What a year. Few of us will exit the same way we entered. Many of us will have changed the way we work. Should we explain any changes to our clients?

If designers can identify the triggers that make clients look for a new design partner we can hone our new business activities.

We asked clients to rate how designers reacted to their briefs: were they proactive or reactive? The results are interesting…

We asked clients to rate how designers reacted to their briefs: were they proactive or reactive? The results are interesting…

We asked clients what they wanted to see/hear in a pitch. Interestingly, not one client said they wanted to see a current folio. Instead, they wanted to talk, and share insights.

We asked clients how they find designers. There’s much written about how designers find clients but not the other way around … where does a client go to find their dream designer?

This is the first in a series of articles reporting on feedback from our ‘What clients want’ survey. We asked clients a simple question: How would you prefer to meet designers? The results are interesting.

Designers make great strategic thinkers because we share the attributes of great strategic thinkers. We’re curious, consistent, agile, multi-focused, open, questioning and we have a breadth of knowledge.

It’s easy to think bias is embedded in others like Donald Trump or Pauline Hanson, but truth is most designers have some level of unconscious bias.

Many designers avoid all talk about money because they find it stressful but it’s not talking about money that’s stressful. Having the money talk early in a project means you can relax and enjoy the design.

Designers like to craft brands rather than design logos. We’re protective of identities created and like to be involved in building their character. Here’s a great example of a brand with character.

So, we’re working all from home now but are designers working from home forever? If they are, here’s some things you should consider …