How do you deal with clients with bad taste?

I don't. I had some on 99designs - they have just chosen bad designs. I lose.

Clients are always right. Period.

Originally Posted by rayoflight Clients are always right. Period.

I agree with you, clients are always right.

Make clients happy, and service provider will be.

I actually just ran across this. I had a client that I though I designed something brilliant for. Instead he wanted a super drab thing. The guy is an animator for god's sake and yet he has no artistic vision... LOL. Anyway, just do that they say and try to make it yours as much as possible. Not everything is going to be portfolio worthy anyway

Client hired you for your expertise. Since you are the expert in designing, it's better to tell the client his idea won't work, give reasons and suggest. If client still wants his idea, then do it. That's all you could do. Since they paid you for your service.

i got hired by a temp tattoo artists to design this dreadful website he just kept changing his mind on everything and his ideas were really childish he wanted a rainbow website different fonts everywhere just an insane jumble mess which I was trying to get him away from because he was having several problems with his current website which was over 12 years old he liked older styled graphics really crappy and low quality he was really insane

There is no such thing as having bad test. Everyone has their own tastes. You are being paid to provide a service and so as much aesthetics are concerned you really have no real control or input about it. Clients are always right. All you can do is inform the client why such and such design choices are wrong. If the client still refuses to change his /her mind just do has told. Sometimes you both can make an agreement on something that works for the both of you.

In the end what is more important to you? Making money and being a professional that can follow instructions yet still provide satisfaction to more and more clients or a professional that argues with each and every client on design choices that are not aesthetically pleasing to you personally?

Do as they client ask's and just don't showcase it yourself. I'm a decorator by trade, if the client ask's me to paint a wall in a revolting colour, i do.... and i smile

I try to be as polite as it's possible and in the mildest way explain why some idea is not so good as it seems to them.