How do you deal with clients with bad taste?

They are paying you, do what they say. If the design turns out to be crap just don't put it on your portfolio.

Originally Posted by Village Genius They are paying you, do what they say. If the design turns out to be crap just don't put it on your portfolio.

Unfortunately I had to do this to one of my BIGGEST clients. I did the original site design, which was super sexy. Then little by little he kept wanting changes. I couldn't say no. I even tried twisting what he said so it would come out looking good. Now I just say f*** it I'm getting paid to do what he wants and it's exactly as he describes so he's happy.

Originally Posted by jasonm56 Unfortunately I had to do this to one of my BIGGEST clients. I did the original site design, which was super sexy. Then little by little he kept wanting changes. I couldn't say no. I even tried twisting what he said so it would come out looking good. Now I just say f*** it I'm getting paid to do what he wants and it's exactly as he describes so he's happy.

Yeah, no reason to turn down projects either. If someone is paying you for something, it should be what and how they like it. Maybe to them it isn't crap, and maybe they are looking for a certain style that isn't exactly your own.

That's terrible advice.

There are plenty of ways to respectfully offer alternatives to a clients "professional design idea".

Those of you that think a client is always right and shouldn't be corrected are lacking professionalism. Any professional in any professional environment, should and must educate clients on their expertise.

If a client has a bad taste for color, design, and layout, then offer them and educated or professional suggestion. Lets say you know nothing about building rockets, would you take advice from someone that has done it before, or perhaps builds them for a living? Understand that your client has hired you to provide a professional service. If you are not willing to educate and respectfully disagree with some aspects of their lack in design skills then you should't be designing.

Only after trying to educate and offer experience related alternatives should you lay down and do it exactly as your client wants it. This may sound terrible, but how many of your clients that want graphic or web design are professional designers or developers? None of mine are.