15 Things a Designer Should Never Say

valuable pieces of advice

I can think of one comment. Instead of redesigning a project for a customer ask them if they like certain parts better than others. With both people thinking it lets the customer be a part of the design process and lets the designer have reign. I know this doesn't always work. Something else I learned was the phrase," fake it until you make it." If you have never done a project like that fake it or tell the truth. As a business person if something is over my head I would rather a person be honest. If they do not think they can do it then point me in a direction of someone who can. That way time is not wasted.

I don't think "You should never say "no"..." applies to turning down a project with an impossible to work with client. But shying away from a job because it might be too much creatively for one man to handle or may require doing what might turn out to be a lot of research in order to get the best results, should not be a reason to say "no" to work.

Interesting appraisal generally, but I am most pleased to see you get away from that ruse the customer is always right. If the customer were always right then the customer can start dictating the price and when you start getting totally subject to that then you can expect to meet with unemployment soon.

Whoever wrote #12 obviously doesn't work with sales representatives. I don't know how many times I've had to redesign and redesign again to suit a customer, even when we wind up losing money on the job, because in the Real World, in this economy, you have to do whatever it takes to win new clients and retain your current ones.

Some decent bits of info in there. Mostly just common sense, which I hope we could all figure out.

Seeing that there is little difference between being diplomatic and being dishonest, thanks for reminding me that people will pay to be manipulated. Apparently, the "talk" is more important than the "walk." Dismal as it sounds, I will keep that in mind.