if the client knew anything about design they would of done it themselves ( or should of ).

I feel that it is part of our jobs as creatives to guide the client in the right direction. - and this means that most the time we end up with a compromise of what we would of done and the crap we were asked to do.

Then again you get the stubborn idiots who must have it their way - and you cant exactly tell a client to bugger off no can you?

At the end of the day they pay the bills - saying that they should realise that we are professional people who know what were doing, and they are paying for our services and expertise - their fault if they waste it i guess

Um, you boneheads need to pop a chill pill. The saying refers to clients when there's a reason to complain. Your thread is addressing the fact that your 'customers' are exercising their right to express their opinions. The "customer is..." story is not applicable to your examples. Sorry to let the wind out your sails. And please stay away from client service.

"Waiter, there's a fly in my soup."

"Yes sir. Will see to it right away sir."

The customer is always right.

If Client Service did their jobs properly, creatives wouldn't need to moan about clients misunderstanding the scope of their own involvement.

We are quite chilled thanks. You seem a little upset though...

NicNac, not all creatives work in the traditional advertising agency set-up you know. Sometimes, dealing with one's clients could be the creative's responsability as well. Particularly if the creative also owns the agency/company.

Comments like yours make me think you have limited experience in the field.

You also seem to have missed the crux of my comment: if you stopped feeling so insulted or superior, you may realise that this info can help you in the long run. You may actually become a better client servicer if you listened to creatives' "moans".

Really, all this blame-throwing and misplaced anger within agencies is very counter-productive. We are supposed to work together against the common enemy... the creative-illitarate client.

Please repeat after me, that our task as designers, art directors etc is to communicate with our markets. And if our markets (and that includes clients) are unable to understand or relate to our work, then we've failed. It really is that simple.

Please leave your juvenille aesthetic elitism at the door.

Amen Sister!!!

Customers really do do have that mentality!! Business men with suits and laptops and briefcases. Please do not try to tell them anything. The fact that we are qualified and degreed in design means absolutely nothing!!

I actually don't mean to seem so negative and cynical. I do think there is lots of opportunity for designers in this country but we do have a serious task ahead of us to make ourselves count and make people (the public) understand the importance of design - Good Design (and therefore designers).

reality check is right on this ... no matter how "pretty" the design is , if the market dont understand it - then the design team has failed.

I have had and heard this arguement ever since I started in the communication industry a long time ago.

Accept that we will never 'educate clients' because they know their markets and we know creative. Just maybe, they know what their market will react to a lot better than we do. As an old creative bullet, I have learnt a long time ago to listen to what the client is saying and what the market is all about, before letting my egotistical side get carried away with fabulous creative that never sees the light of day. We are entrusted with a lot of clients money, that doesn't give them the right to be right, but they have a responsibility to their brands and so should you.

We are privileged to work in a creative environment, rather than in the boring bank or tax department, so accept that we have a job to come up with the most creative solution to a marketing problem. And that the consumer is who we are doing it for. The client either agrees or disagrees. That is their privilege.

This spoof site is all about the nightmares we have to face in the industry. All your client has ever wanted is there for them to use , making you redundant. Have a laugh and accept that clients know their audience.

I agree that sometimes clients don't understand design...BUT remember they are the ones who are paying.. so that makes them RIGHT.

See Computer Arts Mag
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/in_depth/features/diplomacy_in_design