1- know your team's capacity 2- prioritize the requirements 3- discuss the scopes of tge requirements, can we deliver part of it as a first iteration and then deliver other parts in next iterations 4- rethink about each prioritized requirement design, can we tolerate having technical debts over faster delivery ? ... if so, then we can deliver the first iteration as a working deliverable, and the second iteration will be fixing the tech debts 4 - assess the requirements timelines after the design and scope changes 5- commit to the new timelines, and make sure to handle technical debts after first iteration delivery

To keep clients happy with clashing timelines and design dilemmas, I’d start by becoming a scheduling wizard and prioritizing like it’s an Olympic sport. Clear, honest communication is key—letting them know where things stand without overpromising. And, if all else fails, I’ll offer complimentary coffee coupons as a peace offering! ???

When facing conflicting time lines and design challenges, the key focus is to prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact, openly communicate with stakeholders to negotiate deadlines, and creatively adapt your design approach to meet the most critical needs within the given timeframe. This may involve assessing the situation, evaluating the importance of each design element and its impact on the overall project goals, identify which elements can be scaled back or adjusted if necessary to meet the primary deadlines. Be transparent about potential trade offs with the stakeholders and negotiate reasonable deadlines, if feasible, leverage the expertise of different team members and consider involving them to assist with some specific tasks.

Meet with the customer. Put everything on a big board, using Post-Its. There are 3 columns, MUST HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, COULD HAVE. Each project item/task/feature has a cost in manpower/time. And you better be conservatively realistic in those numbers, because this is YOUR reputation on the line. Let the customer play Tetris with which elements go where, because it's usually their priorities which dictate the direction you'll proceed. Also, each column only has so much room in it, everything can't fit in the MUST HAVE. Take the customer's vision & figure out how you can complete the tasks/features with the time/manpower allocated. Reiterate as needed. Now you're all on the same team. Deliver what you said you could, in the given timeframe.

Set clear expectations from the start: Communicate potential challenges and realistic timelines upfront to avoid surprises later. Prioritize based on impact: Work with the client to identify the most critical features or deliverables, focusing on high-priority tasks that will bring the most value. Break down the project into phases: Deliver smaller, incremental updates that provide value early on, so the client feels progress even if the full design isn’t ready. Maintain regular communication: Keep the client updated with progress, challenges, and any necessary adjustments to timelines, ensuring they feel informed and involved. Offer solutions, not just problems, when facing design challenges, propose alternatives or trade-offs.