Used to take client words at face value, now I look for the gaps they leave

I used to think if a client said 'I just need a simple logo' it was a quick job. After two weeks of revisions where they kept adding 'one more thing' I snapped. Now I ask for 3 to 5 examples of what they like and a written list of non-negotiable elements before I touch my tablet. A client last month told me 'I want something fresh' but couldn't name a single color. Their reference folder had 20 screenshots of competitors' exact layouts. Anyone else learned to decode vague praise into concrete requirements ahead of time?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony16520h ago

Friend of mine had a client say 'make it pop' and handed over a mood board with literally just pictures of their own product from different angles. He learned the hard way to get that stuff written down first.

nathang6719h ago

Three times I've seen designers skip the discovery phase and end up redoing everything from scratch @anthony165. Having a simple checklist before starting saves everyone time and headaches. A written brief with specific words like "bold" or "minimal" beats vague stuff every time.