for the agency creatives) would include graphics training for all
client decision-makers converting them into creative graphics & copy-
intellectual communicators. If they don't pass the course they're canned.
In addition, the client would be awarded a complete multi-media brand

campaign produced, designed and written by the ace creative team at the
"Hottest Shop in New York" and they couldn't make any critiques other
than pointing out the greatness of it's all-encompassing creativity and
shear genious of promoting the brand beyond all expectations. We could
also do a 6 month post test recall to measure the effectiveness of the
campaign to sink or save the "Hottest Shop of New York". See, I'm being
fair here for all my clients listening.
Now should the client try to comment in traditional idiocy during the
presentation of the campaign, Jerry would perform body smack-downs
while Jay stuffed their mouths with tar-soaked rags so they are constantly
reminded to think before they speak. This would have the Nielson ratings
going through the roof so we could sell the idea on the research alone.
Think of the agencies who would be flocking to that media buy for their
worst clients. It would send a clear message to all clients who were
recommended for the buy that the agency has had just about enough and
if they didn't participate it would be the calling- card for dismissal from the
shops roster or we could make them pay the Creative Director hourly rate
for all the time they wasted with their ridiculous requests.
There's something for everyone. It's a "win-win" in my book."Lets run it up

the flag pole folks" and be gone with this insanity once and for all. What-
do-ya-say gang? I really think "this has legs".
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Bravo Patrick! Love it! :)
3 months ago

Tim Epperson • "Put a holly border on it!"
3 months ago

Joelle Stevens • Love it Patrick. Exactly why I would never try to sing on
American Idol...even though I can really sing my heart out in my car.
3 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • Wow, I've heard most of these. lol
But have any of you ever had the client say "Do you mind if I sit here and
watch you work?".
Talk about creepy.

Laura Malick Smith • @Traci and Jennifer.
I too had somebody actually say to me one time, "why would I want to pay
you for something you have fun while doing?"
@Lauralee
I worked 3 years for a guy that wouldn't ever accept white space. If he
couldn't shove something into every space he would freak out. I always
suggested that white space is a good thing and can relieve the eye and
direct people to what's really important, but he would never accept that.
"But there's plenty of room, let's add this . . .
3 months ago
Brian Devaney • Client.."Ok here is my 360pg 4over5 catalog all done for
you. I'll expect all my plates done by tomorrow morning because I've
reserved time on press already". Me.."Is this catalog built in printer or
reader spreads"? And also you did not provide me with a Dummy book so
that I may measure for creep" Client.."What did you just call me a
"CREEP", readers spread what is that"?! Note to self..."Watch how you use
the word "CREEP" with Clients!
3 months ago
VickiStop Following Follow Vicki

Vicki Rosel • "You're the expert, but...."
Julio Ramos,Traci Stoddard and Robert G Boulay - those are my favorites

also.
3 months ago

Wayne Moore • "It should be easy, just photoshop it and let the computer
do all the work"
3 months ago

Brian Yeats • and while they watch you work, they keep checking there
watch to see how much you are charging them an hour.
3 months ago
StefanStop Following Follow Stefan

Stefan Herman • I have been a retoucher for seventeen years and worked
in the field of Marketing for eighteen so i've heard a few to say the least.
The top three i love to hate ARE (drum roll)
1. Make it pretty
2. Just photoshop it
3. Make it work. (this one usually comes up after the deadline has been
blown by the account team ,legal and the senior art director who wasn't
keeping an eye on the junior and didn,t respond to my emails about the
direction the job was going in).
3 months ago

Thomas Gorman • Oh man- some memorable ones, and most I've heard at
some time or another.
From the 'putting 10 pounds of sausage in a 5 pound bag' dept. ;) 4oOne

of my favorites:
"could you fit this copy to our existing layout?"

3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • How about...'Well...if you can do that for under 'x' amount
of dollars, we are good to go." Hmmm...can anyone say XXX of dollars???
3 months ago

Dean Harris • Client to graphics artist "We like this ad by our competition,
change enough so their lawyers won't scream"
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • AUGHHH! I would scream Dean!!!
3 months ago
ElaineStop Following Follow Elaine

Elaine Joseph • "what if you did... This"
3 months ago
StuartStop Following Follow Stuart

Stuart Hoggard • As a publisher or print industry magazines, I once had a
press-maker client (think large German company) that had commissioned
a very large international ad agency (think flashysaville Row suits &
double-barreled British name) to design their ad.
The package arrived (late, of course) as marked up boards (not film) - I
then called the client, the conversation went as follows:-
Me: Hey Hans, remind me what does your company sell?

Hans: Printing presses (in a somewhat superior tutonic yet confused tone)
Me: Right - and we use your presses to print our magazine, they're pretty
good. So typically how many colours would we use to print with.
Hans: You should know this: 4 - CMYK
Me: So that's, like, 4 sheets of film isit?
Him: Ja !!!?
Me: Right answer - so why am I looking at marked-up Art Work with 16
pretty little pantone colour tags stuck to it?
We ran a blank page with the client's logo in 12pt bottom right - I don;t
need this in my life!
3 months ago

Christopher Porter • Dear God make it stop. This getting painful to read.
3 months ago

Stuart Hoggard • you started it ;) Only have yourself to blame! lol
3 months ago
StanStop Following Follow Stan

Stan Alachniewicz • POP
probably the one I hate most.

3 months ago
Robert Ward • for more hair-pulling fun, see clientsfromhell.com
3 months ago

Stuart Sibley • "Can you find something to fill those areas of white space"
3 months ago

Stuart Sibley • "We like all the ideas you presented to us but the one we
love and the one we would like to go with is option 2. However can you
use the motif from option 4, with the colour you used in option 1 and the
wording from option 3. Oh yeah, you know that project you did for us last
month? Could you somehow utilize the type from the 1st idea you sent us
on that. Look forward to seeing stage 2!"
3 months ago

Patrick M. Kronin • Hey Stuart, we call that the Frankadstein. A little from
here...a little from there....and shabam!
3 months ago
CalvinStop Following Follow Calvin

Calvin Ki • "But the last guy I used only charge me ____!" Right after he
finished complaining how horrible the last guy was.
3 months ago
KevinStop Following Follow Kevin

Kevin Willi • Graphix Design, Graphics Design, etc...
3 months ago
NickStop Following Follow Nick

Nick Foster • "My friend can do it for free" HA
3 months ago
CoreyStop Following Follow Corey
Corey Ayres • Simple - perhaps for you, either that or you want boring
3 months ago
VPA OhridStop Following Follow VPA Ohrid

VPA Ohrid Aleksandar • "Let's try this..."
3 months ago
DonStop Following Follow Don

Don Borger • After the client plays art director and makes ridiculous
changes and idiotic revisions..."You're the designer. Make it work."
3 months ago
BryanStop Following Follow Bryan

Bryan Knox • I wish I had time to view this earlier as I see there are many
familiar phrases that most mean get to work. I always enjoy clients who
want a logo and describe it as; We need a logo but want it to be bold but
corporate, established and fresh with a contemporary modern flair that is
recognizable and unique but not ordinary like 'place example here'. I
usually say "No problem, that's what I do." Tick tock.
3 months ago
LizaStop Following Follow Liza

Liza Mackey • "The client wants to know if he can have his letterhead in
Microsoft Word"
3 months ago

John Michalski • "Microsoft Word", "Microsoft Publisher", "Powerpoint" and
"Excel" all make my skin crawl.
3 months ago

Laurelea Conrad • "And we'd like the document to be "editable" so we can
make changes later on."
PS Do any of you enjoy designing in Word? If so, please let me know as I
need people who know how to make that program deliver great looking
but "editable" documents.
3 months ago
JeanineStop Following Follow Jeanine

Jeanine Handley • I once had a consultant tell me I made a "design error",
she didn't like the line break on a headline. So of course I could not charge
my time to make her changes. Another time she accused me of "stealing"
HER design, I had used a circle with a drop shadow and a number reversed
out. The same element I had used in project I had designed for one of the
clients she serviced. She also reveled to me and another coworker her
powerful negotiation skills in her former business, "I would bagger the
designer until they gave me the price I wanted to pay".
3 months ago

Jeanine Handley • The real kicker was after continually insulting my design
skills , she asked me to create a design for her personal project!, for free
of course!
3 months ago
ShayneStop Following Follow Shayne
Shayne McMillin • "Why does graphic design cost so much, I can get a logo
online for $99!"
"Would you be interested in doing it for a portfolio piece?"
3 months ago

Dean Harris • Jeanie, what's her name? I swear we've had the same
client ; ) hee hee
3 months ago
AlyssaStop Following Follow Alyssa

Alyssa Goch • Ohhh what about the ones that tell you *exactly* how to do
it. I had a client that wanted a logo based on a WordPress blog template
they planned on using for a website. I suggested creating the logo based
on the company. "Um, no... we want it to look like the blog". So I gave it
my best shot, but they kept saying, "Add a gradient to the text--we want it
black and grey" "Make this one letter red" "Now add a gold stroke"... UGH!
And my other pet peeve is when a design freelancer and/or firm uses
either "create", "design", or "graphic" in the company's name.
*SIGH* usually I don't get to rant like this. :D

3 months ago
Alyssa Goch • And what to do when you're a newbie like me, making a
logo for a friend, and you both work together on the whole process...just to
get to the finish line and have her say "Um, I really like it, but I think I'm
kinda not motivated about my business right now..."? What does *that*
mean? :(
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Let it out Alyssa...that's what this is for. We have all been
there.
3 months ago

Patrick M. Kronin • LECTURE FOR THE DAY ON THE VALUE OF ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVES
Believe it or not guys, this used to be one of the advantages at working
with an agency. In the good old days, account executives would get
ridiculous comments from the client like these and they would calm the
client's down in order to get sensible direction. Now the so called AE's are
as bad as the clients and say to the client, "Why don't you just come over
to the shop and tell the Art Director/Designer exactly what you want and
you can see it while you wait. This is a disaster and it's the easy way for
the AE to get off the hook setting you up for the fall.
When I was at Ogilvy, we had the best suits because they had experience
from spending time in the creative department as one of the mandates of
the agency. We in turn shadowed them on client calls and had mutual
respect for each others position. I had more friends in account service than
in the creative department because they were so good at keeping clients
out of the office and at bay. They would explain to the clients that changes
needed to be kept to a minimum in order to stay on budget and that they
should trust the judgment of their art director/writer teams. After all, they
were hired by Ogilvy and so they had to be the best of the best.
After 5 years at O&M, I rarely met an AE with this kind of experience. Our
AE's also kept portfolio's of the work they did with the creatives which
garnered even more respect from the creative team. Nobody in account
service is required to this at other agencies. I don't even know if they do it
any more at O&M, but I have to say, it was the single best shop I have
ever worked for and I've been around the block. There were one or two at
Saatchi and only one at D'arcy and Momentum, but for the most part, you
just don't see this kind of account executive any more. The business has
suffered because of it and our industry better get a heads up or things are
going to get much worse.
As an Executive Creative Director, I would train teams of Account

Executives, Art Directors and Writers at the same time. We would go
through strategy development, client presentation, how to handle
revisions and most importantly for each of them, how to stay on strategy
and budget. It made for great teams and great client service. I continue to
manage teams like this and it has paid off greatly. It also reduces the
drama around the office and hatred between the two groups. Maybe you
should suggest this in your agency and try to work together as a team to
avoid allowing the client so much power. You would be amazed at how
effective it is at keeping the clients happy and the shop profitable
If you're a freelancer, try partnering with a writer who has business

acumen or a fellow creative freelancer who knows a little about client
management and have them fill the role of AE or as your business partner.
Get them familiar with the account and allow them to call on the client
with you and eventually get the changes all the while reiterating the value
of time and the budget. This usually keeps the clients focused on the big
picture and off the little things especially when they can deviate to billing
issues. They can provide you with a valuable smoke screen for the client
allowing you both to focus on the big picture. Pay your friend a good
portion of the gig because when it's all said and done, they will have saved
you a bundle in overtime and unhappy client exposure.
I found a partner like this that also plays the role of Web Master, Media
Buyer and Accountant. I was lucky, many of you don't have this
opportunity, but it would benefit you greatly to start looking for an other
freelance partner who can play this role. There are so many of us on the
street that I find it hard to believe that you won't be successful. Many AE's
are looking for work as well. Try advertising on this site and see what you
come up with. It won't cost you anything and it could prove to save you a
bundle.
3 months ago

Alyssa Goch • @Traci -- LOL *sigh of relief* :)
3 months ago
André-YvesStop Following Follow André-Yves

André-Yves Coenderaet • "the client : my logo was designed by the
daughter of my cousin. She's 15 and very gifted for drawing..."
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • May we be a respected professional someday
Alyssa...someday...
Traci Stoddard • May we be a respected professional someday
Alyssa...someday...
3 months ago

Alyssa Goch • Haha, someday soon! :) A degree of respect is due as a
right for each person as a human being. However, respect that
distinguishes us as reputable and upright is a respect that is *earned*. I
hope to earn that by learning not how to "deal" with a situation how I see
fit, but how to change my thoughts about a situation so I can make wise
choices. It'll come. I'm learning that design is more than just making ideas
visible.
3 months ago

Wayne Rowe • Come on guys... we should be in awe of our clients. It's
phenomenal how they have acquired the equivalent of a BA education just
by observing. After all, design BA programs have a higher student failure
rate than law and medicine, but they figured it all out on their own. Show
some respect.
3 months ago
DarioStop Following Follow Dario

Dario Farina • did you try centering it?
3 months ago

John Michalski • nice Dario!!!! I couldn't stop laughing. I hear that way too
many times.
How about, "MAKE THE LOGO BIGGER"

3 months ago

aAron Soderberg • The Art Director's Club of Houston had a t-shirt contest
for themselves a
couple of years ago. The winning entry had a ADCH logo really high up
near
the collar at about 1 inch square. The accompanying headline said,
"Could you make the logo bigger?"
Best-loved shirt in history!

3 months ago
Dean Harris • @ Aaron: my client would of said - don't tell me about
creative "white space" I'm paying for that wasted space, so super-size the
logo and fill the rest with verbage!
3 months ago
VPA OhridStop Following Follow VPA Ohrid

VPA Ohrid Aleksandar • @ Aaron: :-D "White space! How can be creative
with typos? Please use more photos." This is what usual some of my
clients says.
3 months ago
StephStop Following Follow Steph

Steph Moreland • I hate "look and feel" and, even though it's not a graphic
design term, any BS business term like "synergy", "proactive" or "group
think".
3 months ago

Wayne Rowe • My favourite analogy: white space is to design what the
space between notes is to music - without it you just have unintelligible
noise.
3 months ago

John Michalski • can you jazz that up a bit?
3 months ago

Jason Mayeu • I'll write it all out and hand it off to you....so "you can make
it pretty"
3 months ago

John Petropoulos • "Thanks for you work, but we've decided to go with a
less expensive option"
=
"my nephew can draw a good picture of an elephant, so he's doing it. We'll
call you the day before print and ask you to fix his stuff then k?"
3 months ago

aAron Soderberg • ARF! That's the truthiest truth put up here so far!
3 months ago

Jeanine Handley • "I just need a little logo design"
I replied, the size of the logo does not determin the price.
3 months ago

Bryan Knox • a little log design is right up there with simple web site.
When I here these terms I immediately ask what the expected budget is as
they have already spent it.
3 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Oh my...someone commented on another's ad today and
said "it has too much white space." I gave him the "look" and said, "There
can never be too much white space." Lord help us all!
@John...been there, done that. F-them. :)

3 months ago

Alyssa Goch • "Bursts! ... add some BURSTS to the ad"
3 months ago
ChristineStop Following Follow Christine

Christine Salcedo • - Make it look 2.0ish
- You should have this changed in a few, it's easy
- Less is more
3 months ago
Laura Malick Smith • Not sure if I've seen this one yet . . .
"Can you Photoshop that?"

3 months ago

Laura O'Reilly • no one has said that yet, but I hear it all the time! "Can
you do some
photoshop magic?" lol!
3 months ago
DonStop Following Follow Don

Don Borger • The colors on the brochure don't look like they did on my
screen.
3 months ago
Claire Kaler • This project is going to be fun!
3 months ago
JoshStop Following Follow Josh

Josh Winspear • these are all making me laugh.. good posting!
"work your magic, josh!"

3 months ago

Mitch Lopata • LOL! Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxwaszFbDw
3 months ago

Todd Thomas • "Can you tap it over just a tad?" (what the hell is a tad?)
3 months ago
BryantStop Following Follow Bryant

Bryant Agnew • "Can I see that in a different font?"
3 months ago
BryantStop Following Follow Bryant

Bryant Agnew • Ohh, and..."Can't you give it a little ummph?"
3 months ago

Josh Winspear • @ Mitch, that was awesome!
3 months ago
Mitch Lopata • @ Josh, LOL!!!!!!!
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • "You know...do that thing you do to that text... Can you
do that??" Ummm...what f'ing thing is that??? Delete it because the copy
sucks anyway???
3 months ago
InigoStop Following Follow Inigo

Inigo Laugermann • "All you have to do is..."
3 months ago

Jason Irwin • Well the ne designers hate me for is "we'll see"
3 months ago
jibolaStop Following Follow jibola

jibola fagbamiye • I want something simple... I hate hearing this!!!
3 months ago

Bob Hoot • "I want something simple," means, "It's got to be cheap ... and
I want a beautiful design that is effective, but I don't have anything in the
budget."
3 months ago
LaurenStop Following Follow Lauren

Lauren Lenartowski • "Make it pop" for sure is my biggest one.
3 months ago
SunnyStop Following Follow Sunny
Sunny Okamoto • Hilarious! I didn't know so many designers were
comedians too. We could take this show on the road. Christopher, I could
tell you have great comedic timing with deadpan delivery. Love it.
3 months ago

Alyssa Goch • "Ohh I only need the website in a few days so I can send
those invitations...no pressure!"
And the proverbial ":)" to make things all better!
3 months ago
StephStop Following Follow Steph

Steph Moreland • Not quite what's being discussed here, but I LOVE it
when I'm at a party or something, and someone asks what I do. When I
reply that I'm a graphic designer, they almost always say something like
"Oh, I can use Photoshop too" to which I reply "I can use a knife, but it
doesn't make me a surgeon!"
3 months ago
FaithStop Following Follow Faith
Faith Stewart • It'll only take you 5 minutes
3 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Oh Faith!!! I've heard that so many times it makes my
head swim!!!
3 months ago

Laurelea Conrad • True story: Today a client introduced me to their end
client as the graphics person we brought in to "make it pretty". He also
said we rewrote the copy to make it "simplistic".
Had to laugh: Far from making it pretty and simplistic, we took an

unintelligible jargon filled theoretical 40 page mess and made it clear,
compelling and engaging-----and then we designed it so it would get
noticed, get read and get results.
3 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • Steph, I've never heard anyone say that to me,but I
love your response. I'm sure I'd be super irritated if someone actually ever
said that to me and I'd probably be a lot more harsh in my response than
you.
2 months ago

Tom Kostro • "It's too creative..."
2 months ago

Dean Andrews • "Go ahead and pull out all the stops!" This from the
nickel-and-diming client with "no budget."
Of course, I said, "Great! And what's your budget on that?"
The stops were not pulled.
But my all time favorite on color corrections has to be, "This doesn't match
my memory."
2 months ago

Charlene Prosser • "... full creative freedom."
It's no secret - I know it means you have no idea what you want!
2 months ago

Jennifer Bennett Walker • It's perfect! Can you just put the text here and
and make it bigger, change the color from blue to black, center the logo
and we're done!
2 months ago

Jeanine Handley • The deadline has moved up and the scope of the project
has expanded, but you will stick to your quote, right?
2 months ago
Mark Duran • I've heard all of the above so often, I do hurl!
Here's what I heard yesterday
"That's so 2.0"
"how come the colors don't look right when I print them out"
"quick and dirty"
"do we have to pay for this photo?" (and this is from a lawyer!)
and after a million insignificant changes... "how come this costs so much"
2 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • Dean, stuff like that is exactly the reason I prefer to
work as an in-house designer. I don't think I could handle dealing with
clients to make my living.
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Mark...Oh yeah...forgot about the whole 'quick and dirty'
thing! (how could I???) Then they wonder when you give them a comp why
the photo says 'comp photo' across it. "I was going to present this to my
client! I can't have that on there!" Plain and simple dumbass...then buy
the photo, let them hate it and then keep buying them until you have an
entire library of unusable photos. That's the ticket! :)
2 months ago
Emina DStop Following Follow Emina D

Emina D Sehovic • Totally agree with Robert I am laughing out loud
because these are so true and actually real life things.
2 months ago
Emina DStop Following Follow Emina D

Emina D Sehovic • it will only take you 10 minutes
2 months ago
EllieStop Following Follow Ellie

Ellie Dickson • "Can you make it edgier?"
2 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Give me an extremely sharp Xacto and I can make
anything edgier! lol Ellie!
2 months ago
EllieStop Following Follow Ellie

Ellie Dickson • LOL!
2 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • @Stan
I've had in-house people (execs and PMs) that were just as bad as any
client, sometimes worse. I would have to explain the same crap over and
over and over to them. I don't think we're safe anywhere . . .
2 months ago
RaymondStop Following Follow Raymond
Raymond Scholz • @Traci
I once gave a comp for a magazine ad to a client and then didn't hear from
them for a few days. When I contacted them they told the layout was
great and it had been printed. "What!?" said I... Yep, their ad appeared in
magazines across the country with a stock-photo watermark plastered
right across a 72 dpi photo.
2 months ago

Donna Nettis • Oh, my God. Talk about clueless.
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Wow, Raymond....wow! Definitely clueless!
2 months ago
Stacey Yongue • Had a similar situation with an ad rep who insisted on my
downloading a watermarked, 72 dpi wheat field stock photo for use in a
color, glossy directory. Told the rep, "If the client absolutely knows he
wants to use this photo (which he did!), have him purchase the thing for
$10, and send me the photo BEFORE I even send the first proof." Bottom
line is after much back and forth with this hard-headed rep and his
superior, I send the proof with the watermark blazing across the wheat
field, the client finally purchases the picture, and all ends well.
Seriously, sometimes I wonder if sales really wants to understand what we

do, or if reps know how many times we save them from themselves. The
sale doesn't end with simply selling the ad. If I don't produce a great
looking ad to go along with that best-sales-pitch-ever! sales pitch, what's
the point? I wish we were seen as partners rather that competitors in the
process. We're on the same team!
2 months ago

Kimberly Hawkins • you're lucky, Raymond your client didn't get sued by
the stock-image company. And, surprised the magazine's art director
didn't field that one either...
2 months ago

Mitch Lopata • WOW!
2 months ago

Stacey Yongue • @ Kimberly
I tried the stock-photo-folks-suing-us angle with my situation above.That
argument wasn't even taken into consideration. And we had just come out
of bankruptcy...
2 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • @Laura Malick Smith,
True, but some of the stories of actual clients seem a bit worse
2 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • @Stan
Then you've been very lucky. Pretty much 80%+ of these items happened
to me at my last in-house job. Problem was, the owner was hiring people
with zero experience in either being an Ad Rep, PM, or designer. They
didn't want to learn either, and just schlepped through their job making
the same mistakes over and over. I'm really glad to be out of there. I think
my blood pressure double during my duration on the job.
Just saying, I've had it in house and as a freelancer. Stupidity is

everywhere . . .
2 months ago

Jason Daniel • These are all very funny guys and they happen to all of us
and many times, but I think we need to remember that clients are our life
blood and without them we wouldn't have the creative challenges that
keep us doing what we do. Clients are not qualified in the same way as we
are to look and think outside the box and rely on their own perception
picked up from TV, web and advertising they see on the street or in
magazines.
It is our job/brief to collaborate and enhance a clients understanding of

what they are trying to do and if an idea is strong enough it normally wins
over, but not always.
Clients don't understand the minor details, implications about brand and
communication and should be encouraged to learn as you go along,
difficult I know but a skill in itself!
That said they can be trying sometimes, for want of a better phrase.
2 months ago

Dean Andrews • Raymond, I think yours wins the prize hands down ! ! ! !
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Who let Jason in here?? I'm KIDDING!!! We all know the
importance of our clients and in-house relationships, but one does need a
venue to vent from time to time :)
2 months ago

Dean Andrews • Very well said, Jason.
We all need to walk that fine line between listening and advising. It's a
very important partnership and both sides need to treat that relationship
with respect.
In my experience, when things have gotten tough (just once or twice, of

course), I could look at the way I handled my client and find the person to
blame staring at me in the mirror.
Fortunately, I've been doing this long enough now to head off trouble at
the pass which has to include turning clients away who just aren't going to
be a good match for me.
2 months ago
Jason Daniel • Thank you Dean,
I was merely trying to suggest that without them we don't do as personal

projects don't pay quite as well and you are right, experience counts for a
lot when handling clients. I have been fortunate to have been a creative
director for a long time which means a switch in focus to client
relationships as well as managing creative and I have enjoyed this
enormously and have clients I regard as friends too.
We do all need to vent sometimes, but let's hope that a current client
doesn't see the tirade of abuse, which even if meant with affection can
turn into a client problem that far outweighs "can you make the logo
bigger please?"
2 months ago

Christopher Porter • Thank Jason for reminding us. But I tend to think like
Paul Rand retorted to Steve Jobs when asked to brand Apple. His reply
went like so:
"I asked him if he would come up with a few options. And he said, “No. I
will solve your problem for you. And you will pay me. And you don’t have
to use the solution. If you want options, go talk to other people. But I’ll
solve your problem for you the best way I know how. And you use it or not.
That’s up to you. You’re the client. But you pay me.” And there was a
clarity about the relationship that was refreshing."
2 months ago
Stuart Sibley • I can imagine that going down like the proverbial lead
balloon with a lot
of my clients!
2 months ago

Stuart Sibley • I like it when clients try and get all technical: "I like the new
colour. Can I get a PMT for this?"
Sure, you may have to wait a month for it... ;-)
2 months ago

Dean Andrews • Yes, I was thinking the same thing before you added your
comment. We can
look like a bunch of whiny complainers en masse. Don't need to give
credence to the already existing negative view that some folks have of
"creative types."
Enjoy your work!
DEAN ANDREWS CREATIVE

www.deanandrewscreative.com <http://www.deanandrews.com/>
310.306.6206
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • are we now repenting? i stopped caring about my work a
long time ago! i just do as they ask.... no questions, no fights.... looks like
crap, but hey, they are happy and it's all green in the end, right?
ok, i am kidding... to a degree ha! loved your reference, christopher!

2 months ago

Christopher Porter • Thanks Josh. I love that reference as well. We are all
complaining because we have worked hard to be where we are and we
have a skillset and talent that not everyone has. We are seeking validity
and confirmation for who we are and what we do. When you drop your car
off at the mechanic you don't stand there with him and tell which tools to
use, we don't tell the doctors and surgeons how to do their craft. If you've
worked hard but still have to listen to the ramblings of a client who wants
your expertise but at the same time listen to the pontificate about your
craft when they know little to nothing about it then I say gripe away.
2 months ago
John Michalski • As far as I'm concerned, we're fighting an uphill battle...
there is a population that believes we're doing the same thing their 10
year old niece does, that it takes us 10 minutes to make a logo, that we're
happy to create a brochure in exchange for an order of french fries.
I'll keep griping as long as this is the status quo.

2 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • @Traci, I was wondering the same thing, "Who invited
him" haha!
2 months ago

Christopher Porter • "Stock Options" Is a term that will send me over the
edge. I have been offered more stick options in my thirteen year career
that I could shake a stick at. All of them worthless. I'll take the money
please. I've played monopoly and I know what funny money is, good day
to you sir.
Dean Andrews • Ooooo, nice rant!
Our job is definitely harder now. I think our job is also to search for
higher quality clients. That's my focus these days. Are there exceptions?
Ug, yes, I'm about to put a proposal together for a nonprofit client with
no budget. But I'm not going to lowball it, just plan on giving them a
little less of my time and effort (yeah, like that ever works – still want
to do great design) and I won't have any trouble finding a place to spend
the money.
The really terrific news is that we can work remotely with anyone. This
new client is clear across the country, as is my copywriter. Love it!!!
So I am looking for clients anywhere in the entire universe. The quest is
to how to make it easier for them to find us. We need to be in groups
where those folks are looking for us.
. . . when we're done whining. ; )
DEAN ANDREWS CREATIVE

www.deanandrewscreative.com <http://www.deanandrews.com/>
310.306.6206
2 months ago
maryStop Following Follow mary

mary arneson • You go Christopher...I totally agree!
2 months ago

Christopher Porter • I'll go Mary, you just watch me. =)
2 months ago

Michael Ervin • ...but we have no budget
2 months ago
RitaStop Following Follow Rita

Rita Frizzell • We'll be deciding this by committee.
2 months ago
TexStop Following Follow Tex

Tex Otto • Why can't you use the pictures from our website for our
brochure? I took them with my smartphone.
2 months ago
DouglasStop Following Follow Douglas

Douglas Tait • when attempting to refer to four-color process (CMYK) the
client said: 'sym-ka'
2 months ago
Brian Kolstad • "What's wrong with Comic Sans?"
2 months ago

John Michalski • "I'd be able to do that too if I had photoshop here."
2 months ago

Brian Kolstad • @ John Michalski = Perfect!
2 months ago
DexterStop Following Follow Dexter

Dexter Hartley • Can you fix my email?
2 months ago

John Michalski • ahh mannn!!! Dexter... I just spit out my water! That's
hilarious... and yet true. I can't count how many times I've instructed
clients on how to read an attachment or how to copy to an FTP server. One
client was asking me how to do stuff in Microsoft Word.... how the hell
should I know?
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • christopher, sorry, sarcasm can be my weak point and
usually not obvious in messages. i am in the same boat as all of you. i
refer to those that hover over us and tell us how to do our job as "arm-
chair art directors." :) it's pretty amusing what everyone thinks of our jobs,
and what we ACTUALLY do...
2 months ago

Dexter Hartley • On an "All clients are evil" tip, I just read this, had me in
bits: http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p2.html
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • classic, dexter! have you seen the one similar to this
using the photo of the cat?
2 months ago

Dexter Hartley • hell yeah. I was nearly crying with laughter!
2 months ago

Dean Andrews • OMG! Dexter, that was a HOOT! A must certainly for
anyone who adores British humor. Had me in "bits" too . . . lots of little tiny
ones. Got to pull myself together now and make a living.
2 months ago
RomanStop Following Follow Roman
Roman Ruiz • "Make the sky blue," "Make the ground wet."
2 months ago
RomanStop Following Follow Roman

Roman Ruiz • Sales person: "Can I have it for my meeting in an hour?" Me:
"When did you schedule your meeting?" Sales person: "Last week."
2 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • @Dexter
I've seen that before, but I was really glad to come across it again. Wow, I
know we're all too professional to ever do something like that, but it would
certainly release some pent up frustration. lol
Thanks.
2 months ago
Traci Stoddard • Dexter, I've seen the 'graph' before and the 'cat'. The cat
is my all time favorite! My kids even fell out! LOL!
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • the cat one rules... if anyone can find a link to it, i'd
appreciate it.. i tried looking for it earlier, but couldn't... it almost sums up
everything here....
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • I will have to dig for it. btw...what a great photo. It shows
that you are a good-natured individual IMHO.
2 months ago
Dean Andrews • Hey Josh, here you go,
http://www.27bslash6.com/missy.html
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • that's the one, dean! hahahaha... just awesome! thank
you. oh, this has me in tears...
and thank you, traci!

2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Thank you Dean for finding that! I am going to bookmark
it now. When I need a laugh, I will click! :) Just went through a few more of
his posts...wow...he is an instigator to some point, but it's freaking
hilarious!
2 months ago

Wayne Rowe • David Thorne is the best... his email exchange for a spec
work request is too funny for words...
http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p2.html
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Wayne, that's the 'graph' one I was referring to. Don't you
just wish we could do that?? Well, we could, but...well...you know... lol!
2 months ago

Laurelea Conrad • Thanks for my Friday laugh. It's been a long one, and
that email chain made me roar! (not sure about the grey small typefact
though----).
2 months ago

Wayne Rowe • @Traci - Yes, but he has given us the next best thing... I
simply tell clients I don't do spec and if they push it I send them the link.
Twice now - one thought it was funny and offered token payment and the
other I never heard from again.
I've been doing this long enough to know that these types are losing
propositions in the long run and I don't go there. Also because spec hurts
the whole industry.
(Of I make exceptions for my best clients who rarely ask and offer for
those who never ask... and charities)
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Love it Wayne!
2 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • Oh my God the pie charts thing is brilliant! Now I'm on
to the cats one!
2 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • I've seen the cat one before, but it is definitely
hilarious!
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Hey, why are we all on here on a Friday night anyway???
LOL!! Actually, I am working (sadly)...not for much longer tonight though...
2 months ago
JosephStop Following Follow Joseph

Joseph Alessio • I'm wondering who would read 763 comments to get the
sense of where this thread has gone...
I'd say my least favorite (un-)design word is "pop," as in, "Can you make
that... erm... POP more, ya know?" Usually ends up in lots of graphic
effects and gradients.
2 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • The cat one made me wince a little because I do love
cats, but I still laughed out loud!
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • To each his own Joseph on reading the thread. I doubt
anyone that has come in late in the game has gone back that far.
POP is a big one here that people are sick of btw. We all agree w/that!
2 months ago

Michael Akuamoah-Boateng • classsic stuff
2 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • Cartoon
Add a comment...<a title="7-1"

href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8242279@N02/5358647293/">
<img src="http://static.flickr.com/5161/5358647293_627ce88948_m.jpg"
border="0"/>
</a>
2 months ago

Dean Harris • hee hee
2 months ago
AdrianStop Following Follow Adrian

Adrian Garcia • "...and move this here and that there, but you're the
expert, what do you think?"
2 months ago

Bryan Knox • I get that from a client of mine. Realize I bill by the hour so it
does not bother me so much, but he will have some crazy, way out of
budget idea and when I tell him what I think he would get upset. Now he is
happy with a thicker invoice.
2 months ago
RachelStop Following Follow Rachel
Rachel Beser • Client: can you make this line thick / thin?
Me: what exactly do you mean?
Client: THICK / THIN!! Just tell your computer to do it!

2 months ago
AlvaroStop Following Follow Alvaro

Alvaro Pires • "that's gonna take only a couple of minutes"
2 months ago

Donna Nettis • "The last graphic designer I worked with did it."
2 months ago
JanelleStop Following Follow Janelle
Janelle Wandmacher • We're going to need you to create a PowerPoint. or
We this template designed in Word. When will people ever understand that
PowerPoint and Word should not be used in the same sentence with
"Design". And that neither one is a page layout program that professional
designers enjoy working in!
2 months ago

Laura Malick Smith • An old Dilbert
http://digitaldemiurge.com/Facebook/12_3_99.gif
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • :) Laura
2 months ago

Gareth Edwards • 'It needs to maintain 'our' style but can you make it look
a bit more you know "ARTY FARTY!"
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • so true, gareth... "of course stay within brand, but you
have full creative license..." then i think, "to do what? .... fine, maybe i'll
drop a picture of a cat in the corner..."
2 months ago

Gareth Edwards • and there could not be a more condescending term to
describe my work as ARTY FARTY!!! I didn't just walk off Sesame Street!
'Todays design was bought to you by the colour RED and by the letters
FU!!!'
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • classic!
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • LOVE IT GUYS! Tears coming out of my eyes! LOL!
2 months ago

Vannon Chiang • Can you make this 1/4 page black and white ad into a
2'x3' full color poster? Oh, I only have a JPG from the agency that created
it.
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Is that a 72 dpi jpg stolen off the web Vannon??
Where have you been my friend??

2 months ago
André-YvesStop Following Follow André-Yves
André-Yves Coenderaet • Th client : Thank you for your mail but you have
to change the colour. It is not good one ! ;o)
2 months ago
AdamStop Following Follow Adam

Adam Leviton • "Work your magic" as if they are trying to make me feel
special or something.
2 months ago
CameronStop Following Follow Cameron

Cameron Wasson, MBA / BFA • "I expected Photoshop to be included so I
could see the designs; why isn't it here?" (Upon submitting PDFs and JPGs
to a client)
2 months ago
Gareth Edwards • @ Cameron WOW!! Thats um pretty special!!!
2 months ago

Cameron Wasson, MBA / BFA • "Could you refer one of your students?"
(Yeah. Right. Like I haven't taught them profitability/cost analysis!)
2 months ago

aAron Soderberg • Yeah, the "magic" is what makes them think that you
shouldn't get paid such an "exhorbitant" sum. After all, magic is, well,
Harry Potter stuff. It's also "art" and "art" was the fun time in school, and
why should you get paid (that much) for having fun?
2 months ago
Donna Nettis • I thought you just sat down, and it comes out naturally.
Why should I pay you?
2 months ago
AdrianStop Following Follow Adrian

Adrian Garcia • "Just grab the logo from our website for the banner (8ft x
3ft) and for flyers to handout!"
"Hey, you know about coloring in your 'design thing' job, can you help me
pick a color for my upstairs?" - exact wording from a neighbor (I suggested
black. Ha!)
2 months ago

Stan Alachniewicz • Two words for you aAron, Sports athletes....
2 months ago

Daniel David • "make my colors more HD"
2 months ago
stephenStop Following Follow stephen

stephen fagan • "That's great! but can you take it 10% more funky"
2 months ago

Jack Rotoli • A client wanted his portrait on his 20' x 60' billboard. At the
time (80's) outdoor adverts were still hand painted. I told him I needed a
good, clear, large photo to give to the painters. He sent me his business
card with a postage stamp size image of his face.
I tried to explain to him that the painter was going to draw a grid on the
photo and each square in the grid would represent a square foot on the
billboard. He mailed me his media kit complete with his company brochure
and annual report. both pieces had the same postage stamp size photo. I
drove to his office and took his picture.
2 months ago

Wayne Rowe • "Make sure you give me the Photoshop diet"
I had a "heavy set" client who when we first acquired the account
requested all his personal photos be squeezed horizontally by exactly
92%. Two years and 40lbs later we we were squeezing him by 84%.
2 months ago

Dean Harris • Ha! I'm all for that, will I be taller too?
2 months ago

Cameron Wasson, MBA / BFA • @Wayne: LOL!! And then they get mad
when you put the time on the invoice - "What, you trying to tell me I'm
fat!?"
2 months ago

aAron Soderberg • they think you're trying to "pad" the invoice.
2 months ago

Traci Stoddard • Heard this one today..."Ok, just change the background
and send it to print tomorrow." (from one brand to another)...background,
images, fonts...EVERYTHING needs to change. Yet somehow I am a miracle
worker and will get the prints done and delivered on time.
I also spent 8 hours working on a design only to find out this afternoon
that the 'other company' is now going to design it...send them your files.
Understand, this is my FT job w/sister companies (billable hours do not
apply), but it still pissed me off! What a waste of time on a to-do list that is
at least 30 projects long (most past-due).
Whew! Thanks for letting me rant. :)

2 months ago
GeoffreyStop Following Follow Geoffrey

Geoffrey Holliday • "wow I love it! thats what i want right there...oh wait i
cant use that"
" oh i forgot to tell you to add this to it...*2hrs later* oh did you change it?
you didnt have to but thanks."
2 months ago

Brian Jung • i always find it funny when non-designers tell me that "oh it
will be just a couple of quick simple changes..."
2 months ago

Paul Herman • When showing a design: "...is that the way it's going to
look?"
2 months ago
IanStop Following Follow Ian

Ian Salsman • Can anyone tell me what "Make it more techy" means?
2 months ago

Michael Ervin • Hey, this looks almost professional!
2 months ago
RichardStop Following Follow Richard
Richard Cruz • A Client had given me a bad-resolution image downloaded
over the internet...
" Can you make that high-resolution please."
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • So true Brian... But, I don't find it funny any more! ;)
2 months ago

Daniel Nava • "The design needs more flow", "I have a pdf of my logo"
(which is a scan of their business card that was converted to pdf with
whatever cute little exporter they have.
2 months ago
PeterStop Following Follow Peter
Peter Gaskell • Could you email me a copy of our logo.
( I hate to mention I have mailed you the logo 3 times in the last week.)
Adding ...esque or ey onto the end of any word so as to make it

descriptive.
This print out isn't the right colour.
(we have a canon desk jet for proofing)

2 months ago
PriyankaStop Following Follow Priyanka

Priyanka Karyekar • waiting for the clients feedback !!!!
2 months ago
PavitraStop Following Follow Pavitra

Pavitra S. Tandon • "I want the work to represent me, who I am.. and I am
everything that the company is"
2 months ago

Tom Hagerty • "Just another quick revision..." By now it bears no
resemblance to what you really need so either I'm stupid or you are
insecure. Either way, it's time to move on unless selling hours for dollars is
that important.
2 months ago

Raymond Scholz • @Tom, I make a lot of money selling hours to clients
who don't know what they want, or didn't have their materials in a final
form before sending them to me... Endless revisions sometimes ends up in
an invoice that's double what my quote was.
2 months ago

Raymond Scholz • @Priyanka, OMG that's the worst! It usually means
there is a committee deciding whether it should be beige or oatmeal, and
one guy who doesn't like either.
2 months ago
Traci Stoddard • I have dealt with committees deciding on a design...never
again.
Today..."What is priority on my list of 30+ projects?" "Well, Traci, these

five are important and I guess you'll have to put some more hours in."
(don't get paid by the hour)
Yay for me! :) Working for nothing but the satisfaction!

2 months ago
JaimeStop Following Follow Jaime

Jaime Williams • "I don't like it, but I'm not sure why.", "That shouldn't take
long".
2 months ago
IanStop Following Follow Ian

Ian Salsman • "Can you convert it to word so I can make changes to the
design?"
2 months ago
PeterStop Following Follow Peter
Peter Gaskell • not really what people say but, People discussing design
without the designer present and coming up with solutions based on
wrongly assuming what i had in mind.
You can see how my days going can't you.

2 months ago
stephenStop Following Follow stephen

stephen fagan • Your sitting at your desk and the client is behind you,
looking at your work in PhotoShop
and you get " WOW! Thats great now you PhotoShop that up a bit?"
2 months ago
alina mihaelaStop Following Follow alina mihaela

alina mihaela frincu • UNIQUE - Really? You want something unique? You
mean I shouldn't just copy/paste and call it a day? And I agree about the
"Like" buttons, there are some really good examples here.
2 months ago
DaveStop Following Follow Dave
Dave Vasudevan • When a patient goes to a Doctor, the patient listens to
what the doctor says, and never tell or instruct the Doctor what to do. On
the other hand when they go to a Graphic Designers, they direct us as
though they know it all. This is the one that drives me crazy.
2 months ago

Michael Andrulonis • Here is something I heard just recently:
"I saw your resume and it's impressive. I'm thinking I probably can't afford
you!"
-- (Me, thinking): Yes, you're probably right, you probably should not have
even picked up the phone to call me.
2 months ago

Josh Winspear • @ian: that is sooooo true... classic... all to often have i had
the request.
i have been monitoring these comments for the past couple weeks, and i
think we need to find tactical ways to educate our clients and managers. i
am not sure what the approach is or if it is possible, but they really don't
get it... yet they expect us to pull rabbits out of our hats at the drop of a
dime. it's all about communication. the reason i throw this out there for
discussion, is i had a manager, who incorporated this crazy animated gif
that was created (prior to my arrival might i add) in his powerpoint deck
(yes, powerpoint). we were constantly rebranding this damn animation for
various pitches. i finally spoke up and said, "can we not brand it so it can
be included in all future decks, because the animation requires 75-100
frames and we could be more efficient with these projects if we not
branded the phone part of deck." He did not realize what it required to
build these and after I explained it, he was was totally cool with the the
generic phone concept. Now, of course, this wont work in all situations,
but, it may in some.
Back to "working your magic" people! ha!

2 months ago
JOANStop Following Follow JOAN

JOAN FLAVELL • Depending upon whom is asking this of you, they either
don't know what they want, or what is good, or someone else is giving
them the mandate. They are an order taker, instead of a problem solver.
Some design and creative battles are not worth the fight, and some are.
Save your creative energy for the right time, and the right project. My
suggestion to all Designers and Art Directors: make sure you have several
looks up your sleeve, walk the person through the stages of your idea to
sell them in, and have a rational behind why you're making these changes.
Because change for change sake isn't a reason. Look at the bigger picture.
Then you won't get as frustrated.
If you are really all that, then look for a new job that will appreciate your
creative genius!
2 months ago
Michael Andrulonis • Josh: I totally agree with you. I have found that there
a couple of effective ways to educate. I like to ask them lots of questions,
and I try to pick up threads or themes that they repeat. This actually
educates me as well. Trying to understand them has been most helpful to
me.
Another way was to allow them to become involved in the process. I did
this (hesitantly) twice but it was effective. One client insisted on going to a
press-check with me. They did and after two hours of being subject to
another proof sheet coming off the press, watching the pressman clean
the blankets etc., rinse and repeat, they never went again and I guess
they decided just to trust me.
Another didn't like any of the palettes I put together for their corporate
identity and wanted to borrow my PMS swatch book. I complied and after
two days they gave the book back and said they couldn't choose from the
thousands of colors. They chose one of the palettes I assembled for them.
2 months ago
GaryStop Following Follow Gary

Gary Freeman • "When I was at the office yesterday I loved the 'purple'
that I chose for the logo design... but today I looked back over it at home
on my basement computer and the 'purple' looks different. Can you
change it back?"
Hello- your outdated compaq presario with radio shack monitor might
need some calibration. Or just throw it out. Your looking at the same file
anyways. So hang up your rotary phone you just called me on, take a
lesson in light vs. pigment and let me get back to my Saturday.

Terms in Graphic Design That Drive You Crazy

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Terms in graphic design that drive you crazy!!!!!

TeresaStop Following Follow Teresa

OwaisStop Following Follow Owais

Oh, hate is a very strong word to pose in a question...IMHO.

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

You want me to go upstairs with this?

GregStop Following Follow Greg

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

JulioStop Following Follow Julio

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

MohamedStop Following Follow Mohamed

MohamedStop Following Follow Mohamed

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

ChristopherStop Following Follow Christopher

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

SalStop Following Follow Sal

ChristopherStop Following Follow Christopher

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

Robert GStop Following Follow Robert G

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

CherylStop Following Follow Cheryl

ChristopherStop Following Follow Christopher

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

NedStop Following Follow Ned

StephenStop Following Follow Stephen

WilliamStop Following Follow William

PamelaStop Following Follow Pamela

This isn't towards a client but it drives me crazy when a know-it-all

FeliceStop Following Follow Felice

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

MikeStop Following Follow Mike

MikeStop Following Follow Mike

MikeStop Following Follow Mike

Robert GStop Following Follow Robert G

RandStop Following Follow Rand

(Sorry Greg, just saw you posted that earlier...)

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

If they still should prove refractory

Only in the gravest cases

RandStop Following Follow Rand

MaryStop Following Follow Mary

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

"Can you just work from my MS Publisher document??"

JoeStop Following Follow Joe

KikiStop Following Follow Kiki

JodyStop Following Follow Jody

JodyStop Following Follow Jody

"can we have it upwards?"

DouglasStop Following Follow Douglas

TimStop Following Follow Tim

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

Yes, kind of like that, but different.

WarrenStop Following Follow Warren

GailStop Following Follow Gail

JeffStop Following Follow Jeff

If so you'll be perfect for our company!

$10 per hour

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

JenniferStop Following Follow Jennifer

MarkStop Following Follow Mark

TraciStop Following Follow Traci

ChristopherStop Following Follow Christopher

TraciStop Following Follow Traci