It happens every time, doesn't it?

[jfiscus]

Customer comes into the office, saying they need a logo designed for their trucks, trailer, signs, etc. Usually, you tell them your price for the artwork/design fee; this "new customer" also happens to be a local sheriff & good friend of the owner; just needing something for his horse farm.

Since we are the graphics provider for the Sheriffs (20+ cars per year), I decided to throw together something nice for him. (pro-bono, 1/2 hr of work)

It's not the best thing ever designed, but I figure it's not that shabby. I send it over to him.

I receive an email back the next day; customer does not like it at all & wants to go with the "logo" their t-shirt guy made for him...

Is this how it always works for everyone else, or am I the only one?

 

[the graphics co]

Those two logos tell very different stories, a lot of times when you just throw something together as a favor you overlook the process of finding out what they want their logo to represent for their business. It has definitely happened to me more than once.

 

[FireSprint.com]

I like the logos on the left. (I assume that's the one you made?)

Yes this happens to everyone.

 

[signswi]

Happens to everyone. You can avoid it by formalizing your logo process and charging for it what any logo professional would (north of $500, as a separate charge). That will separate out the real jobs from the crap.

Or, just do throw away crap logos and collect a small check but don't invest yourself in it because what happened to you is going to happen over and over again.

 

[visual800]

yes thats the way it works. I have sat down and cranked out stuff for people that I was very excited about and could not wait to show them and when they did shot it down in 2 seconds flat. They walk in crap and after you "wow" them they leave with same crap.

When this happens to me I just shut down and do not proceed to deal with them in most cases. Im pretty arrogant about my designs and if I release them to you im satisfied that I have done the best layout that you need, a little tweaking I understand that is no problem, but to brinfg me crap and then deny my own work is an insult and I'm not understanding what some people visualize, I just dont get it

 

[WildWestDesigns]

and I'm not understanding what some people visualize, I just dont get it

That's because you are trying to understand logically. Sometimes logic doesn't play a part into people's decision making process (even though it should) and that's what throws you a curve ball every now and again.

 

[Lunatic Taskbar]

On occasion I have spent time crafting a great sign, logo or what ever and for my own amusement I spend 30secs on doing something crap to illustrate how appropriate the nice image is. Just a a comparison. On a couple of occasions they have actually chosen the crap... it makes me sad.

 

[HaroldDesign]

Those two logos tell very different stories, a lot of times when you just throw something together as a favor you overlook the process of finding out what they want their logo to represent for their business. It has definitely happened to me more than once.

I think this is the case. Yours says wild stallion, and theirs says show-horse. Maybe some simple correct typography with their original graphic would be a good way to go if you wanted to give it another shot.

 

[jfiscus]

I will be modifying theirs some & going with GIGO.
When they walked in they said they had nothing & to "come up with something", two days later they tell me they already have a logo... ???

As soon as I sent the logo, I told the other designer here - watch, they will hate this & suggest crap.