Radcliffe Bailey: Artist. Great Client

Recently, I've read a number of articles about the artist Radcliffe Bailey, whose work is currently on exhibit at Atlanta's High Museum, among other galleries.

I like the work—and vapidly think the artist is movie-star handsome. In addition, Bailey's respect for collaborators impressed me (and ties into some of our discussions about clients, what they want, and how they work with designers). Part of an article by Candace Jackson in The Wall Street Journal (Friday, July 8) describes how Radcliffe Bailey commissioned his wonderful ultra-contemporary home-with-studio from the architecture firm Mack Scogin Merrill Elam.

Mr. Bailey said he showed the architects slides of his artwork, letting them take the lead on style and layout. "A collector sometimes comes [to me] and says 'I don't like that color.' And that is annoying to me," said Mr. Bailey. "I wanted to treat them like artists."

Now there's a good and "qualified" client.

Designer Quandry, Update!

Earlier this month one of my students found herself in a familiar design quandry...how to please a client who already had a design from a previous designer...discussed in this post.
Here's the update:

When I met up with my client, I addressed my concerns about using the poster design [the previous design, done by another designer] as a webpage layout, and he said it was fine to do that and that the poster designer is someone who works in the same place (that's a relief!) As for the decision of whether to go with my design or the poster design, it seems like the client definitely wants to stick with the poster design. My supervisor decided if that's what the client wants, then we'll just have to go with it.

Well, I guess that's the gist of it for my first client! I was definitely paranoid about whether it was okay to just copy another design, but I'm relieved to hear that the poster design belongs to the workplace.

Thank you for posting my question on your blog. It was very helpful to read comments from people who have experienced this many times.

Designer Quandry

A former (wonderful, thoughtful, talented) student sent me an email the other day with a classic designer's dilemma...what do you do when your client wants you to base work on another design? And how do you sell a client on your design when they love something from before?

Tricky, sticky, complicated? Thoughts, please!

Hi Professor,

I have a bit of a problem, and would like to ask you for some advice.

I recently landed a web design internship, and what I do so far is set up appointments with clients in order to get a feeling of how they would like me to design their page. I mainly do the graphics though, since my coding skills are very minimal. However, I am in a bit of a slump because my first client seems very hard to influence. He wants me to design a layout that resembles a poster that someone else designed for him. By doing so, I feel like I'll only be ripping off someone else's work and ideas.

I decided to create two drafts for the client; one draft with my own ideas, and the other draft with what he wanted to go for. I put more effort into designing my own layout because I wanted my client to consider choosing a better alternative. However, my client still wanted to go for the draft that resembled his poster.

My problem is, how do you influence clients to stray away from ripping off another design? Although the poster was designed for him by someone else, it still feels weird for me to just copy someone else's work. It also seems like he is really set on having his layout look a certain way.

Even though my supervisors prefer my design, I don't know how to get my client to consider a layout that is more practical for a webpage.

Dumb Client

Ever wonder how other people deal with silly questions? This twitter feed is all about the impossible requests from certain clients, like "I want my website to be like Google" and "Can you fax me that MP3". Reading this is a bit addictive!

The Death of Illustration

Speaking of qualified clients, how about fair pay for fair use?

In an interview for Design Arts Daily, Kelly Doe, the Art Director for the New York Times discussed the future of publishing with Fernanda Cohen, a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts, Vice President of ICON6, and lecture coordinator at the Society of Illustrators of New York, and they had this very depressing exchange (extremely depressing bit is in blue).

Fernanda Cohen: What’s happening with the NYT online vs. print—and how is illustration being commissioned and used for both media?

Kelly Doe: At this point the paper is fully integrated–everything is uploaded for the web first and then collected and shaped for the print edition. Each section of the Times is staffed for both print and web, and the multi-media, video and graphics departments communicate with all editorial and art departments.

FC: How is illustration being commissioned for both media?

KD: Illustrations are commissioned by the art director for each section, but the web art directors commission art for the blogs and some online-only features. Online-only illustrations (in blogs, features, video, and more) have limitless potential that we are just starting to explore.

FC: Do you think publications are using less illustration because of the online market? If so, why?

KD: Publications are using less illustration because they have fewer ads, therefore smaller budgets. There is a trend towards using stock photography because it’s ultra-cheap.

FC: Do you think the value of illustration, fee wise, has lowered because of online usage—or the lack of it? Do you think the quality of illustration has lowered because of these same reasons?

KD: Fees have lowered for several reasons. There are now typically two uses (web and print) for the price of one. Some publications now demand ownership of the art instead of one-time use (so no future sales for the illustrator), and lower budgets can mean less pay per illustration. Fortunately, the quality of the work has not lowered. Amazing things are happening, and in a much more diverse range of media.

As one colleague put it to me after reading this:
"Illustration is dead... long live stock photography."

Justice for all

Consultants admonish designers to work with qualified clients—i.e. those who understand that time + expertise are valuable and deserve respect and strong fees. A recent project precipitated a review of qualifications.

Some of this post is more like me talking to myself—a quasi-declaration of independence. You already know this stuff, but here it is anyhoo—for myself and for any recent graduates out there.

Work is noble. In a terrible economy, projects that pay the overhead are beyond noble into the territory of crucial. Work/income=relief. That said, mutual respect for talent, intelligence, time, and expertise are key reasons to work with a particular company or person. At bottom, a client who doesn't or "can't" pay for extras is essentially robbing time and energy. Especially in a bad economy, no one can afford to be robbed of shekels, morale, or interest.

Of course I realize that people respond to confident behavior and that a designer—or anyone providing a service—must learn to lead. Some clients may not be "leadable" or qualified. So, as I continue to position the office for both good times and bad, here are my key criteria for seeking new clients:

—Respectful and energetic collaboration
—Work (content / form) worth doing
—Remuneration that shows regard for expertise and time
—Mutual respect
—Fun

Why agree to a project?
—The material
—Income
—Client is a great collaborator
—Opportunity to learn something if the fee is low (that's low, not nil)
Note: according to a colleague who works in an internship office at a SUNY college, it's illegal to have unpaid interns unless the intern is earning course credits.
If it's a nuts and bolts reason like paying the rent, is there a fair fee? If not, what's the reason to do the project? Learning new software? PR? A good story (war stories don't really count). It's in my power to just say "no"—or to complete the project and move on and out.

Just for fun (OK, to vent!) I might make a sly tip sheet. The qualified clients don't need the tips; the unqualifieds won't get it. Feel free to add your faves.

—Refrain from calling a designer "dear"
—Avoid the phrase "Here's what we want you to do"
—Do not define an adjustment as a "tweak." A tweak is small only to the party requesting said tweak, not to the tweaker.
—Be aware that getting "a kid in your office" or "one of your students" to do something also involves paying said "kid" or "student"