As designers, who hasn't experienced the "joy" of client revisions?
When I first started, I thought my design sense was pretty decent. I'd submit work with confidence, only to have the client hit me with: "Can the logo be bigger?", "Can the colors be brighter?", "There's too much empty space — can we add another product image?", or "It just doesn't feel premium enough..."
The most frustrating part? After countless revisions, the client often says: "You know what... let’s just go back to the first version."
Why Do Clients Always Want Changes?
- They don’t really know what they want
Many clients don’t have a clear direction — they rely on "vibes." You give them Option A, they prefer B. You give them B, they start leaning toward C…
- Everyone has different tastes
The boss, the marketing team, the product manager — everyone has an opinion. The designer ends up stuck in the middle, trying to please everyone.
- They want to feel they got their money’s worth
Having paid for the service, clients often equate more revisions with greater value.
How to Reduce the Pain of Endless Revisions?
- Ask more questions upfront
Before starting, clarify:
Who is the target audience?
What feeling or impression are we going for?
Are there any reference examples?
- Offer choices, not open-ended revisions
Instead of asking "What do you think?", try:
"Option A is more modern, Option B is more professional — which direction do you prefer?"
This makes decisions easier.
- Set a revision limit
Specify in the agreement: "Includes 3 rounds of revisions. Additional revisions will be billed separately."
This encourages more thoughtful feedback.
- Learn the art of gentle persuasion
When clients suggest something that won’t work, avoid direct pushback. Try:
"That’s an interesting idea. From a user experience perspective, this approach might affect ______. How about we try ______ instead?"
Finally — Keep Your Cool
Revisions are part of the job. Don’t take them personally. As long as the budget is fair, we can revise as needed (within reason). Remember: design is a service industry. Meeting the client’s needs is the end goal.
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Get in touch to discuss your project needs and ideas.
Email: chris@sumaart.com | Phone: +86 136 3281 6324
