It’s not exactly a secret that designers and clients can sometimes have a lot of difficulty communicating. The design industry comes with all of design-centric language and even though all of the terminologies might seem easy enough to us, they can be dizzying and confusing for clients.
On the other hand, even if you’re dealing with a long-term client that has a grasp on this sort of thing, you might not see eye to eye on a certain aspect of the project. If you fail to communicate effectively, this can lead to a damaged relationship with your client.
So, how do you go about communicating effectively with all of your clients?
Well for starters, it is important to understand that each client is different and you will need to employ different strategies. That being said, don’t worry too much because these 5 tips for communicating effectively will definitely improve your interaction!
1. Learn about their business
Understanding your client’s business is the first step towards understanding your client, and how to communicate with them. Unfortunately, this critical step is the one designers skip the most. Remember, this is design and a one size fits all approach doesn’t really help.
2. There’s no such thing as too many questions
Another thing designers tend to avoid is asking more questions. This might be because they are afraid of coming across as unprofessional. At Sunan Designs, the amount of questions our expert designers ask is surprising for clients. But what that does is ensure that we know exactly what they want. This way, there are way less revisions and confusion to deal with.
3. Try not to ‘design-speak’
Coming back to the first thing we discussed, try your best not to use any design terminologies at all when conversing with clients. Keep it simple and in layman terms. Rather, show that you understand their business and requirements by picking up some of their jargon and using it in your communication. This will go a long way and show your client your interest in them goes beyond just designing something that looks good.
4. Show, don’t tell
A big problem with designer client communication is that most of it takes place verbally. This results in an awful lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding. Instead of using words like ‘bold colors’, ‘pastels’, ‘sleek design’, show your client what you mean when you say those. This way, both you and the client can decide on the visuals that work the best.
5. Explain your design
Don’t be afraid to explain why you took a certain approach or chose a specific color. By doing so, you can avoid a lot of friction between you and the client. Most designers will find that clients are surprisingly accepting when you explain to them why exactly you chose to do what you did. For example, if you picked a certain shade, you can explain that it’s been known to attract the kind of audience your client wants to engage.
That’s all for today!
At Sunan Designs, we make sure all our designers are trained and experienced at effective communication. That’s just the way we do it! Reach out to us today!
