{"id":15520,"date":"2017-08-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.toggl.com\/design-change-requests\/"},"modified":"2024-08-08T04:11:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T04:11:59","slug":"design-change-requests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toggl.com\/blog\/design-change-requests","title":{"rendered":"Reaching Your Limit: How to Manage Design Change Requests"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve redesigned a website for a client\u2014let\u2019s call him Joe. You send over the link to the staging site so that he can take a look at what you\u2019ve done so far. Overall, Joe is happy with it (or so he says\u2026). But, then comes the inevitable onslaught of design change requests.<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, Joe wants you to change the font in the navigation. So, you make that tweak. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Then, he wants you to change it back. You do that. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019s not even sure if he likes the entire style of the navigation anymore. <\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, he thinks the whole color scheme he initially proposed might be off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you just let out a groan or an exasperated sigh?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t blame you. As a web designer, you know that requests for changes from your clients are all a part of the process. <\/span><\/p>\n

But, at the same time, you know you need to draw a line in the sand somewhere. If you don\u2019t stop this snowball from rolling, you\u2019re certain you\u2019ll continue making tiny revisions and alterations for at least the next year. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, how can you do that? <\/span><\/p>\n

How can you put a stop to the endless change requests, without seeming difficult or inflexible?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be a sticky situation, no doubt.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are a few tips and tactics you can implement to effectively deal with that client\u2014without destroying the relationship or your reputation.<\/p>\n

1. Understand your client<\/span><\/h2>\n

As you can likely imagine, mitigating issues with constant design change requests involves being proactive. The more you can understand your client right from the get-go (and the more you have similar expectations in place!), the easier the rest of your engagement will be.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more you understand your client, the easier your relationship will be.<\/p>\n

Make it your goal to get a solid feel for what exactly your client is looking for in a new or redesigned website. \u201cAn effective website will be built to address the specific needs of the business, which will require the designer to accurately understand a lot of details about the business<\/em>,\u201d explains Steven Snell in a <\/span>post for Vandelay Design<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

A few things you\u2019ll want to be sure to touch on include: <\/strong><\/p>\n