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The State of Graphic Design as a Profession

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This simple thread from Christopher turned into something I'm sure even he didn't expect. A place to vent and share to sympathetic ears.

Christopher Porter

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?"

To date there are over 7,600 comments and responses to this thread. Everyday new responses pop up in my feed. Some are funny and just poke fun at what clients ask for because they don't know any better. Others are shared from designers who are completely frustrated by the lack of respect graphic design receives as a profession.

I have to admit that I joined in the conversation and posted a couple of items. Like the time a Product Manager didn't like the color we chose for her package because she would never wear that color. 

Many people hated it when a client says "make it pop". Personally, I would rather have the client say this than tell me HOW to make it pop.

Many posts are centered around budget. And I can totally relate to this. When I ask for a budget 9 times out of 10 the client's response is "I don't have a set amount". My response to that is "you must have a threshold of pain". And they usually say "I really don't have any idea". So when I finally present them with an estimate and they say "that's too much" my response always is "so you did have a budget". 

Several other designers chimed in on the fact that there is a committee of people judging their work including the client's wife and kids. Still others rightfully complained that the client would send over a concept in PowerPoint or Word and proudly tell the designer "it is almost done just spruce it up and it should only take an hour."

So this thread became more than about what term people were tired of hearing. The frustration was almost universal. Some came back with encouraging stories about good clients but clearly most felt they were a wrist for someone who had little respect for their education and profession. 

I'm not sure how to change this perception. I try to guide our clients to start with the the communication objective they want solved and judge the work based on this---not their personal opinion. Also, please don't tell us how to fix what you don't think is working, but rather tell us why it isn't working. And by the way, I'm not even a designer but on the Account Management side. I'm sure designers have even more complaints about us.

Patty Jensen


Comments

Sharonda Head said…
I feel you, Patty. I had the same dilemma with a client before. They wanted me to do everything they say even though it might jeopardize the whole project. So, I did what I think was right. I sat down with them and told them that we can improve the artwork if we work hand in hand. After a few weeks of hard work, the project turned out to be a success.

Sharonda Head
February 22, 2013 at 7:57 AM
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