Trust Your Designer

Some of you will totally get what I’m talking about here.

Along with being the basketmaker’s wife, I’m also a self-employed freelance designer. Have been for 19 years. Before that I worked in advertising for a decade. So I know a little about what you can and can’t get from a printer and in what kind of timeframe.

I have a client. Let’s call him “Kip the client” because he may, or may not be, related to a dear cousin of mine. He needed a quick small job… a banner for a building he owns in another state. Let’s say it’s “Alaska.” He wanted it overnight. I told him that that was impossible. But he said it could be done.

So I went to a well-known “quickie printer” and the only overnight banners available would require utilizing their template—meaning no logo, no design, just input text into the template’s open areas. I proceed with their online template and enter all his information. Bottom line, he wants his logo but he can’t have that on this limited banner template. He was not happy.

About three minutes after I delivered the overnight limited-template banner design to “Kip the client” my phone goes off “ding… ding.. ding… ding.” It’s him sending me links to “overnight banner companies.” Note: don’t ever give a client your cell phone number where they can text you!!! But then again, he may, or may not be, related to my cousin. So he may, or may not have had, access to my cell phone to begin with.

I tell him I don’t recognize any of these companies and I don’t see how they can do overnight printing. He says to just pick one. So I do. And yes, I sort of know they will not be overnight but “Kip the client” is not listening to me. I get his approval on final design but, wait… wait for it… it’s not overnight. It will be 3 business days. I’m assuming since he got his “logo” on the banner that he’s okay with that. He is. I order it and done. Five days later my phone rings…

“Kip the client”: I haven’t received the banner. Did they email you? 

Me: Uhm, no. I entered your email for the account. So they would be emailing you. 

“Kip the client”: What? Well how about a phone call. Did they call you? 

Me: Uhm, no. I entered your phone number. 

“Kip the client”: What number? 

Me: Uhm, your cell phone number that I have for you. I’m not giving some company I have no relationship with, my phone and email address. Who knows where they are from. 

One hour later…. Ring ring ring…. 

Me: Hello? 

“Kip the client:” Yeah Lynne, it’s me “Kip”… that company you got the banner from, they are in India! I-N-D-I-A!

Me: Oh, you mean the company link you texted me to use because they will send overnight? 

“Kip my client:” Didn’t you look it up to see if they were in the United States? 

Me: Uhm, no. You sent me the link and I don’t question my clients.

This is what designers go through… all the time!!!! Does he have the banner yet? I’m afraid to ask. So is his wife.

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