It seems obvious, doesn?t it? Animals adapt all the time to survive, evolving for changes in climate or environment. If you can adapt to change, you are more likely to have longevity in any area of your life?including as a graphic designer. Especially considering how quickly things can change and are changing in the design field, you will be left behind if you don?t adapt. Clients changing their minds?if you don?t adapt, you could lose them as clients. Even adapting to new software (anyone remember Quark?) can make a difference in whether your business is a success or not. Though there are many factors for success, being able to adapt plays a huge part.

Adapting and communication go hand in hand

Communication is one area where adapting will make everyone?s life a lot easier. For example, clients who rarely check email can be difficult to correspond with at times, especially if you?re used to doing most communication through email. If that is the case, then you will need to make a change (ie. adapt) to keep this client happy. A good compromise is to send your questions, files and correspondence through email, and then give them a quick call to let them know you sent the email. This way, they will have both all the information you want to convey via email, as well as the phone call to let them know you sent it. This will also give you an opportunity to touch base with your client and discuss the project.

Adapt: to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification

Sometimes as designers we become?for lack of a better word?stuck. We get ?stuck? in our ways. We get ?stuck? using the old programs because they are familiar, not because they are the best or even the easiest to use. We even get ?stuck? in relationships with clients. We know their style backwards and forwards and all the ways that style can be applied to banners and sell sheets and websites. But after a while, it?s always good to give these materials a fresh look and see if there are any ways to improve the design. Keeping things fresh and adapting the design to the times is what keeps people interested. You could even see if there are any new programs out there that would help you better serve your client. Most clients appreciate their designers being proactive.

Once you get in the habit of adapting (and it is a habit), it?s much easier to go with the flow. It?s easier to take any challenge that comes your way and turn it into an opportunity. And every opportunity can be turned into something spectacular (even if it?s spectacular only to you).

? Post written by Cristy Wiza.

Moxie Creative Studio lives and breathes graphic design. We often see trim marks in our sleep, sometimes will ?Command Z? our actions and may attempt to realign a crooked stop sign (well at least Robin)!

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? Post written by Ashley Holl

Photo by netamir

Are you sitting there thinking that customer service doesn?t really apply to you and your job? Do you spend your days typing away at your computer, listening to woxy.com on your headphones, huddled in your office avoiding communicating with anyone? Do you cringe when the phone rings and briefly consider letting it go to voice mail? Do you secretly wish that you could hide under your desk every time someone stops by to chat thinking ?Can?t these people see that I’m busy and don?t have time to talk??

That, my friends, is a problem. So often we get wrapped up in our own lives, in the tasks we are doing at that very moment, that we fail to see how our attitude negatively affects how we interact with, and react to, other people. And that unfortunately reflects poorly on us and the company paying our salaries.

Let?s put it in perspective. Imagine that every time you went to the grocery store the teenage boy at the checkout barely looked you in the eye, acted annoyed when you handed him a pile of coupons and rolled his eyes when he had to call for someone to scan in a bottle of wine? Would you complain to the management? Stop going to that store? Tell your friends about your experience? Spread the word about the terrible service you received? My guess is that you would do one, if not all of these things. And suddenly that teenager and the store he works for has a bad rep for poor customer service. Something as simple as a bad attitude changed your opinion, and it will take A LOT to fix it.

Sure, you may not work in a retail setting, but the same principals apply. If you answer the phone snapping at the person on the other end, reply to emails without first greeting the person or brush off those who stop by your desk, you?re doing just as much harm as the checkout boy. You?re hurting yourself by giving the impressions that you won?t take time to help others, that you are in a bad mood or, worse, that you just don?t like people. And then people will be reluctant to help you when you need it most and will address you with the same annoyance that you?ve shown them. You?re also hurting the company that you work for, because whether you like it or not, your negative attitude is a reflection of that company.

So the next time the phone rings, pause for a minute before answering. Take a deep breath, put a smile on your face, and greet whoever it is like a long lost friend. Well, maybe that?s a little over the top, but at least keep your voice pleasant and upbeat, and most importantly have a positive attitude. Keep in mind the person on the other end of the phone might be having a bad day, and if you greet them with a happy voice and are willing to help them out, you just might brighten their day. And the next time they call, they will be a little nicer and little by little you?ll build a stronger, happier relationship with them.

Or if you are replying to an email, take 3 seconds to ask about their weekend, their family or their pets. You just might make a new BFF. At the very least, you will remind the person receiving the email that there is a person, not just a computer, typing away. And maybe they will take 3 seconds and answer you. And again, you?ll start to build a strong, long-lasting relationship.

We want to hear from you! What other tips do you have for dealing with people in a positive, happy way?

www.thinkmoxie.com