Real-Life Decision Making
Greeting card designers work for clients. They must be willing to change
their illustration to suit the needs of the client. But as an artist, you
must always be proud of your work. Many artists have a unique style. They
want every piece of work they produce to represent their personal style.
You're working with an art director. He doesn't seem to like your style.
He keeps asking for more changes and alterations to the design you produced.
You have already made a few changes, but it does not please him. He says your
design is not "kid-friendly" enough. He tells you to brighten up the colors,
round out your images and alter the concept. He thinks these changes will
make your design more appealing.
You feel that your design is complete. You know the market pretty well.
You think this design will sell. If you change it to the design he's asking
for, you're afraid it will fail. If you make these changes, you don't think
you'll be happy with the design. But it will still go out with your name on
it. If it's not something you're proud of, it could damage your reputation
as an artist.
But you're self-employed. If you don't please your client, you could lose
him. You have to sell your work in order to make a living. You don't want
to be a stubborn artist who is not willing to make any compromises.
Designer Ian Challis has been put in a similar position. He says you have
to ask yourself a question: "Is it worth doing this to your art to make the
sale?" You need to make a decision. Do you make the changes to keep the
client happy and make the sale? Or do you stick to your guns and refuse to
change your design?
What do you do?