N.C. Winters is always drawing. When he isn't making comics, doodling or working as a freelance graphic artist, he spends his time painting pretty pictures for galleries from his home studio in sunny southern California.
I had one client complain that she looked at her logo on four different computers in her office, and the colors were different on each one. “Isn’t there a way you can standardize it – with Pantone or something?” Of course, the color she really wanted was “a nice beige,” and I was expected to know exactly which of 26,000 shades of beige/taupe/tan/khaki was her preference. Gray hair, indeed.
I think I’m getting gray hairs just seeing this comic. I relate to all of these, the worst for me is getting the approval from an entire committee. It seems usually it takes one of the higher ups to finally step in and point out that all of them have differing opinions. It makes me want to scream!
Wow that’s almost a typical day for me. I’ve had web site maintenance clients actually print off their web pages and complain because the colors on the pages didn’t match what was on paper…
I met with a client, sold myself, gave him an overall estimate, and he said he needed to go get approval for the project from his board. After approval, he told me specifics, and I gave him a proposal, and then said he’d need to get THAT approved as well.
I call back, and it turns out different members have different vacations seemingly planned for the next couple months, and they can’t seem to be bothered. Eventually, after approval from his board, that same week, someone offers to buy out the company. Double sad face.
What is sad is that this does not just happen to freelancers alone as I have had this happen to me more than once from the same person I work with, at the company I am currently working full-time at. Now I am talking more about your first example with colour differences and not the second example as there are times where I wish they had an approval stage. Without one you will be redoing the work so many times over you are wondering where they really are going with these projects. I also try to ask what are the stages of work flow so I can get an idea of how many people will be looking it over, so I know much I have to put into the design or not. The more people there are the less work I do so I can get an overall idea of concerns from each member on a draft copy to make the next copy much better for everyone, less people and I put out a great design to impress and make it seem odd for one member out of the group to give large concern on the design compared to the rest. I don’t try to do this to save my own ass from work, but to make sure that the overall design is to the standard I know works and am trying to achieve with getting the lest criticisms from people that don’t have the experience in the web field even though the “feel” they do. I analyze people a lot.
We once had a guy take us to court because his site on paper was printed landscape, but once populated with content and on screen it looked (obviously) more portrait, and he was on an 800×600 monitor.
Wow… if that doesn’t about sum it up, I don’t know what will. But it’s a good point to bring up with freelancers because it’s something that everyone should consider bringing up with their client at some point or another. For example, we have a clause on the back of our invoice that states that we are not responsible for color discrepancies, especially in regards to soft proofs. In regards to the other two, I’ve found that if you’re up front and honest with the client about issues like these from the start, they respect you for that – and if they don’t, well, is that really the kind of client you want to work with anyway?
The worst experience I’ve EVER had with graphic design is the committee. I swear, you can take a dozen of the most open minded, creative, intelligent people in the world. Call ‘em a committee, and their collective IQ will drop to double digits…
Any suggestions on how to talk a client out from those three “gray hair” situations? …or do we just say a big “no” to them without explaining why and bang the phone just before they reply?!
Lol, so true, so true. In fact, those are the exact three reasons I just quit my full time job and now I’m begining to work as freelance. Needless to say I just earned in two weeks what I used to earn in two months and yet I’m saving my self from situations like those, though I know sooner or later I will across with a client as my former bosses.
I can relate to the whole “images from the web” case. You won’t imagine how many times I have to make them vectors to save the day. lol
I had one client complain that she looked at her logo on four different computers in her office, and the colors were different on each one. “Isn’t there a way you can standardize it – with Pantone or something?” Of course, the color she really wanted was “a nice beige,” and I was expected to know exactly which of 26,000 shades of beige/taupe/tan/khaki was her preference. Gray hair, indeed.
I think I’m getting gray hairs just seeing this comic. I relate to all of these, the worst for me is getting the approval from an entire committee. It seems usually it takes one of the higher ups to finally step in and point out that all of them have differing opinions. It makes me want to scream!
I am glad that I am not the only person who has come across clients ‘borrowing’ images from the web
Wow that’s almost a typical day for me. I’ve had web site maintenance clients actually print off their web pages and complain because the colors on the pages didn’t match what was on paper…
BTW, I really enjoy these comics.
I met with a client, sold myself, gave him an overall estimate, and he said he needed to go get approval for the project from his board. After approval, he told me specifics, and I gave him a proposal, and then said he’d need to get THAT approved as well.
I call back, and it turns out different members have different vacations seemingly planned for the next couple months, and they can’t seem to be bothered. Eventually, after approval from his board, that same week, someone offers to buy out the company. Double sad face.
This hit home.
Approval by committee has to be one of the most time consuming and difficult things to face.
I wish we could just have one decision maker every time.
What is sad is that this does not just happen to freelancers alone as I have had this happen to me more than once from the same person I work with, at the company I am currently working full-time at. Now I am talking more about your first example with colour differences and not the second example as there are times where I wish they had an approval stage. Without one you will be redoing the work so many times over you are wondering where they really are going with these projects. I also try to ask what are the stages of work flow so I can get an idea of how many people will be looking it over, so I know much I have to put into the design or not. The more people there are the less work I do so I can get an overall idea of concerns from each member on a draft copy to make the next copy much better for everyone, less people and I put out a great design to impress and make it seem odd for one member out of the group to give large concern on the design compared to the rest. I don’t try to do this to save my own ass from work, but to make sure that the overall design is to the standard I know works and am trying to achieve with getting the lest criticisms from people that don’t have the experience in the web field even though the “feel” they do. I analyze people a lot.
Still excellent comics, keep them coming!
where’s the rogaine!
Man, I’ve been there… all three of them. I guess thats why I’ve already found gray hairs on my head at the age of 20.
Been there too!
Some guy printed the website I made for him and decided to change the dimentions to match what he want on the papers … was so stupid so I quit!
We once had a guy take us to court because his site on paper was printed landscape, but once populated with content and on screen it looked (obviously) more portrait, and he was on an 800×600 monitor.
Needless to say the case was thrown out.
I’m amazed at how accurate some of these comics are. In fact, the second one from this slide is exactly the reason why I left my last full time job.
Every freelancer has to deal with such kind of situations sooner or later. That is the worst part of the experience. God save us!
Wow… if that doesn’t about sum it up, I don’t know what will. But it’s a good point to bring up with freelancers because it’s something that everyone should consider bringing up with their client at some point or another. For example, we have a clause on the back of our invoice that states that we are not responsible for color discrepancies, especially in regards to soft proofs. In regards to the other two, I’ve found that if you’re up front and honest with the client about issues like these from the start, they respect you for that – and if they don’t, well, is that really the kind of client you want to work with anyway?
hahaha! I’m starting to appreciate these strips more and more as I get more clients!
I love clients with clearly defined Corporate Identity – you just use color from CID and they are happy
Just make it more “flashy”
I think this is the best FF comic yet!
Now I know why I already have gray hairs (at 26)!
The worst experience I’ve EVER had with graphic design is the committee. I swear, you can take a dozen of the most open minded, creative, intelligent people in the world. Call ‘em a committee, and their collective IQ will drop to double digits…
Any suggestions on how to talk a client out from those three “gray hair” situations? …or do we just say a big “no” to them without explaining why and bang the phone just before they reply?!
That last panel caught me though! I thought the image was actually having problems. LOL!
Oh man I have dealt with the colors issue a lot.
Have to love greens looking different on LCD’s from different angles.
“I like this green, but from a 45 degree angle, I want it to look like that from every angle”
Okay I’ll get right on that and buy you a better monitor.
That’s me! I’m not freelance, but that is so like my job.
Lol, so true, so true. In fact, those are the exact three reasons I just quit my full time job and now I’m begining to work as freelance. Needless to say I just earned in two weeks what I used to earn in two months and yet I’m saving my self from situations like those, though I know sooner or later I will across with a client as my former bosses.
Nice one again
Hope that all of us will have enaught fun for all live ethaps