Chapter 7 – Appreciate and Value Your Clients

The contempt with which designers will treat their clients and coworkers is simply awful. Before you became an expert in your craft, did you have a perfect grasp of the differences in image types or file sizes?

Why would your client understand and be able to properly communicate the subtle differences in grey? What does warm grey, flat grey, or cool grey mean to a baker who is hoping you can design their website?

Rather than amusement, you should be filled with excitement to be able to illuminate and assist.

The benefit of your expertise is not to be able to denote one hundred shades of grey or multiple design patterns on command. The true benefit is being able to use that knowledge to shepherd those without the language and bring them to the design they want.

You are the design professional; they are not! If they knew all the ins and outs of designs as well as you, you’d be out of a job. Thank goodness for their ignorance! How exciting to be able to contribute and help another.

Creating designs and UIs relies so heavily on having empathy for the user and being sensitive of their needs and values. You will be well served if you reserve some of that empathy for those you are working for.

In securing your long-term career, think about the negative effects this disdain for a client’s lack of design knowledge has. Why invite that designer who rolls their eyes and laughs at a lack of color theory to the new company? Hardly feels conducive to a close working environment, and it doesn’t feel supportive to the team. Imagine instead the designer who loves to help, works collaboratively to really flesh out what I’m trying to say, and who is eager to share what they know to better the team and the client.

The phrase “love your clients” (or coworkers) is said very flippantly, where it’s more geared toward the love of having clients rather than the clients themselves. Love involves all kinds emotions: patience, empathy, care, and a desire for the other to thrive.

Each interaction is an opportunity to strengthen your bond with your coworkers and clients. Don’t waste it with unhelpful negativity or levity at their expense. Care for them, shepherd them, and use your gifts to help them.

You want to be known as the one who gets hired because by working with you, they get a feeling that things are going to be all right. This comes from trust, word of mouth, their instincts after a consultation, and the day-to-day care they experience from you. When you are reliable and trustworthy, displaying wisdom, humility, self-awareness, and the confidence required to set them at ease that you will deliver on time, problem-solve with a calm spirit when issues arise, and be kind with their shortcomings, you will be sought after and appreciated.