What Makes a Good Designer/Client Relationship

Life is pretty good at Wheelie Creative Design these days. Business is booming, and I feel very fortunate to have many terrific clients right now. My clients are a huge part of why I love my job.

Recently, one of my clients asked me a very interesting question:
What makes a good designer/client relationship?
He had never worked with someone in the creative industry before, and he wanted to make sure he got what he wanted while also respecting my business practices. (This instantly makes him an excellent client to work with.) I thought for a moment, smiled, and delivered my best answer: communication. That's really what it comes down to, not only in design, but all workplaces and relationships. After thinking more thoroughly about his question for a few days, I decided the designer/client relationship is a great topic to write about.  I'm a bit biased being on the designer side of the conversation, but here goes:

WHAT MAKES A GOOD DESIGNER/CLIENT RELATIONSHIP:

1.  Communication. Period. As a designer, it is imperative to your business to listen with all your attention. Watch your client talk, listen to what they say, take notes, ask questions. This is not about you, it is about them and expressing their business for who and what it is. And clients, say what you mean. If you don't know how to express your ideas, find examples of websites or posters you like. Visual examples go a long way. Say what you mean, always. This is business. You're not going to hurt my feelings, and I'm not going to hurt yours. We both want to get this right. It's also a good idea for designers to check in with their clients along the design process to make sure the designer direction is congruent with the client vision.
   
2.  Mutual Respect. I could talk about this one all day. I'm young. I wear skate shoes. Sometimes I have a goggle tan that makeup can't cover. That doesn't mean I'm not professional. I don't expect my clients to be on call for me, just as I am not going to add content to a website or create a brochure within four hours of receiving an email on a Sunday night. It's also extremely important to separate work relationships from personal relationships. A friend can still be a client as long as both parties understand the difference between discount hook-ups and needing to make a living.
   
3. Trust. I trust my clients to say what they need to say. If a client doesn't like something, I trust that they will tell me to change directions or light that page of design concepts on fire. My clients trust me to deliver a product they care about. They trust my design instincts, education, and experience. Good designer/client relationships trust each other to do their job...which brings me to my next point:
   
4. Accountability. Whatever it is: Own it. Designers, if your computer crashes and you lose everything, don't make excuses, just put your head down and make it right. Clients, if you suddenly have a new idea, don't tell your designer they're not doing their job, tell them you would like to try something you haven't mentioned yet.
5. Delivery. Do what you say you are going to do. Whether that means hitting a client's deadline even if you have to work all weekend or outsourcing some programming to someone else to get a website function to work, then make it happen. This will make your design business successful. It's all about delivering a product your client will be stoked on. It's about them, not you, which leads to #6.
6. Throw Your Artist Ego Away. Never throw an Eggo away. That's food, and you can eat that. I'm talking about ego. As a designer, it is important to remember that your work isn’t ultimately about you- it is a service for someone else and their needs as a client. Once you remove your ego, you take the emotional burden out of it, making it easier to accept criticism or change direction without feeling attachment to an idea you might love but your client is not receptive to.  There's a place for ego as an artist, but business shouldn't be that venue. I paint in my spare time. I put my ego into my paintings because my painting is for me. Design is for you.
   
7.  Designers, be good to your printer. If you have a good working relationship with your local printer, your clients will love you even more. Treat your printer like gold. Quick turn-around time on printing will keep your clients happy. 
8. Stay Inspired. Design is fun. It's the fun part for business owners too. As a designer, you get to make their brand tell the world who it is, and let's face it, that's pretty cool.

What do you think? Did I miss anything?