I not too long ago had a really discouraging expertise that has utterly challenged my sense of self-worth and proficiency as a designer. A brand new consumer anticipated me to create a model identification for a brand new undertaking within the span of 1 week, together with logos, font picks, aesthetic analysis + structure instructions for a deck. I used to be onboarded for the undertaking late Friday, anticipated to show round a primary draft for all elements by Monday, was given suggestions on late Wednesday, then anticipated to show round a last deck with all picks by Friday. Me and the consumer ended up parting methods as a result of they did not like something that I turned in + finally I felt a bit begrudging as a result of this isn’t my most popular work mode and I used to be not comfy with the way in which they had been pushing me round and not likely offering constructive suggestions.
In the end I didn’t really feel relaxed to discover and take my time on the undertaking and the standard did endure, to which I do attest.
This timeline was fairly excessive for me and I’m wondering if different Redditors right here would agree with me this appears actually quick to supply high quality work.
My questions are:
1. Do you assume it is okay to arrange branding tasks on a timeline of 3-5 weeks? I’m now contemplating scripting this into my contract. I think about myself to be an intermediate-advanced degree designer however finally I do not work very quick. I like to start tasks, go away them for a bit and are available again. Which actually doesn’t work with the business timelines I typically discover myself in.
2. How can I develop to have the ability to create new and complicated designs on a whim? I really feel I not often can do issues like this, because it stresses me out tremendously.
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Thanks
1 week for a full branding project resulting in an entire suite including a finalised and signed off logo, branding devices and typefaces, but also all the research, competitor research, landscape research, data gathering etc…
Even if you worked full time on that, and just that project, would be ridiculous. Unless they were after some fivver- quality work, no chance you could produce professional standard work in that time frame. They probably have a misconception due to fivver and other quick turn around services like that.
For an entire project in that timeframe I would have charged a lot more than standard pricing as that is a mental timeframe
When I get a client, I do basic data gathering and before I even start charging I present them with a “discovery” document. Which basically parrots back everything they’ve told me… Directions, styles, influences, full scope of the project, key dates… Everything. I list what I will do and give *rough* time frames, research stage (allowing time and giving deadlines to client to hand over data etc), concepts, allow time for amendments (there I can give the client my own deadlines). I make it clear that it’s not a case of me working *for them*, we’ll work *together*, if they delay it will knock onto me
3-5 weeks is not just acceptable but actually pretty standard for a smaller project. It’s not you who needs to adjust anything here other than hopefully finding better clients. The only way the client‘s ridiculous expectations could be considered would be if
A: The identity consists of rough scribbles and no one really cares
B: The Budget is so insanely high that it’s worth not sleeping for four days straight (even though I’m not sure if that would make for a very productive designer but whatever).
Or C: The client literally wants you to just use readymade templates for everything
There will always be clients with unrealistic expectations – whether that be time as you have experienced or people asking the world for fifteen bucks. Try not to let this get to you – but easier said than done. In time the sting will fade and the more you come across the more you can shift the blame to them rather than yourself.
Did you discuss the deadline beforehand? The earlier you can raise concerns the better. Rather than having it within your contract I would just have a discussion with the client beforehand about realistic expectations. Let them know they want a final product before most would even supply initial ideas. Advise if they really must stick to such stringent deadlines that the quality will suffer as a result. If you really aren’t comfortable politely decline the job.
In my experience with designing quickly – this basically boils down to asking the client what logos they like and essentially ripping them off without being too close to save time with initial design phases. This might result in you supplying work you aren’t 100% on board with but if the client is happy that is the main thing in my eyes. You don’t have to put every piece you create in your portfolio.
Hope this helps.
What stands out to me is that they wanted so much done over one weekend. To do basically 50-75% of the work over two days (and a weekend no less) with no notice is definitely ridiculous.
A week could be fine, just depends on the context and how important it is. If it was for a total company branding or some major brand or something, then no, that’s not reasonable. But if it’s for some smaller product line or something it could be fine.
I mean I’ve done branding in an afternoon before, because it was basically just for some small independent business in the middle of nowhere so to speak that just needed something that looked cool and was “Space-themed” or something, where they’d probably like whatever I made anyway. But that’s something that also could just be abandoned next month and have no real consequence, or end up being used for 10 years. Not the same as branding some 200-employee business where the branding will be on everything from stationary to catalogs and company vans, and hopefully be trademarked.
>Do you think it’s okay to set up branding projects on a timeline of 3-5 weeks? I am now considering writing this into my contract. I consider myself to be an intermediate-advanced level designer but ultimately I don’t work very fast. I like to begin projects, leave them for a bit and come back. Which really does not work with the commercial timelines I often find myself in.
Like I mentioned, this really has to do with context. If you can’t adjust your schedule based on the needs at hand, then that *could* be an issue. Like if someone did just need something quick/easy within a couple days, you need to be able to scale down and just come up with something that just meets the requirements and is competent (essentially just aiming for “good enough”), you can’t treat it the same as something more significant that might reasonably require 3-5 weeks or months.
>How can I grow to be able to create new and complex designs on a whim? I feel I rarely can do things like this, as it stresses me out tremendously.
A lot of it is just focusing on the core objectives. Start with those first, the basics of what it absolutely needs to do, no ideals or anything, and then use the remaining time to do more.
For example as a hypothetical, say you only have 8 hours to do a logo, but you know it has to do some core beats. So maybe you spend a few hours on research and info gathering, a few on brainstorming and concept development, and a few on finalizing. If you also have to go through approvals/revisions in that 8 hours, then probably cut all that in half and aim to start revisions by the 4-6 hour mark.
You can’t just go into it as if there is no timeline, because you’ll be through that 8 hours in no time.
It’s kind of like American vs Japanese cars in the 70s or 80s, and how Japanese manufacturers were able to make better cars for less money. American companies would design the car, then see what it costs, and then set a price based on what they wanted their profit to be. Japanese companies would set the price and profit margin *first*, establishing a budget for what the car could cost, and then engineered/designed a car around that figure.
The only way to work really quicky is to systematize and prepare as much as possible. The designers who are able to work really quickly are those who generally are more specialized, with a style they are familiar with, and a set working process with experience and sometimes even pre-made elements, a bit like a design system. And clients choose them because they want that style. That’s the best way to be efficient for a designer. Flipside is it’s generally not as fulfilling for designers.
The other way is basically doing things that are more derivative and simple. The more you practice one thing, the quicker you’ll be at it. So making variations of similar things basically. But again, not always very interesting work.
I doubt you’re a slow designer, good work takes time, which is something not all clients understand unfortunately. I think the only “issue” here was you not being more clear about the time you needed upfront. Though I get that it’s not always easy to be more demanding with clients.
Efficiency comes with mastering tools and processes and how wisely (or not) you use your time, not from working on projects with unrealistic deadlines.
IMO the lesson here isn’t “get faster at design” it’s “what were the red flags from this client/project and how can I identify and avoid them in the future to avoid setting myself up for failure?”
Getting finals for all that in 1 week is ludicrous unless you are being paid ludicrous money.
1 week is unrealistic, 3 weeks min before the first presentation.
There is nothing bad being a bad designer but you should come up with good design after taking much time. Once you start practicing daily , you will become professional.