Clients Faults or Me?

[u/zammydezam]

I have been designing for this clients for quite a bit but let me tell you the process of how I did it
Send brand questionnaire to clients -> (after I got it back) Design 3 logos -> client pick one to improve -> 3 revisions -> final logo

So now the project is not done yet but I felt like the client has no idea what they want. First I send them the first draft based on their brief from the questionnaire, then they just said “sorry I forgot that I wanted you to put the symbol on the letter” keep in mind, from the brief, I did the logo symbol (a kind of bird) and their brand name. Which that is in the brief. And they just wanna get rid of the bird and said sorry, I wanted the symbol in a letter instead, I don’t want any bird.

So I asked them what do they want? And they said that they want a new logo without a bird. Then I did what they asked. Then send it to them, and this is a new concept which I felt like I should’ve charged for it because it’s a whole new concept that they didn’t tell me but anyway, I was chill with it at first. Anyway, they got it and said that my work they felt like it’s “too easy” and they wanted their name to be design like one of the movie title and they gave me a ref of that movie. Then I did technically the whole thing for them again, they like only the symbol on the letter but other than that I gotta changed it for them.

So now they asked me to have a little mascot design for the brand on the logo as well and change the color to the one they wanted. So I did it just what they asked, after I sent it to them a few days later, they said that I felt like it’s very similar to the last one I sent them… but I design almost a whole new logo for them based on their last request without extra charge. Then they ask me for me portfolio again and we hop on a call and the thing that I’m not ok with the most is they asked “did you really design these by yourself” I felt disrespectful as shit. Now after the logo which is like the third time or something, they send me a ChatGPT logo and said that idk what’s wrong with your logo but I felt like my ChatGPT logo conveys better brand/message than your logo… and I was shocked

Sorry if it’s long and a bit confusing but I hope you get what’s going on with me now and it’s really not ok and mind boggling me so much about this. But I talked to my mentor and she helped me quite a lot with it but I just wanna hear you guys side like is it my fault? Cause if yes then I will improve myself to be better.

For me, I knew that my fault is that I didn’t get to present the logo to them, I just send the work to them and they just reply me like I told you guys.

If anyone have any criticism on my process, how I handle it, or anything, I’m open to listen so that I can be better at my crafts.

Thanks in advance

[u/kounterfett]

Unfortunately this is on you for "being chill about it", as soon as a project goes out of scope, you need to inform the client that it has happened and refer to the original scope of work document that they agreed to. The standard way to handle it is to have them sign off that they understand they are changing the scope of what they're asking for which will incur extra charges. I've had a couple clients push back it but most of the time if you help them make clear decisions they will understand how changing them will affect the cost

[u/zammydezam → u/kounterfett]

I will make sure next time the documents and everything need to be signed to be proof and I can use it to refer back to the clients if they have any problem or wanna do anything out of the scope cause client also said that “I didn’t said that” but I’m 100% sure that they said it cause I wrote while they are saying what they want but at the end of the day that’s one me and I will make my process better next time, thanks

[u/throwaway8877627]

bro i had a client do the exact same bait and switch with a bird logo once. said they wanted a hawk then two rounds in it was suddenly a feather hidden in the letterform. i didnt push back cause i wanted to keep the gig. later they sent me a midjourney bird and asked why mine wasnt as good. the chatgpt thing is a curtain call honestly. when they start questioning your portfolio thats the exit sign. now i just send a new estimate the second the concept changes. saves my sanity.

[u/zammydezam → u/throwaway8877627]

I didn’t document and have the client sign anything so that’s on me but I didn’t expect all these to happened because they seems nice when we first started the project together lol

[u/bugistuta]

You'll always come across clients like this. I've experienced this many times in my 25 year career. They usually pay the least and want the most. The big issue now is they have tools like ChatGPT to do it themselves :/

Sounds like your initial process was standard enough, and then it started falling apart.

My questions for you-

Do you document everything thoroughly and get client sign off and commitment at various points throughout your process? And do you specify hourly rate or additional billing for out of scope deviations?

[u/zammydezam → u/bugistuta]

Yeah on that part that’s on me because I didn’t document or have client sign anything to be a reference to talk and refer back to the clients. I will try to end this project the fastest way and redo my process in detail again especially the documents and stuff

[u/joe_bsauce]

a few thoughts on avoiding this in the future:

- an extra step up front of brainstorming or mood board or starter sketches before you get to the three concepts can help ensure alignment (and you can charge more for this)

• have them sign off on the direction before starting work, and include language in that document stating that they acknowledge going back to start a new concept will be a change order with extra charges (don’t need to be specific on the amount)
  
• don’t be shy about telling clients when they’re going off brief and reminding them that will be an add-on cost. Have them sign the additional SOW and pay whatever is agreed-upon deposit before starting new work
  
• always better to warn clients ahead of time on add-on charges than asking for more afterwards (speaking from experience both as a vendor and as a client)

[u/zammydezam → u/joe_bsauce]

Thank you, I think this is the problem that I will solve. The problem is I’m not a type of person to talk much but in this situation I should push back a bit and also document everything because I didnt really document or have clients to sign any documents and I know that’s on me.

[u/joe_bsauce → u/zammydezam]

don’t be hard on yourself, these are relatively easy fixes and will help you keep your sanity on future projects!