When Design Goes Awry: A Story of Client's Artistic Endeavors

In the world of marketing, where visual appeal and professional presentation are paramount, one client's journey took a peculiar turn. It all began when a company, let's call them Company C, sought assistance in revamping their online presence and marketing strategy.

The team working with Company C quickly identified a critical issue—Company C’s attempts at utilising Facebook as a marketing platform had yielded no results. Sensing an opportunity for improvement, we suggested a shift towards LinkedIn, as it better aligned with the target audience. Furthermore, we discovered that Company C's content lacked the professional tone necessary for effective branding.?

Especially the type of audience they were hoping to attract and engage with.?

However, the Managing Director (MD) of Company C had a different plan in mind. The MD decided to assign the task of online marketing to the company's admin assistant, simply because she was young and seemingly had spare time on her hands.

Undeterred, our team continued their discussions with the MD, highlighting the importance of case studies in showcasing the company's expertise and adding value to his business. To our surprise, the MD initially dismissed the idea, believing that case studies held no significance for his business.

Afterall what would the benefit possibly be in demonstrating the quality of the work and company ethos through real life examples?

In a moment of revelation, the team encouraged the MD to recall a recent project where his company’s quick and professional work had averted a potential catastrophe during a busy racing event. The MD, caught off guard, realised the impact that one day had on their client and the surrounding community.?

Suddenly, the significance of case studies became crystal clear.

Eager to rectify the oversight, the MD commissioned the team to write a case study and design a corporate template that would effectively portray Company C’s accomplishments. We meticulously gathered the MD's requirements, aiming for a visually appealing and digital-friendly design.

Drawing inspiration from the company's website, our team incorporated the company logo, approved images, and infographics to maintain consistency across all marketing materials. Adhering to screen ratios and pixel counts, we ensured the template would be displayed seamlessly at trade shows and on the website.?

Spaces were allocated for images and key facts about each project, and the text was grouped as per the MD's request. To further align with the company's branding, our team utilised the corporate colors for headings, employing Adobe Photoshop to bring their vision to life. Several versions were presented to the MD, even using the company's logo font for the text, allowing room for feedback and adjustments.

To our astonishment, the MD dismissed our efforts, likening our designs to the work of a four-year-old. In a surprising twist, the MD declared that he would take matters into his own hands, confident that he could create a masterpiece of marketing.

Days later, our team received the supposed masterpiece.?

With a sense of anticipation, they opened the file, only to be met with disbelief. The case study had been haphazardly created in Microsoft Word, using a simple A4 paper in portrait orientation. At the top was the company logo, accompanied by a single image of a company van. As the case study unfolded, colored squares, arranged without coherence, filled the pages.?

These squares were offset at odd angles and bore no relation to the company's designated corporate colors. To add to the confusion, random company facts were scattered throughout, unrelated to the actual case study. Furthermore, a blurry image, devoid of the company's work, was buried amidst the text. To top it off, the font used was Times Roman, a far cry from the modern font in the company's logo.

Regrettably, our team never received compensation for our hard work on the template, and to this day, Company C continues to use the MD's childlike art project as their standard case study format. The unchanging image of the van and the repetitive, unrelated company facts persist, serving as a stark reminder of the missed opportunity to elevate their marketing efforts.

This story serves as a powerful lesson on the value of engaging professionals and the significance of listening to their advice. Our team had the knowledge and experience to steer Company C’s marketing efforts in the right direction. We carefully assessed the target audience, identified the need for case studies, and put forth creative and visually appealing design options to elevate Company C's brand.

However, when the MD disregarded our expertise and decided to take matters into his own hands, the results were far from desirable. The hastily created case study, with its jumbled layout, irrelevant facts, and inappropriate font, failed to convey the company's professionalism and expertise effectively.

This serves as a stark reminder that professionals in their respective fields possess specialised knowledge and skills for a reason. Collaboration and trust in their expertise can lead to successful outcomes. By dismissing our advice and undervaluing our contributions, Company C missed the opportunity to enhance their marketing efforts and showcase their capabilities.

The unfortunate outcome, our team was left uncompensated and Company C continued using an amateurish template, serving as a reminder of the consequences of not heeding professional advice. It highlights the need for open communication, active listening, and respect for the expertise of marketing professionals.

Ultimately, this story emphasises the importance of collaboration and recognising the value that professionals bring to the table. When engaging experts in any field, it is essential to listen attentively, respect their knowledge, and work together to achieve the desired results. By doing so, companies can avoid the pitfalls of misguided artistic endeavors and unlock the full potential of their marketing strategies.