Ask Questions!
Lesson 16 from: Working Successfully with Clients: A Class for Illustrators and DesignersLisa Congdon
Ask Questions!
Lesson 16 from: Working Successfully with Clients: A Class for Illustrators and DesignersLisa Congdon
Lessons
Class Introduction
03:45 2The Importance of Effective Communication
05:00 3Be Prompt, Clear and Succinct
15:56 4Email Communication: What Works, What Doesn't
20:01 5What to Look for in an Assignment
13:04 6Red Flags
09:42 7Questions about the Schedule
03:34 8Fees & Negotiation
22:16How to Approach Bidding
05:34 10Navigating Contracts
03:57 11What Should Go Into a Contract?
13:09 12Negotiating Contracts
04:51 13The Pros and Cons of Having an Agent
14:46 14Phases of a Freelance Illustration or Design Job
02:49 15Sketch & Feedback Phases
14:19 16Ask Questions!
03:15 17Final Artwork Phase
03:37 18Dealing with Change in Scope
05:43 19Wrap Phase
04:31Lesson Info
Ask Questions!
Once a sketch is approved, you are ready to move on to final artwork. But first ... Let's talk for a second about asking questions during the assignment. So, always follow the nine indicators of good communication that we talked about earlier, but one of the questions I get the most often is: From people that I've mentored or young illustrators is like, "I'm in the middle of this assignment. "I'm really confused about what I'm supposed to do next." Or, "They tell me to go this direction but it's not working. "I don't know what to do, I have all these questions. "Can I email the client? "Am I bothering the client? "Should I try to figure this out on my own? "Or should I ask questions?" Any of you been in that situation before? Yeah, it's hard. The answer to that is usually, no, you're not bothering the client. It's better to ask questions and risk being a little pesky and annoying, than to deliver work that is not on point, right? But, before you email the client, make sure you read the...
creative brief plus all the emails you received to make sure the information you're looking for isn't already there. Okay? Compile all of your questions into one list, just like we talked about earlier And then, write one email at a time with as many questions like, succinct questions bulleted out. When to email the client: You can't find the answers to your questions in the creative brief or the notes or previous email communication. Okay? The creative process is messy, and sometimes things seem so straight forward when you start, right? And then you sit down to draw the thing, or concept the thing, and then you're like, oh, what, I never thought about this. Or wait, this is looking a little strange. Is that really what they wanted? Or, you know, whatever, like, questions come up. Sometimes the assignment is taking you longer than you thought and you may need an extension. Get really clear on whether or not you think you need more time, and don't be afraid to ask. It's always better to ask for more time in the middle of the process than at the end of a process. Clients often expect you to ask for an extension. I'm not saying abuse it (laughs). To like, party or be lazy. But if you have legitimately been working hard and you're still not making progress or you don't feel, you feel like another day, like oftentimes what I'll say is: I've been working on this since yesterday. I feel like I'm making really good progress, but I feel like if I had another 24 hours, it would be so much better. Any chance I can turn this in tomorrow instead? And most of the time the answer is yes, especially if you're like, working within the frame of the deadline, 'cause sometimes in the middle of a project you're talking about intermediate deadlines, not the final deadline. You're encountering a conundrum that you hadn't expected in the work, always ask the client. Remember to use our guidelines for effective communication every time you send an email or make a phone call. Too many complicated questions? Get on the phone!
Class Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Caroline Fidelaire
Great class packed very useful tips for entrepreneurs in illustration and design and great email examples on how to: - respectfully and gratefully communicate with clients in the diverse phases of the production line - negotiate a contract and your fees - how to proceed to bidding for a work contract Lisa is a wonderful speaker. A wonderful class well worth its 3 hours length.
Scavenger Annie
Right from the start of class Lisa offers up her pearls of wisdom. Absolutely jam-packed with information on working with clients, illustration agents & art directors in the commercial world. All very relevant to other careers in the creative realm too, especially when Lisa talks about the language & negotiation of contracts. Clear, concise teaching & my fingers are burning from typing so fast as I made notes! A wonderful class that has motivated me to pursue commercial illustration with my brand Northern Bird Designs. Thank you for the top guidance & inspiration Lisa! Looking forward to the next class on managing workflows.
Neelam Kaur
Lisa has immense knowledge about the industry and she shares the same with Artist Community in the form of Books, E-courses, Workshops. This class is jam-packed with great information which as an Freelance or as an New Illustrator we struggle and feel we had someone to help us understand. And I must say, the Skillshare & CreativeBug Classes other than Creative Live Classes, she focuses it all from an artist standpoint. As a Freelance Illustrator Artist I struggled managing the other aspects of my Art Business which I feel so confident after this class. And most of all I know my worth! Thank you Lisa!