In a previous post we started to detail a few of the ways in which graphic designers commonly cause themselves all kinds of headaches. However, we just don’t feel like we’ve exhausted the issue enough, so without harping on about it too much, we’ve compiled yet another list on how to recognize these bad habits in your workflow, as well as how to stem and stop them properly.

  1. Not Responding to Clients: We will never understand this one personally, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen other designers falling victim to it with some regularity. For some reason, it’s a common theme we’ve noticed in our peers to simply not respond to clients’ emails. They sit in the inbox, and when asked about it, these designers will often say, “Oh, I’ll get back to them here in a second.” Of course, they never really do. Now, this could be a motivation issue, but we think it’s largely an issue of confidence. If you’re scared to talk to the client about money, or the status of the project, you’re really not doing yourself any favors. Start the conversation on your own initiative, and make a point to conquer fears and keep the client informed. We promise this is a good idea.
  2. Stealing: Now, this is a very sensitive topic within our community, so we’re going to try to be as delicate about it as we possibly can. You see, there’s a bad habit going around where a designer goes to inspiration sites, finds a good design that he likes, and then directly copies it. This is not using freeware vectors to save time, this is expressly finding a design that looks incredible, and then ripping it off for your own projects and gain. Obviously, you need to cut this out, but not quite for the reasons you think: Yes, doing this is immoral and stupid, but if you get caught, imagine what will happen to your credibility. No one will respect you as an original graphic designer, which means very likely the death of your business, as well as the well running dry on your career. Don’t do this. Just stay the heck away from it, and you’ll be fine.