I like when clients provide feedback and content on schedule and in an organized way. I do not like when clients prescribe specific changes rather than articulating what they perceive to be a design’s shortcomings.

I like if they pay me. I dislike if they don’t pay me.

Open mindedness towards (non-mainstream) design approaches is perfect. if clients have very fixed ideas and only need someone to execute thats not too good.

Don’t understand the time it takes to complete tasks.

I like to be praised for my work. I dislike impatience.

Indifference and distance.

I love it when the client trusts me and my decisions.

I like that they hired me and trust me. I dislike underestimating the power of aesthetics.

I like when they explain the reason why my work doesn’t work. I don’t like when they suggest the solution.

I like it when clients trust my skills and my experiences. I dislike it when clients don’t trust my skills and my experiences.

I don’t know a client’s behaviour I don’t like. There only exist clients which have different opinions. This is rarely a reason to stop working together. Mostly it’s a chance for both sides to learn something from eachother.

My philosophy: work WITH the client not FOR the client.

It’s not mine.

When they are not able to stick to what was decided in meetings and constantly change their opinions.

Both designer and client should respect each other.

Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.

I always enjoy a good cooperation. it’s an opportunity to learn a lot of new things for everyone involved, and i really appreciate that! On the other hand i don’t like clients limiting the potential of a project.

I like their understanding and open mind. I dislike: “please this part bigger, we want this photo and need the headline again on every side.”

Assumptions and disrespect (which usually manifests itself as ignorance).

Like: Trust. Dislike: Doubt.

Surprise.

I like when they respect the fact that they are experts in their businesses and I’m expert in design.

I like curios, taking designers seriously. I dislike narrow-minded, bureaucratic, advisory resistant clients.

I like fairness, i hate cowardice.

Dislike: Know everything better, send hundreds of e-mails instead of one clear summary, pay late, treat you as some technical Mac operator guy, are boring, dull and unimaginative. Like: the opposite of dislikes.

The client is the client. I like clients. Good clients behave good.

I love my clients!

I like questions and the willingness to create something good. And i dislike clients with a know-it-all attitude.

If the chemistry (attitude) between the parties doesn’t fit, it is often difficult and not conducive for the work.

Why do they not trust me?

I like their general enthusiasm and how keen they are to be involved in anything creative. Often they don’t understand how long things take. They underestimate how much trial, error is involved. I hate when they ask family or friends for opinions on a design. It always produces bland opinions.

Like: Think fast and get to the point, make decisions, be interested in discussions as well as in realizing things. Dislike: Trying to do the job of the designer instead of doing their own job.

The one who doesn't show some backbone.

I like, when clients are open for what they get and when there is trust from both sides. I don’t like, that some customers think, I am just sitting here, waiting to get their call and waiting also to design for them.

I like when clients say that they hate what you have done – to try and find out why and to make it better.

What we like: critic, speed, openness, honesty. What we dislike: weakness, if they treat you like a servant.

Bad: not letting me do what I do better, not making decisions. Good: the opposite of those.

Like: dialogue. Dislike: lack of communication.

I like an interested, engaged, critical, adaptive, generous client.

Like: open mind, non hierarchical. Dislike: not an open mind, hierarchical.

I like when they are open minded. I don’t like when they think they know the rules how to design and just need me to execute their design-ideas.

Design is often undervalued and unacknowledged by clients and in general in society.

I like audaciousness. I dislike wavering.

I like, when they understand what I’m doing and are interested in the process. I don’t like if they don’t.

Dos: Call on saturday evening for a beer, offensive birthday card briefing. Don’ts: Call on saturday evening, writing in capitols the word “asap”, birthday card briefings.

I like open critics. I dislike deadlocked visions.

What i like: Know what they want. Explore new ways. Fearless. Learn from them. Having fun in creating something new together. What i dislike: The opposites of my likes.

Feedback that pulls a whole project apart. Not being able to see the work beyond its context.

I dislike destructive criticism based on ignorance.

If the chemistry (attitude) between the parties doesn’t fit, it is often difficult and not conducive for the work.

I like empathetic clients who treat others with respect, and who trust your expertise. I dislike clients who expect work for free, or assume that you are fine with working weekends (e.g. they treat people with a complete lack of respect).

Like: friendly and smart. Dislike: unfriendly and stupid.

I like if they trust me. I dislike if they don’t.

Like: When the client inspires me with his passion and believes at his product and is ready to exchange ideas. There are always thoughts that the client brings into play, which can push the quality of the project at the end even further. Dislike: Political games.

I like it when they know you’re the person, who can make their stuff even better. I dislike the fact that sometimes they don’t understand why work costs something.

Like: When they are brave enough to try out new paths. Dislike: When they are not brave enough to try out new paths.

I like when the clients have respect for what I do, and make their contribution to the project. I don’t like when they treat me like a servant, and just wait for me to solve their problems.

Like: unexpected satisfaction. Dislike: unwanted pressure.

Like with other people I prefer when they say “please” and “thank you”. And I absolutely dislike complications with payments.

I like questions and i like the willingness to create something different. And i dislike clients with a know-it-all attitude.

I like when the client is disposed to understand my job and respects it. I don’t like when they are just looking for a “good” price.

Like: strong opinion on how things should be done, ability to explain their decisions that led to the design. Dislike: usage of prefabricated elements.

Creative input, good communication, giving and taking feedback. Lone wolf attitude, underestimating my knowledge about technical and creative possibilities.

I like their wealth of ideas.

I like their harmony and their willingness, their way of seeing. I dislike the chaotic time-management.

I can’t generalize. I think every designer is different in dealing with clients or employees and has got a different engagement, willing to compromise and behaviour.

I like when my designer involves me in the creative process. I dislike if the designer isn’t open to discussions.

They have to try to implement the customer requests, nothing else.

What I like: designers have great ideas and are sometimes the forerunners of our society. What I don’t like: in my eyes some designers feel “cooler” than they are, just by being a designer.

I expect reliability, delivering on time, good availability, good collaboration, able to go directly into clients questions and suggestions. I don’t like the opposite!

I like their endless creativity.

I think sometimes they don’t fulfill the client’s wishes but do their own thing.

I like when designers know what they want, and don’t have more options, different approaches.

I like that they are creative, spontaneous, flexible, helpful and in a sort crazy.

Everything is done last minute, because the designers have a lot to do themselves. Other deadlines seem to be more important than mine and my project comes last.

Positive: convinced about the ideas/proposals – capable to show a holistic concept. Negative: inflexibility.

A designer’s work can be very inspiring and bring new momentum into a project. However if the person gets too persistent about what he/she is doing this might end not well.

I like their enthusiasm for their work, their ideas and and their fast executed work. I don’t like the “just-work-to-rules” mentality of some employed designers.

If they stick with their ideas and don’t want to change them.

Like: creativity, ingenuity, ambition and interest to create better and new ideas. Don’t like: Not being practice-oriented, some designers go their own sweet way and don’t listen to the client’s suggestions.

how do designers spend their time
on average workday?

what does a designers’
workplace look like?

what do you like or dislike
about the others’ behaviour?