CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS |COMFORTABLE + STRUCTURED|
From personal experience, client meetings and management can be challenging. You need to know how to manage emotions, learn as much as you can about the client and their goals, and do it in a strategic and thoughtful way. Agendas and planning are crucial. Once you have a few clients under your belt, the flow becomes second nature, but finding the balance between having structure and allowing natural conversation can be tricky.
Check out the lesson on writing an agenda, and look at the Pinterest community for inspiration.
I have tried several different levels of structure during client meetings. From those experiences, I can say that in the early stages, I regret not getting to know more about clients personally and learning their motivations. When you create with their values and lived experiences in mind, a little bit of them naturally shows up in the work you deliver.
I have also started projects without using an SOP, and it backfired. I misunderstood what the client needed and ended up sketching multiple logo options when all he wanted was a postcard. Working with someone you know personally can make boundaries blurry, but I recommend keeping checkpoints and maintaining structure even when the relationship feels relaxed. Communicate often, clarify expectations, establish deliverables, and set a clear plan of execution every time.
My favorite discovery meetings follow a simple flow:
Introduce yourself, walk through what the client needs, and learn about who they are as a person. Choose the approach that appeals most to them, and build a strategy around it. Incorporate personal processes that help you gather the most helpful information during this stage.
Some designers use creative exercises to break down the natural awkwardness of professional meetings. These prompts help reveal the client’s personality, taste, and goals. Check them out below, and share your own on the Pinterest page @bitshandmadecreatives. Be sure to check out the lesson on discovery calls for more business-focused questions.
Questions:
How does your brand smell?
If your brand were a style of home, what would it be?
If your brand were a music genre, what would it be?
Processes:
Look through a texture library
Explore illustration styles
Look at colors that resonate
Show samples of your work or package options
Explore photography
Make a word web