If you work in the design business long enough you are going to have many crazy encounters with prospective clients. Here are just a few that beg the question to be asked;
“You’ve Got to be Kidding Me!”
We need to point out that these quotes came from “prospective clients” and needless to say they were never accepted as clients! There is an old saying. ” some business just ain’t worth it!”
- We need our website to work regular business hours; from 9 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- If we hire your firm, I’m going to have my daughter give final approval. She’s got a good eye for this stuff and she just did the cover for her high school’s yearbook…
- Prospective Client (CEO): Our product is going to revolutionize this industry, and we want your firm to work with us.
Us: Great! Can you tell me what differentiates your product from the competition?
Prospective Client (CEO): Certainly, I will have my people get back to you with an answer.
- Our CEO will be in town tomorrow so if you could get the design done by then that would be great.
- Prospective Client: “I want it to be like Facebook”
Us: “Did you have a budget in mind for this project?”
Prospective Client: “I need to get it done for under $500
- I need you to make black and white packaging prototype but include as much color as possible.
- We’re looking for a high-exposure design firm for our product. We want a minimum of 5 prototype designs to choose from. I can only afford a one-time $250 payment upon completion, however, it’s a great way to add a fun, popular business to your firm’s clientele.
- We have no budget for this ad, but the good news is that we are definitely sure that we want to work with your firm.
- Your hourly rate is okay, as long as you don’t need more than an hour. And you can show me how you did it so I can do it on my own next time.
- Make sure it’s not too edgy, not too flashy, not too much detail, not classical/traditional, not too complex, exciting, but not all over the place, efficient but fun, clean, fresh, modern, up beat, contemporary, high readability, smooth, shapeless, timeless, not outdated, but simple.