Valentine’s Day is all about relationships—so let’s talk about one that doesn’t get nearly enough love: the one between clients and designers.

This relationship? It’s… complicated.

👉 Clients don’t always know how to handle designers.
👉 Designers don’t always know how to handle clients.
👉 And when things go wrong, designers tend to blame the client.

But here’s the thing: It’s not just the client’s fault.

Designers, It’s Time to take Responsibility

I see so many designers frustrated, exhausted, and stuck in bad client relationships. But instead of stepping up, setting boundaries, or asking better questions, they just… complain.

We need to stop waiting for the perfect client to magically appear. We need to stop acting like we have zero control over how clients treat us. Instead, we need to take responsibility for our own communication.

Ask yourself:
• Do I set clear expectations from the start?
• Do I ask the right questions?
• Do I educate my clients on how to work with a designer?
• Do I stick to my process, or do I let clients bulldoze through it?

Because here’s the truth: Without us, clients can’t bring their brands to life. No logo. No packaging. No website. No social media presence. No billboard that stops someone in their tracks.

We are not assistants. We are not afterthoughts. We are strategic partners—and it’s time we start acting like it.

The Secret to a Smoother Client Relationship? Better Questions.

So many designers jump into projects blindly, without a proper discovery phase. They start designing before they even fully understand the problem they’re solving. Then, when revisions spiral out of control, they blame the client.

But how often do we stop and ask:
•  Did I get all the necessary details upfront?
•  Did I clarify the client’s expectations?
•  Did I guide the conversation, or did I just wait for the client to tell me what to do?

If we don’t ask better questions, we can’t do better work.

And that’s exactly why I created The Graphic Designer’s Playbook and Desk—a space where designers don’t have to struggle to figure this out on their own. It’s packed with the right questions to ask your clients—so you’re not left guessing what they want or wading through vague, confusing briefs.

And because I see so many designers struggling with this, I’m sharing a free Guide with some of these questions—straight from the Playbook.

 Download the free ‘The Designer’s Guide to Better Questions’ here:

Clients, This One’s for You Too

If you’re a client working with a designer who doesn’t ask the right questions, don’t worry—I’ve got you. You can use these same questions to give better guidance.

Maybe your designer is newer, unsure, or just doesn’t know how to extract the right information from you. But instead of waiting for them to figure it out (and hoping you’ll love the final design), you can take charge and give them exactly what they need upfront.

Because let’s be honest: a project done right the first time is a win for both of you.

It All Comes Down to This…

We make ourselves miserable with bad client or designer relationships when all we really want is to do great work and enjoy the creative process.

So let’s stop the blame game. Let’s start treating this as a true collaboration—one built on trust, respect, and open communication.

Better questions = better projects = better client relationships.

And if you need a place to start, grab the The Designer’s Guide to Better Questions and start transforming the way you work.

Would love to hear from you—designers or clients! What’s been your biggest challenge in working together? Drop a comment or send me a message. Let’s fix this, together.