You know how your toddler gets so overwhelmed, so worked up, that he just can?t calm himself down? Or maybe you have a friend who is so overwhelmed by life that every problem gets blown out of proportion? Perhaps you?re a graphic designer who has been working non-stop on creative, mind-exhausting project after project? You know the signs, vacant, far-away eyes, coffee-stained t-shirt, hair in disarray (more than usual anyway). You try to talk to her, but all you get are some mushed up words, and you?re pretty sure that she said ?Need?more?coffee?please? but you can?t be sure, and you?re afraid to ask because it might cause her to break down into a flood of tears.

Too much to do, too little time to do it in and too few breaks. It?s tough on anyone in any job. But as a creative person, I think that the toll is even greater. You see, we can?t just shut everything off at the end of the day. There isn?t a switch to flick that tells our brain that working hours are over and it?s time to relax. No, our minds keep going, dwelling on that logo we?ve been stumped on, the web site that we just can?t get to work in IE6, that ad we need a brilliant headline for. Over and over and over again, until we eventually fall into a creative coma.

That is why it?s vitally important to find something that helps you decompress at the end of the day. Whether it?s running 5+ miles, chasing after your 17 month old kiddo, playing in your garden, or watching the Bachelorette (don?t worry, your secret is safe with me!), do something, ANYTHING to set your mind free. Even if it?s just for a few hours. Or minutes. Or even just a few precious seconds. You?ll be more relaxed, feel calmer, AND be raring to go the next day, diving into all of the projects lurking on your desk. And chances are your co-workers will like you just a little more when you aren?t biting their head off (or stealing their chocolate) because you?re so overwhelmed.

If you are looking for a team that loves to work, work, work, and knows when to take a break, we are the team for you! Visit our web site to find what we do, and how WE CAN HELP YOU.

Thanks to @diapaulic for his blog topic suggestion.

?The customer is always right.?

Hmmm… Maybe, instead,  it?s more about finding the balance with a customer.

(Photo by channah.)

When YOU are the customer, ?the customer is always right? sounds like a good motto and the idea is you?ll always get what you want (even though in our hearts we know this is probably not true). When you?re the one DEALING with a customer, however, there is a fine line you need to walk to keep them happy AND create work you can be proud of. As designers, we spend so much time on this imaginary “line” that we?ve built a town (complete with coffee shop, vegan deli and theater).

When a client requests our services for a design, most of the time these clients are not designers themselves. They have come to us because they have confidence in our abilities and know they will receive a good quality product. It?s like when I take my car to the mechanic. I trust he knows how to change the oil, rotate the tires and fix whatever it is that is making that noise. And he does, my mechanic is amazing. It?s only when I have to take my car somewhere else I get nervous. What if they don?t know what they?re doing? What if they don?t have my best interests in mind? It?s the chance I take sometimes because I don?t know much about cars.

Good designers have their client?s best interests in mind. They won?t try to sell them something they don?t need, and they definitely won?t create something while disregarding what the client has requested. That?s not saying a good designer won?t bring other options to the table. Often times the client doesn?t know there are other options, techniques and styles that could better convey their message. In the end, however, it is the client?s decision. It?s their product. It?s their message.

At Moxie, we don?t always agree with our clients? choices. Sometimes we even strongly disagree with them. We will voice our concerns and give reasoning behind these concerns, but we will never force a client to accept something they don?t like. It?s not our style.

At Moxie, it is more important to build a good working relationship with our clients than win a single battle of wills. We want the client to be happy with the final product and use us for future projects, not remember an unpleasant experience and choose someone else next time. Some clients make this easier than others, and Moxie always tries to find the balance.

Check us out at www.thinkmoxie.com.

? Post written by Cristy Wiza.