The Customer Is Always Right (Even When They Aren’t)

?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.