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If you work in advertising, you know what it's like when a bad client comes along. Thankfully, the staff of Coplex (formerly Ciplex) have been observing a variety of clients in their native habitats for some time now, and they've come up with a handy field guide on how to approach this temperamental species.

The guide identifies 15 specimens most agencies have likely come across, but it doesn't stop at just telling you what you already know about them. Special 'care and feeding' instructions are provided, making it easier to tame these savage beasts the next time you happen upon them in the wild. It's worth noting that the word 'no' is a fairly effective command, if in doubt.

Consult the Field Guide to the Wonderful World of Clients for yourself below, and be prepared the next time Mr. I Need This done Yesterday walks through your door.

More info: Coplex (h/t: DigitalSynopsis)

#1

Type Of Client

ciplex Report

rubybhatiads
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shameful Bored Panda! Exact same headline + feature image copied from this 2014 article by DigitalSynopsis: https://digitalsynopsis.com/advertising/how-to-handle-types-of-clients-guide/ At least provide a source link!

Adam Menchaca
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I usually ask them to please select one of the other rushed tasks they want bumped for this one.

Clinton Yew
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

worst thing about boss like this one is that they are equally stubborn.

RELATED:
    #2

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Ildiko S.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OMG this is so my ex-boss, only she put it like this: "I know exactly what I want!" - and changed it every 5 minutes, making me do the same job 5 times. Then when I quit after one of those cases, I've been told that she communicates clearly, I have a problem.... Well, all righty.

    Adam Menchaca
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a boss that would assign me tasks audibly, change them later and get mad at me for not giving her what she wanted. I asked for it in writing and that is the only way tasks would get done. Document, document, document

    Clinton Yew
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn't make any different, they will still rain emails on you.

    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lol this always happen

    #3

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Clinton Yew
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is usually not a problem if they willing to pay extra.

    Bruce Kunde
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they would say: "I go to someone who can handle it"

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    Liam Wescott
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There used to be a sign above one of the doors at the commercial print shop my newspaper used to have. The sign read something to the effect that "Lack of Planning and Preparation on Your Part Does Not Constitute An Emergency on My Part." I wish more people would understand that.

    Della VanNeste
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate dealing with people like this

    #4

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Celeste Spaniel
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These clients are the worst! We're not machines, we need breaks too!

    Clinton Yew
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The thing about you doesn't afraid to say "no" is that they also doesn't afraid to say no about laying you off...

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    #5

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Luna Kittenwarrior
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, Helvetica print with red and blue will not do! I want cat vomit orange and pea mash green with Comic Sans MS!

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    #6

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Liam Wescott
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you give people an inch, some of them will want a mile. And they will expect that mile, sometimes without even asking for it.

    #7

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Howard Mirsky
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always had this to contend with...Howard Mirsky

    #8

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Orkan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You might consider selling your "dumped" project as a template.

    Shinomi Chan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seems like my gosh darn 9th grade teacher. He was awful "more detail!" he says as he gives us about an hour to write a story we have to come up with, in less than 15 minutes.

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    #9

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Michel M. Prins
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And important, just in case: Always, and then I mean ALWAYS get timelines and deadlines black on white (like a mail, text, etc.). They can't lie their way out of something they have written themselves. Because some of them will try, so be careful.

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    #10

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Chris Coulson
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think sometimes this is a failure on the designer's part, rather than the clients. If you can't convey what you want in a useful manner to the client, then that's your failing, maybe?

    Grant O'Neill
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's backwards logic. No one can read minds, so if the client doesn't even know what they want, how could a designer possibly know?

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    #11

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Brandon Collinsworth
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also stick to the original quoted price unless the client agreed in writing to changes that could change the price. I am this client and there is nothing worse than being quoted a price and then the final price is more because of changes that I never agreed to or costs they didn't foresee.

    Marie-Eve Duval
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just beware if leaving project in colleague's hands during vacation that he may have agreed to a change associated with change in budget. Make it clear in vacation debrief that decision that means change in price needs to be approved by so-and-so. Will save time and frustration down the line.

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    #12

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Linda Chan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's also the opposite that I love too: Mr. I know exactly what I want. Sometimes like these 2 types the most.

    Ildiko S.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a fake version of this! "Do whatever you want!" Then the expectations over time. At the end, you have a gigantic list of do's and don'ts and a 'do whatever you want".

    Alexandru Sfirlogea
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    aka Mr. I'm spending other people's money - aka Mr. Leprechaun - This guy's is a treasure.

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    #13

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Tron Jahvolta
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, but it took ten years of experience to learn how to do it in 5 Minutes

    Angie Chan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup, I have experienced this. I am an artist as a hobby--it is not my job. I left for a family emergency, and when I came back a week and a half later, the secretary paged me to the front office. Both her and boss were there with two bags of t-shirts and a bag of horrible puff paints. They wanted me to paint a logo/text on all of the t-shirts for a charity event. I looked at her in disbelief and said it would run at least 8 hours PER shirt--and both her and the boss looked at me like I was nuts. In the end, I agreed to only do a basic design on the grounds that they give me an actual work day--on the clock--to do it. (I created a stencil that night and used acrylics that I had on hand) They got their shirts, but I have refused to do anything else for them because they kept wanting me to do work on my own time, not compensate me, and thought that I could just clap my f***ing hands together--POOF--arts!

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    #14

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Michel M. Prins
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is why I recommend artists / designers to show them some quick alternative iterations of said designs, to convince them. A lot of times it just better to show, in order to get them on your side, right away.

    #15

    Type Of Client

    ciplex Report

    Jose Divino
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree that this was a headache.. after one project and knowing how they work, I made sure I told them I will be speaking to ONE person among them and if they have comments on a work, they have to finalize it with that person. Otherwise, further delay will be on your project.

    Johan Andersson
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is Sweden in a nutshell! 👍☺ We do everything by committee. The trick is to take personal responsibility, otherwise nothing is achieved. Which means if you can't take personal responsibility you will not get employed in Sweden....

    Liam Wescott
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is where the word "delegate" come in to the convseration. As in, "OK, this is a great idea. We can get a draft version to you on your timeline, no problem, but there is one thing. We need you to decide amongst yourselves who will be the primary contact person for this project and then delegate that person to be our contact person. And then give that person the authority to consult with us about changes, revisions, etc. before deadline. Otherwise we cannot take on this project." Decision by "Consensus" is great for grassroots activism and democracy, but not so great for actually getting things done.

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