You're Killin' Me Here!
I have been reading a lot lately on the horror stories involved when a client suddenly takes over a design project and basically kills the entire creative project. It sounds a little extreme, but no sooner did I read the articles on clients killing creative than the exact thing happened to me.
What started out as a simple Realtor print ad resize and typographic touch-up, turned into a job from Hell. I found myself just waiting, as patiently as I could, for this job to end and realizing that I would never use this layout as a portfolio piece.
The client first contacted me to assist in the resize of a vertical, half-page ad to a full-page ad. I was even provided with the images (although there was a little back-and-forth on what constituted high-resolution) and copy. I've done this many times and actually thought I was being hired to upgrade and update the look from the Word doc that was used before. (Word doc - should that have been a clue?)
After I sent the first draft with some changes for balance and typographical legibility and hierarchy, that's when I started getting calls and email messages that sent the project straight down to the depths of the aforementioned Hell. When I got feedback and directives in one of those email messages to use "...the scrolly typestyle I (the client) used on the half – page ad layout" and to "...put the line screen over it, or make it look transparent, but still recognizable. I don’t want it to look white" (referring to a background, screened photo of a staircase), I knew all hope was lost. I bit the bullet and turned into a production artist for someone who knew not what they were doing. Ugh.
The lesson learned? Well, I really thought this client contacted me because there was a desire to actually evoke a more professional and refined look for a Realtor selling million-dollar-plus homes. I was recommended to this client for that purpose. What I failed to do was take charge from the start, prepare a simple one-page creative brief stating our respective roles and responsibilities, and treat this perceived "quick" project like a serious one. I assumed entirely wrong (I know - NEVER assume) and took a chance on a quick job and turnaround. I also learned that if I want to be taken seriously as a designer, I need to have the same respect and seriousness for the client - even a Word doc one.
All will work out fine. As of the date of this entry, the final proof (that ended-up looking exactly like the original half-page ad) has not yet been approved. How much lower can it go at this point? Stay tuned...
Oh man, I feel your pain. I have spent HOURS on projects only to have them dumped for something plain & unexciting. Those "Word" designers need help! They need to realize that having a computer does NOT automatically make you a designer!
I got a kick out of it when you talked about how the client tried to use lingo (line screen) as if he knew what he was talking about, when in actuality had no clue!