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 …

Designers spend an inordinant amount of time trying to guess what clients want. We’ve written a survey to ask them what they want. It’s yours to share.

Is the WFM model here to stay? Maybe becaue humans love flexibility. We love the ability to choose when to work and when to play, and that’s exactly what remote working delivers.

Designers spend a great deal of time trying to guess what their clients want. The insights from this recent UK report conducted by ‘Up to the Light’ are valuable to all Australian designers.