Do you want fries with that?

 I was unfortunately reminded recently that some clients treat us as vendors. 

“Welcome to Disciple, home of the Big Brand! May I take your order? We have the Collateral Combo on special this week - that includes letterhead, business cards and a tri-fold brochure - or perhaps you would just like one of our LogosToGo?”

Sorry, but I don’t work at a fast food chain. I work at a place that looks at each client as unique and relishes (pardon the pun) the opportunity to get to know what differentiates them and makes them special so that we can work with them to build their branding and create their unique look and voice. To do that requires collaboration and trust. We are not just wrists for hire. We like to use our brains, too. As the forward march of technology makes creating things easier, the perceived value of what we do as designers is lessened in the eyes of some clients. But the real value in what we do is not accomplished with a mouse but with our creativity and insight and knowledge and experience and unique perspective and everything else. You may be able to crank out a decent looking logo with a certain software program or even buy a pre-made one on the internet, but does it reflect the true core values of your business? Does it speak to your target audience? Does it communicate what your company or service is about? Those things are accomplished with a client/designer relationship based on trust, communication and a shared goal of doing the best work possible under the given circumstances. You can’t “order” that.

Pardon me, I've got to go, the font fryer is beeping.

God bless.