Facing the Boss-Level Client: Lessons from the Hardest Work Week

After a long stretch, I found myself facing a “boss-level” client—one of those high-stakes situations that can either motivate or drain a designer completely. It’s been one of the most intense work weeks, and just as the challenges kept rolling in, this client added a new twist.

First, let me clear something up: Do designers hate suggestions? Absolutely not! Constructive feedback that improves the design? We’re all in. But when a client sends a sudden email to my lead, requesting a senior designer to take over, it left me uneasy and confused. I started questioning everything: Where did I go wrong? I followed every instruction, completed each revision on time, and provided every requested change.

Luckily, I have a lead who supports the team. He assured the client that I had followed instructions to the letter and suggested that clear requirements would help ensure we met their expectations seamlessly. And just like that, we received detailed feedback! It turned out that the client wanted a more dynamic, theme-aligned design that popped.

So, I took the brief, went back to the drawing board, and completely redesigned the project. This time, I had the space and time to create mockups that reflected the client’s expectations. Instead of getting bogged down with countless minor changes, we ensured the design was fully aligned with their vision from the start. With only two small adjustments, the design was finally approved.

Here’s the takeaway: Designers love to design, to take on challenges, and to bring visions to life. But it’s hard to stay motivated when endless changes lead to nothing, when a design we’ve meticulously revised is scrapped, and our time and effort feel wasted. What we need is clear guidance, reasonable adjustments, and the creative freedom to meet your goals.

Trust me, if you give a designer clarity, time, and respect, they’ll bring their best every time. We love what we do, and with a little collaboration, we’ll be eager to work with you - willingly and enthusiastically.

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