TIL most clients don't actually want what they ask for

I was reading through a trade poll last week and it said something like 67% of clients who bring a Pinterest photo end up hating the final result. But then the other side is we're supposed to give them what they want. So who's wrong here, the client for not knowing what they want or us for not steering them better? Has anyone else dealt with this disconnect?

3 comments

3 Comments

linda1141mo ago

@jade_jenkins nailed it, I've made that same mistake too many times.

jade_jenkins1mo ago

Used to blame clients, but then realized I'm usually the one not asking the right questions first.

elizabethmason1mo ago

Has anyone else had a friend who's a graphic designer? Mine told me about this couple who came in wanting a "modern rustic" logo with like, antlers and arrows and mason jars. She spent weeks on it, they kept tweaking, finally settled on something. Two months later they emailed her asking if she could redesign it into a simple sans serif wordmark. No antlers, no arrows. @jade_jenkins is spot on about asking the right questions up front. My friend wishes she had asked them what they hated about other logos before she ever started drawing. That would have saved everyone a lot of time.