"We have the greatest job in the world, except for the clients." -Roger Sterling
After watching the latest Mad Men episode I was starkly reminded of how a good client makes all the difference. Chip Kidd remarks in "The Learners" that there is only one thing that unites all of the greatest design work ever done... that is the client. A good client is excited to collaborate in order to explore new angles and possibilities. A good client sees new customers where a bad one sees "edgy".
So it was that I recently got a freelance gig to do some design work for a rather formidable company (not so much a large company, more like an obese one). They repeatedly state how much they enjoy the work only to follow with "but can we be a little safer?". This phrase always reminds me of the week in school where all of my classmates, save me and a fat little Indian boy, were inside watching a sex-ed video, while the two of us were forced to sit in the playground-- the last thing we wanted was to play so we sat on the ground, cursing our parents.
So with the last round of comps done, looking like nothing so much as a nun in a hospital. The outcome was stale, old-world and did nothing for the brand. Here is the email I sent with the final images to the comrade who is working on the project with me:
Mr. ####,
As per our discussion here are the final sketches for your client. We are going to stick with the living room addition and the upstairs bathroom, however we will be removing the central heat and be replacing it with a coal-burning oven. I have to stress the dangers involved with burning coal in one's living situation, it is both dangerous (known to cause lung, skin and brain cancer) and horribly unappealing (smelly, smoky and cumbersome). Still, we try and always do what the client wants so in the sketches I have included the new basement coal storage as well as the servant's quarters (who is going to change the coal regularly).
I do regret to inform you that we will not be able to install the flogging machine as we do not have the blueprints nor skill to do so.
Regards,
Senor Reyes and Staff
