Michael Bierut talks about clients.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 7:43PM
John Pribble III

Michael Bierut talks about clients.

• Clients can be the best part of the design process.


• Clients are the difference between art and design.


• My clients are the same as yours.


• The right client can change anything.


• The best clients love design, or don't give a damn about it. (i.e., they have confidence)


• The worst clients are somewhere in between. (i.e., they have fear)


• Never talk about "educating the client."


• What makes a great client? Brains, passion, trust and courage.


• "You'll never go wrong when you work with someone smarter than you." (Tibor Kalman)


• Warning: Your great client may not be my great client.


• Great clients lead to more great clients (and more great work).


• Bad clients lead to more bad clients (and more bad work).


• Bad clients take up more of your time than they should.


• Meanwhile, we take great clients for granted.


• The trick is to reverse this.


• What do I owe a great client? Loyalty, honesty, dedication and tenacity.


• Once you find a great client, never let them go.


• If you can find five great clients, you're set for life.


• "You'd better find somebody to love." (Jefferson Airplane)


• Good luck.

-- http://soulellis.com/2010/01/michael_bierut_talks_about_cli.html

Article originally appeared on Design Thinking//Brand Strategy//Marketing Decisions (http://www.johnpribbleiii.com/).