This video is a slight exaggeration (VERY slight) of a typical day designing for clients:
Believe me, it’s funny because it’s so true — most of the time anyway. Like I said, I’ve been lucky lately in that I have clients who actually trust my experience and opinion.
Once, when designing a logo, I received a spreadsheet from the client who ran her own focus group on it — not out of the ordinary. She had asked friends and family their opinions. Some had polar opposite ideas of how the logo needed to be ‘fixed.’ She also asked her niece for her two cents, who was maybe 7…? Her niece didn’t like the color, which the client herself had chosen.
Then she asked me to accommodate all the opinions. Dude.
If you know a graphic designer who is in a shitty mood, this is probably why. We are totally moody and disgruntled and yes, COMPLETE BABIES about it. We are one larger-logo-request away to going postal. At which point the phrase won’t be, “going postal,” anymore; it will be, “going designer.”
I am certainly not the best designer out there, by any means. Of course clients should have opinions, and if they are paying me, obviously they should be happy with what they receive. I think I have crossed that line where I am too tired to argue anymore, about why that logo shouldn’t take up half of your business card, or why white space is a good thing and not an opportunity to add more clip art. So I put up a little front, but then I just do what they want. Which is probably why I should hang my hat.
It’s hard to say no to jobs though. And when I have clients who are respectful and get it, I still enjoy it. Still… there are good graphic designers, and then there are truly talented designers, who are not only good design-wise but who also have the ability to steer clients gently in the right direction.
I am not one of those designers. I’m the moody, disgruntled, be-a-baby kind.
So I feel the time is right for me to start figuring out what I want to do again. Start a business? I’m thinking about it. Maybe if I put it out to the Internet, I’ll be more motivated (read: overcome my fear) to move on it. I have some ideas. But I think I need a therapist/life coach to help me figure out this part of my life.
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[sharp change of subject]
A sign that the renovations might be affecting the kids a little too much: when they keep forgetting the name for Silly Putty and instead call it Plumber’s Plutty (yes, PLutty; it’s a bit of a tongue twister for a 4-year-old I guess).
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In contrast to me bitching about the Internet closing in on me, the flip side is that we get to meet and hang out with some cool people and their kids:
The Hapa Convention: (above) T, Cadence, Buddy, LN, Bean
The wonderfully talented Sarah of Shutterbug Mama (and mom to Cadence) took these photos. I hope it’s still okay that I’m posting these… they are too cute to not share! (Of course, I’m biased.)
Check out some more of Sarah’s beautiful photography here.
10 Comments
Thanks for the pics, the kids have gotten so big! And they are beautiful shots…as to your prior post, I feel that way so much so that I haven’t posted in a very long time at all. Maybe again soon, but I doubt it. So glad you’re writing again, even if it’s every 4 months it’s good reading:)
Ooooh, now I’m so curious as to what you might do career-wise… (As well as what’s in your portfolio, just because I’m nosy like that!)
What CUTE photos!!!!! Beautiful kids….I am Hapa and love to see others like me
glad you are back. and am curious as to your new business ideas. i hope you take the plunge (i fantasize about such things daily, but i find myself waffling between a kid friendly play space w/ homemade meals AND the law firm of ME. so. here’s to hoping you are more focused.)
I told you. I am available as Life Coach. Got a whistle, willing to bark orders via email. Now I just need me some coach-y looking shorts. Won’t even charge you much. How about Buddy as my son-in-law? Too pushy? Too early and medieval assbackward? Okay, okay. I will give you time to think it over.
Meanwhile, I am going to ponder why I am not able to see that hilarious video. Maybe I’m not meant to laugh today. Oh wait, you took designing suggestions from someone’s 7 year old niece? Ouch. I will go over there and chortle… I am chortling WITH you, not at you, by the way.
I’ve contemplated starting a jewelry business but haven’t had the guts to. I’m too comfy at my current job and am very afraid of financial instability.
Too.Funny. The part where they want to add all kinds of credentials really hit home…I literally had a similar conversation with a client about adding her little logo’d credentials on a business card I was designing and all I could think of was: “It’s so busy…”. Thanks for sharing.
Wait. **rubbing eyes** There are … posts … here?
i was considering graphic design (once the kids are autonomous), but now i’m not so sure.
gorgeous pics of the kids. would love to come see all you moms and kids sometime for a big ole nerdy internet playdate!
ahahaha!! that was hilarious! i’m a graphic designer also, but luckily haven’t had to deal with such asinine clients as them! your kids are adorable~