Signs of red flag design clients
Not all clients are worth it!!!
If something feels off during an initial meeting or you hear them say any of the statements I outline in the post, it could be a sign that they could be hard to work with.
I would suggest you run away (fast!) and instead spend your time looking for a client who will value you and your skills (and be enjoyable to work with).
Here are some red flags to look out for 🚩
🚩 Red Flag 1
"I'm not sure what I want, but I'll know it when I see it"
Why this is a red flag:
You may find it hard to get a clear vision and direction from a client who says this.
While some degree of uncertainty is normal, this particular attitude often leads to a project that's constantly stuck in the 'revision loop.' In such cases, you could find yourself making countless changes that eat into your time and resources.
In addition clients who operate on intuition rather than concrete goals or guidelines can become a constant source of frustration and their indecisiveness can make it hard to meet their expectations. This can result in delayed timelines or even damage your reputation if the client leaves a bad review, despite your best efforts to make them happy.
So when a client says something along these lines, it's worth having a candid conversation about expectations and the scope of work to assess if this will be a collaboration worth investing your time in.
🚩 Red Flag 2
"You charge for your design consultation? But I have other designers that are willing to come for free. Can't you do your consultation for free as well?"
Why this is a red flag:
This statement can be indicative of a client who may not fully appreciate the value of your expertise or time.
A paid initial design consultation is not just a sales pitch, it's a professional service that will normally include taking a scope of the project, some initial planning and you offering some expert advice. Offering this service for free can quickly devalue your work and set a precedent that your time and skills are up not that valuable.
Does a plumber come out to give you free advice on fixing a toilet? No! And you shouldn’t do it either.
Clients who haggle over initial consultation fees are often the same clients who will try to bargain down every aspect of a project, potentially leading to underpayment for your efforts and a strained working relationship.
Charging for a consultation serves as a filter for clients who are more serious and more likely to move on to a larger project with you.
Read more about my views on why you should be charging for your design consultations IN THIS BLOG POST
🚩 Red Flag 3
"My friend/aunt/sister is an interior designer, she thinks we should do it this way"
Why this is a red flag:
This one is a red flag for a number of reasons.
Firstly it undermines your role as a hired expert for the project and when a client starts bringing in opinions from third parties (especially those who aren’t stakeholders) it can complicate the design process and create conflicting visions. A statement like this can also indicate that the client doesn't fully trust your expertise, which is essential for a successful collaboration.
Secondly, third party input can confuse a project’s direction and make it difficult to attribute responsibility for decisions. This can be particularly problematic if the project does not go as planned or if the client is dissatisfied with the result. In such cases they may blame you for not following the advice of their friend/aunt/sister, even if that advice was contrary to best practice or your expert judgment.
If a client insists on relying on external opinions, it will be important to have a conversation about roles and expectations or even reconsider whether this is a client you want to work with.
🚩 Red Flag 4
"I'm quite indecisive"
Why this is a red flag:
On the surface, this might seem like an honest and self aware admission, but what it actually flags are potential issues that could make the project far more challenging than it needs to be.
Indecisiveness can result in delays and constant revisions - so if you take on a client like this make sure your contract protects you for lots of revisions (or at least states how many you will be willing to do).
The project timeline can also stretch indefinitely, leading you to allocate resources for much longer than initially planned. This can then impact other projects and disrupt your workflow (potentially harming your relationship with other clients).
Indecisive clients are also often difficult to satisfy because they are unsure of what they want. So meeting or exceeding their expectations becomes a moving target and you may find you can never make them happy.
If a client is self aware enough to know they are indecisive, it may be worth setting extra milestones for decision making and including stipulations in the contract that account for extended timelines or additional revisions.
Alternatively, you might consider whether the client and project are the right fit for your business at all.
🚩 Red Flag 5
"We need this done ASAP"
Why this is a red flag:
This statement flags a sense of urgency that might not align with the realities of quality design work.
While it's natural for clients to be eager, being in a rush can compromise both the planning and execution phases of a project. It’s also generally not that realistic in the current building environment, where most (good) trades are booked out many months or years in advance.
Rushed timelines can also be unnecessarily stressful for you and your team, potentially leading to burnout and decreased job satisfaction.
Another concern is that clients who push for quick completions are often more willing to cut corners, both in terms of the project scope and budget. This can lead to disputes later on if they're unhappy with the results but unwilling to allocate additional time or funds to fix them.
If a client is saying they need something done ASAP it's crucial to manage expectations right from the start.
Clearly outline the time needed for each phase of the project and if they remain unrealistic, don't hesitate to say no to the project.
Sometimes turning down a project is better than compromising your standards and the quality of your work.
🚩 Red Flag 6
"We have interviewed a number of other designers but none of them have been right so far"
Why this is a red flag:
This one is a red flag for a few reasons.
Firstly, it may indicate that the client has extremely high or unclear expectations that even skilled professionals have been unable to meet. This could set you up for an uphill battle to satisfy their demands.
Secondly, it hints at the possibility that the client is a difficult collaborator. If they've gone through several designers and found none to be "right," the issue might not be with the designers at all, but rather with the client's approach to the project or their interpersonal skills.
Thirdly, this situation often implies that you may have to deal with the lingering influence or ideas of previous designers, which can be an issue for your own creativity and design process.
Finally, the continual search for a designer might mean that the client is shopping around excessively and focusing more on evaluating professionals than on actually moving forward with the project. This could turn out to be a waste of your time.
If you hear a client say something like this statement during your initial consultation or early sales talks you will want to ask lots of questions to determine whether you can meet their expectations and work together effectively.
You might also want to include certain protections in your contract to account for potential issues down the line. This might included special clauses around revision limitations, your cancellation policy, how to back out of the project if you need to, dispute resolution or timeline penalties. A lawyer specialised in working with the design industry will be able to help you with this.
Overall remember this is your business (and your sanity!).
Not all clients are worth it!!
It's completely OK to politely decline work if you sense red flags that you don’t want to deal with.
Thanks for reading and catch you in my next post :)
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
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