While competing against some other designers, I ran across some feedback from the client on the public forum to discuss the progress of how are designs were fairing. The client offered some feedback to the happy little campers at divergreen (us), and to some other designers. We responded quickly, and in alignment with what the client desired. However, another designer decided to use the forum to educate the client on what was “an original font versus a commercially available font.” The tone was one of talking straight down their nose at the client. While the designer may have had a point, the diva-like attitude displayed will not win any clients over.

I may want to educate a client but I always remember the scene from the movie “Joe Dirt”, where the character Joe Dirt was asking the Indian fireworks salesman why he didn’t have any particular kind of fireworks. The salesman replied, “I don’t like those kind of fireworks.” To which Joe Dirt rightly responded, “Well maybe that’s your problem. It’s not what you want, it’s what the consumer wants.”

As designers we have an obligation to put forth our best effort for the client. If the client has chosen an “absolutely hideous” typestyle, it’s the designer’s job to explain to the client that there is a better option. At the same time, we must listen to the wants of the client, even if they don’t know an “original, handmade font that I created myself“, from one off the shelf.