Week 4 - Without Clients there wouldn't be self promotions

Misha Black whom co-founded Design Research Unit. Stated that his observations are as relevant today as they were in the fifties. He said: “I am not suggesting that the influence of the client is necessarily harmful . The opposite is often true. When the client and the designer are in sympathy, they can together produce better work than that of which either alone would be capable.” As I read this, I thought about how a famous celebrity would not be anything without fans, that same way is how a business is able to run. We need clients in order to have a place to work, without clients you might as well close down your studio. For that reason we must treat them with “sensitivity and respect”. It was said to treat your clients like you would treat your friends, keeping in mind that being able to keep a barrier between play and work (intimacy and professional matters) have much better results.

Every client has their own specific needs, therefore treat them all as unique. Also as you work with the client you need to “’listen’” and if there is something you as the designer do not agree then make sure to tell him/her. Having an open communication, keeping in mind your client’s and at the same time setting up expectations from the beginning will make you very successful and that is only up to you as the designer.

Keeping clients and developing clients all depend on what customer service you offered to that first client. If he is happy not only with your work but your personality as well, then you can be sure that you have just earned dibs on that particular customer and also anyone else they work with. Invite him/her to lunch preferably your studio, they will feel more relaxed and comfortable and will definitely go to you for more work. As with any other business you will encounter those clients that are not worth keeping. Before you “sack them,” ask yourself these three questions: “’Have you delivered everything you are obliged to give them? Do they owe you any money? Are there any other links that can’t be easily severed?

The dreadful presentation is the decision maker whether you get the job or not. I personally get nervous when presenting. Most important is that the work should be good. Next is to remember to be myself when being caught up with butterflies in my stomach I know that there are things I forget to say during a presentation and think about them after, what do I need to do? Practice, practice and more practice.

Advise to follow:
- Do not use PowerPoint
- Organize every aspect of the presentation
- Take your audience on a simple step-by-step journey
from beginning go end.
- Do not assume
- Spell check everything
- Itemize your thinking,
- Show conclusions
- End with a concise summary
- Tell your audience what you are going to show
them and them show it to them.
- After meeting with them make sure to provide a documented
summary of your ideas.
- Strive to be liked by using your personality
- Eye contact

As you promote yourself in your studio and work on keeping old clients you must think of your reputation as the one thing that will help you gain other client’s trust and business. Self-initiated projects are good because you have something to show to potential clients but nothing works best then real life experience from that client and the outcome of the project. You should always write in your calendar the next upcoming convention and conferences. The more you can go to then the more exposure you can get besides networking is always the way to go.

When presenting your portfolio on a hard copy it is best and more reliable to stick with PDFs and email. CD’s are very handy but can be your worst enemy at the same time. It’s very important that when handing in a CD that it is to organized in a way that the viewer will not feel like they have to do more work then they really have to. The easiest way to show your portfolio to potential customers is by having it online.