Clients, We Love You — But We Can’t Read Minds

Here’s the truth: most clients don’t actually know what they want until you show them something. You draft, design, and pour your heart into a concept. You hit 'send,' and the reply comes back: “Looks nice.” But what does 'nice' even mean? Is it wall-art nice? Logo nice? Or 'I’ll-pay-you-but-hire-someone-else-next-month' nice? Designers are not magicians. We can’t see the exact vision that’s floating around in your head unless you give us the words, the references, the examples.

Fellow Designers, I See You

We’ve all been there — up at midnight polishing what we think is a masterpiece, only to get ghosted or replaced because the client “wasn’t happy.” But the kicker? They never actually said what they weren’t happy about. It’s discouraging, and yes, sometimes it feels personal. But here’s the thing: it’s not always your skill — it’s the silence. That’s why I’ve learned to tell every new client: Show me what you like. Give me screenshots. Send me Pinterest boards. Point out your competitor’s Instagram and say, 'I want that vibe.' The clearer the communication, the stronger the results. Period.

Communication = Strategy = Results

Here’s how I see my role when I work with a client: I don’t just design pretty pictures or schedule posts. I basically become your in-house graphic designer, social media manager, and strategist. That means I need to live in your world — to understand your goals, your ambitions, even your quirks. But if you don’t talk to me… if you don’t say what you love (or hate), I can’t build the strategy you actually need. And no amount of Canva templates or fancy filters can fix that gap.

Clients: Speak Up

Please — and I say this with love — stop telling your designer what you think they want to hear. Don’t sugarcoat it. Don’t sit on your frustrations. Say: 'This isn’t my style.' 'I don’t like this color.' 'Can you make it older/softer/cleaner?' We want to hear it. Because that’s how we fix it.

Designers: Ask Better Questions

If the brief feels vague, don’t just nod along and hope inspiration strikes. Ask: 'Can you show me an example?' 'Do you like this or that?' 'Help me understand what success looks like to you.' The earlier you clarify, the fewer late-night design meltdowns you’ll have.

Bottom Line: Communication Isn’t a Cliché

Graphic design literally is communication. Marketing literally is communication. So if communication is missing between client and creative… well, you can guess the outcome.

Tip of the Week:

At your very first meeting, hammer on this: Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Clients — don’t assume your designer 'gets it.' Designers — don’t assume your client 'knows it.' No drama, no frustration, just clear, honest conversation. That’s how we all win.