Graphic Designers are Funny People!

27 replies
I had a guy do a design for my bass fishing site and it was done in 24 hours and was outstanding. It was in 3-D and he did a great job! So, when I needed another design done I had him do it too. Well, this time the design took close to two weeks and it was awful, something a kid could have done in an hour...I never even used it.

So, I was thinking, you know this guy did a great job for me on my first one and even though he did a terrible job on my second design why not give him a try again. So, I wrote him and told him what I wanted, instead of being the professional he should have been he wanted to argue about a message I sent him where I told him his second design wasn't up to power. I even wrote him about it in a nice way, never mentioned it on the forum to anyone, it was just between him and I.

Well, he started about I mentioned how long it took, which I didn't in a bad way, just mentioned it took hin longer and it was a worse job overall, I think he forgot what was said in the message, I only told him it wasn't his best work compared to his first design he did for me.

My thoughts were he did do a good job on the first one...why not give him another shot? After his message back to me I decided to try someone else. He not only forgot the message I sent him was very polite and I never asked or got a refund for his work on the second design and he didn't even offer to make it right yet, I was still willing to give him another try.

Needless to say, I will never use him again just because of his attitude and his return message to me which he stated things that weren't even true in them. If you're going to reply to a message...remember what was said in the first place and don't make up things to complain about that was never said. Very unprofessional on his part!

Here were the messages between us which at the time I thought was good on both of our parts: Name removed!

His Name, in the thread about having problem with graphic designers, you were the person I was talking about that did an excellent job on one and an awful job on the other one. I have never told anyone this but just to let you know why I haven't used you since.

You did that 3D bass for me and it was fantastic so I had you do another and it took you three times longer than any you ever did for me and it was absolutely awful. Something I could have done myself would have looked better. Maybe, you were in a hurry or maybe things were going on with you but I couldn't believe the same person did the two jobs.

Just between me and you and never no one else.


Anyway, Happy New Year to You!

Wishing you the very best.

His reply

Charles
Charles, I respect your opinion and I understand why you wouldn't use me again if you weren't happy with the work. I apologize if the work wasn't up to par. I believe that was about a year ago, if I'm not mistaken. I've only been doing this professionally for about 15 months now, so I think you caught me at the beginning. The thing with doing graphics (for me at least) is that you are either "on it" or you're not. If I'm having an off day, I have to put my work away for a bit and then try again later. More than likely when I did some bad work for you, I was trying to force it instead of just working on it a little later. I know more now about how I work, than I did then. I also know more about how I run my business and how to stay on top of things. So please accept my apologies for not doing good work for you. I completely understand why you wouldn't want to use me again, and that's fine. But if you feel like trying me again, you know where to find me Have a good one.

So to me we were on good terms but when I asked him to do another graphic, I got all kind of static from him and of course, would never use him again now.

Be professional!
#designers #funny #graphic #people
  • Profile picture of the author Matt Hoey
    Not very business like is it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
      Charles,

      You are right about this I have been in similar situations.

      I think the thing is sometimes the internet does have it's downsides in business.

      For instance say if you were face to face with the guy I am sure he would have acting completely differently.

      The way I look at it if you make a mistake for a client just let them know and 90% of clients will be grateful you let them know, and the other 10% well they were not going to use you again anyway!

      Far too defensive and it looks like he was taking advantage of your lind natured emails.

      Wierd to turn your nose up at repeat business, I will never understand it.

      There is very few (if any) situations online or off where you have to be rude!

      All the best

      Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Nitro
    Being a designer myself, I am totally self conscious about my work and I always want feedback from my clients, if something isn't up to par, I want to know about it, so I can fix it. Sometimes i'll look at my own work and go it's garage and totally scrap it.

    Besides we all have our days where sometimes our work isn't our best. What I would have done is thanked you for pointing out the fact and then I would have offered you a new design or at least some modifications to your liking.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinSkeen
    Would that second graphic have been your avatar???
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    • Profile picture of the author Charles E. White
      Originally Posted by RobinSkeen View Post

      Would that second graphic have been your avatar???
      Robin, if the second graphic would have been my avatar I would have been very satisfied....I mean how could you get better than that? I had that done at Glamour Shots!
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      • Profile picture of the author Aronya
        Originally Posted by Charles E. White View Post

        Robin, if the second graphic would have been my avatar I would have been very satisfied....I mean how could you get better than that? I had that done at Glamour Shots!
        Are you sure they spelled it with an "O"?
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      • Profile picture of the author jshm2
        I mean hey even Satan was an angel at one time before he turned nasty. Sometimes you can get good people who turn out good stuff now and then some people who churn out average stuff and some are just all over the place.

        Depending on your budget and work your better off having several people to rely on for everything that way if you need something done you can get an idea of what it's cost, probably look like and how long it will take, by asking several of them. So when you allocate the job you don't end up with a horror show and a programmer from hell.
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    • Profile picture of the author tommygadget
      Originally Posted by RobinSkeen View Post

      Would that second graphic have been your avatar???
      WOW, that's really funny. Charles, you have to admit, that one was great!

      TomG.

      PS - I still have a hard time looking at your posts because of it
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      • Profile picture of the author Charles E. White
        Originally Posted by tommygadget View Post

        WOW, that's really funny. Charles, you have to admit, that one was great!

        TomG.

        PS - I still have a hard time looking at your posts because of it
        Ya know, you have a sick sense of humor Tom!
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  • Profile picture of the author ecovergeeks
    I too am a graphic deisgner and sometimes have to let past clients down due to workloads, which is a shame as there as only so many hours in the day, I also love to get as much feedback on graphics I do so i can look to improve as much as possible.

    sometimes when i deisgn, i think the deisgn is awful and send it to the client for a initial review and explain that its just a draft, but then sometimes the client actually think that its their final design.

    i guess we just need to read and then reread all emails so everyone understands.

    just my 2 cents

    Thanks
    andy
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  • Profile picture of the author BeauJustin
    This is why I refer to myself as a "recovering graphic designer". There is one part geek, one part artist inside of us, and neither of those to elements could be be described as great people-persons.

    One of my former employers used to say "show me an underweight, mentally stable graphic designer, and I'll show you someone with a labotomy".

    I finally left the business it drove me so crazy. A customer could tell me they "love the design!", but, I don't think I've ever done a website design, or big graphic project that I that I was really happy with. I've actually, subconsiously, spent time trying to convince clients that the design is awful.

    Crimeny! I used to be silly.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Hoey
    It's because you're dealing with a freelancer. The gy or gal obviously doesnt understand how to conduct a business and doesn't understand how necessary feedback is.
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  • Profile picture of the author livebig!
    Graphic designers are tough people to deal with sometimes because they are creative people.... just like Internet Marketers.... some days you're feeling connected to your work and everything's flowing, other times, it's just not...

    That still doesn't excuse his behavior.... Find someone else...
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  • Profile picture of the author Barbara Wilson
    Your initial correspondence seemed so amicable. It's strange that when you contacted him for another project that he wanted to harp back on what seemed to be a closed subject.

    I guess graphics designers can be funny people. BeauJustin offered a pretty good description when he said we're part geek, part artist! ) But this person must have been having a really bad day to want to pick up an old conversation - in an augumentative manner - when you were offering him work! He really should have taken a little walk around the yard before writing that email!
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  • Profile picture of the author primeoutsourcing
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author Charles E. White
      Originally Posted by primeoutsourcing View Post

      LOL! I agree your designer is really crazy.

      Well, I think he just don't understand what you're trying to say. If there's a chance that you can talk via phone then do it. Sometimes, things that just written have some different meaning or he had different interpretations on what you've told him via email or chat. I suggest to call him and talk to him directly.
      Here's the thing, he doesn't remember what was said in our messages, he thinks I gave him a bad time but the only messages any of us sent was the ones you see. He remembers me but not our conversations via the messages.

      I have moved on and got another designer but it just kind of upset me that he thought we were on bad terms after such nice messages between us as above. I haven't seen him post any WSO's lately so maybe he has moved on to something else and doesn't do graphics anymore. Just my opinion, he never stated that.
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      • Profile picture of the author Makabongwe Maseko
        I wouldn't call myself a graphics designer, but I'm quiet good at designing my own stuff, like website headers, sites and stuff.

        But what I've noticed is that some of my designs are very good and some are quiet bad. I don't know what courses me to do bad designs sometimes but it just happens.

        I think when you have a lot of creativity sometimes it just doesn't stick together.

        All the best!
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        • Profile picture of the author Charles E. White
          Originally Posted by Makabongwe Maseko View Post

          I wouldn't call myself a graphics designer, but I'm quiet good at designing my own stuff, like website headers, sites and stuff.

          But what I've noticed is that some of my designs are very good and some are quiet bad. I don't know what courses me to do bad designs sometimes but it just happens.

          I think when you have a lot of creativity sometimes it just doesn't stick together.

          All the best!
          That was my thinking that maybe he just was having a bad day the day he did the second one, that is why I was going to give him another try.
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  • Profile picture of the author blackhatzen
    You get what you pay for with designers. In my 10 years of experience, I've NEVER received good results when hiring a "cheap" designer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daret
    Thank him for his efforts and look for someone else. That would solve the problem I think.
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  • Profile picture of the author Taylor French
    Sounds to me like the guy was insulted. Artists are often not too keep on criticism, even if delivered with a spoonful of sugar.
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  • Profile picture of the author zerivabella
    You need to work out whether it is better to get to him after his dealer has visited or before said visit, then make sure your requests go in on schedule.
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  • Profile picture of the author dearaewi
    I love doing graphic design but find that I spend far too much time and am more critical of my own work then anyone else ever is so I decided to just stick to doing it for me and some friends. I do think people with an "artsy" slant can be a little more temperamental than your average person but I definitely agree that if you're going to do business, you do business in a professional business manner or you won't be doing business long.

    It's a shame, sounds like his work had potential but his attitude blew it all for him. Glad you got past it and moved on.

    Deanna
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  • Profile picture of the author Stephen Saha
    Hi Charles,

    That was a very unprofessional approach from a designer or for that matter any service provider.

    Its true that designers are creative people and everyday the same spark may not happen. But if a client is not satisfied they must report it immediately and get it reworked.

    But that doesn't make them 'Funny People'.
    Just by the approach of a me-too-designer or a part time freelancer you cannot call them funny!

    You will be surprised to hear sometimes (read it quite frequent) what bizarre ideas we get from clients. They want us to create designs based on some thoughts which can only be found in a childrens scrapbook. Its a crazy thing to work on these projects, yet we need to convince the client and get a more sensible piece done.

    Then you have these uncertain clients who place a project and when you do a design, they ask for a rework. Again once you do a rework, they ask for further amendments. After 3-4 reworks, they scrap the job. Its not a problem with the design. The client is not sure what he wants and finally out of confusion halts the project. The poor designer has already put hours of labour on it and now he gets no money.

    Just recently I had created a review page design for a fellow warrior (i won't name names). It was an urgent job and the requirement was just creating an exact copy of a site design with his own wordings and product images. Well once i did it the client started giving new inputs from multiple sites. His comments were one liners without any detailed ouline. A few more reworks and finally (after he returned from a trip after 3 weeks) the client said what you are doing is not matching my idea, so i call it off.

    He doesn't reply to my PMs or mails anymore. Being a fellow warrior i worked on the project without any money. So heres a marketer who is not sure of what he wants and he makes someone work for weeks on his job. Isn't that funny!


    Stephen
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  • Profile picture of the author BizBoost
    He could just be farming out, like a middle man, to lowest bidders on Scriptlance. So, you don't get what you pay for.. you get what HE pays for... could be.

    Eric
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    • Profile picture of the author Taylor French
      Originally Posted by BizBoost View Post

      He could just be farming out, like a middle man, to lowest bidders on Scriptlance. So, you don't get what you pay for.. you get what HE pays for... could be.

      Eric
      That's very true. If the designer got behind, maybe he did hire the design out the second time. Or perhaps he even did it the first time, and then maybe the original designer disappeared or raised their prices before you hired him the second time.
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  • Profile picture of the author coverscorp
    hi charles,

    just advice
    I'm a design(artist ^ ^)
    I love to experiment with the design I create. and it makes my customer very happy.
    however, some customers have a different mind,
    designer is human, and can make mistakes too hehe

    best,
    coverscorp
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  • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
    When I first went out on my own in business I suplemented my wage by working freelance. To make good money as a freelancer you have to be ruthless. I have a sales background so I never found it hard getting work and always had a backlog. If I got a difficult client it could waste a lot of time for me and I would end up earning no money. Because of this if I had a difficult client that returned for more work I would politely refer them onto another agency. Being a freelance designer can be stressful, you really wouldn't believe some of the unrealistic expectations you have to deal with. The guy might have had a string of bad clients recently so I would be inclined to cut the guy some slack and use another designer.
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