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At times, dealing with clients could be a nightmare but tackling difficult clients is all part and parcel of the game…isn’t it? Now, don’t get me wrong here… I don’t wish to imply that all clients are pesky and irritating. On the contrary, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some very nice and cooperative clients, but I’ve also had my fair share of worst clients as well. Recall my recent post on personality types of graphic designers. Similar to that, I feel that clients can also be categorized according to similar traits and behaviors. Each can be classified into a certain personality type. A graphic designer must be capable of dealing with all types of clients. Hence, it is better to identify what type of client you are dealing with, so that you are ready to deal with any client objections and rejections. |
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1. The Wise “Mr. X”: |
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| These types of clients are commonplace, especially if you are a graphic designer. There is literally no shortage of Smart Alec’s and Know-it-all’s in this world. Wise owls are the type of clients who think they are more adept than the designer and want to impose their ‘wisdom’ over the designer. This can be really provoking for a graphic designer to listen to client statements like “Hey! I know more than you do!” But then you have to remember…patience is virtue! | |
2. The Runaway Bride |
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| These are the shrewdest and most deceiving of all clients. Like a runaway bride, these types of clients runaway from the middle of a contract or agreement, leaving graphic designers high and dry. They learn a few concepts from you and then rob you of your design ideas without any remuneration whatsoever. Other runaway clients are those who shy away from their contract agreements in the middle of the project saying, “Hey I’ve changed my mind…I don’t need a design anymore.” | |
3. The Granny: |
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| While majority of clients prefer modern and contemporary designs, there a few clients whom I’d like to term as “grannies”…stuck in the past. They are typical traditionalists who favor conventional and old design concepts and don’t like any changes to their ancient thinking. No matter how much you try to convince them, they will remain adamant to their fixed concepts. They remind me of “That 70’s Show”. | |
4. The Cheapskate: |
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| As the name suggests, these are the clients who are miserly and scrooge when it comes to payments and remuneration. They fight over each and every dime without realizing that one should not forgo quality over money. On the contrary, they seek the best design in the least amount possible. They would look for discounts and concessions. Another trait of cheapskate client is that they would effortlessly declare, “That’s an easy job and shouldn’t cost much.” | |
5. Miss-Confusion |
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| I remember working with a client who had this to say “I need a design that is AWESOME!” I asked him what he meant by awesome, to which he replied “I don’t know, but it should be something REALLY AWESOME!” These types of confused clients can be really serious trouble for graphic designers to handle. No prejudice but among male female clients, I find female ones to be more confused than their counterparts. At one point they’ll approve a design and the next minute they’ll change their mind. | |
6. The Backseat Driver: |
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| If you happen to drive a car, you might be familiar with this term. Backseat driving is when the person sitting behind the driver in the car shouts “Watch it!” “Drive slowly!” or “Take a left, no take a right!” Think how annoying it is for the driver. Similarly, some clients are like backseat drivers, always fidgeting and meddling in your work. The one thing you would never want as a graphic designer is interference in you work and that is precisely what these type of clients do. Their will try to put in their two cents even if it doesn’t make any sense. | |
7. The Impulsive Freak |
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| Some clients are impulsive by nature. They simply don’t have a grip over their emotions. Their emotions are unpredictable and unstable. At one point they would go as far as praising you with laurels, while on the other hand go seriously angry over the slightest of things. Hysteric as it may seem, this is a real test for graphic designers to control their own emotions while dealing with these types of clients. | |
8. The Taunting Mother-in-Law |
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| Those who are married can quite well understand this personality type of clients. Although I’m single, I do have a fair but of idea of how taunting a mother-in-law can be. Likewise, some clients are so disapproving and complaining that they would nit-pick on the each and every step of the project. They are so cynical that they would mock your designs saying, “My nephew can design better than you”. | |
9. The "Impatient" patient |
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| These types of clients are the restless souls who keep wandering over a graphic designer’s head to get their designs as soon as possible. They are so impatient that they expect you to finish their design project within the next minute. This can be a real menace and exasperating for designers who simply cannot perform their work in haste. These types of clients underlie the golden principle of “haste makes waste.” | |
10. The Happy-go-lucky: |
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| Dealing with confused and angry clients is one thing, but to encounter a careless and happy-go-lucky can be even difficult for graphic designers. Since these are the kind of clients who meet you the first day, tell you what they want and then never bother to coordinate again. They are so carefree and nonchalant that they don’t even come for revisions or amendments. What happens is that in the end, If they don’t like the design, it the designer who they blame. | |
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You listed all the bad types of clients, but you didn’t list any good types. I have had both amazing and difficult clients, and I think it’s unfair to classify all of them into these ten bad personalities.