Designing by Committee

Feb 19, 2010

It’s hard to imagine that there was a time before the stop sign existed, and that someone had to design and invent it. Here’s a somewhat over-the-top example of how designing by committee can go wrong, an increasing trend I’ve seen in the design process that needs to be stopped (no pun intended).

Is this how all client-designer relationships go down? Not necessarily. And if you’re lucky to have an excellent client who understands how the process should work, not even close. In my own experience, I’ve seen the good and bad. I think it’s best to remind the client what the designer’s role is, and what the designer was hired for when these types of requests are made as early as possible. It’s our expertise and experience in the field, not their husband/wife/daughter/cat. Requests for rotating banners? I say get real. It may come off as sounding harsh, but it’s best to just put it out there during the first round of reviews so expectations for outlandish requests are tempered. I’ve always encouraged and expected feedback from my clients, but I don’t accept those types of changes where they are clearly for the sake of “needing something to change.”

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