Vicente Wolf

Name: Cindy LeBlanc
City: Vermilion
State: OH
Country: US
Comment:

Vincente,
I am relatively new to the design field. I am always struggling with what is a reasonable amount of time to come up with a design plan. Sometimes, depending on the client, decisions are made very quickly.

My creative and conceptual time frame varies from client to client as well based on them and the space. I struggle with the idea, that if I were more seasoned it would take me less time, and is it reasonable or fair to charge my client for this learning curve time. I would really appreciate your thoughts about this.

Thank you
Cindy

Vicente Responds:

I think different people create at different speeds. Lucky for me I can do it very quickly, but one has always got to go with your gut and not questioning your decisions. I think that the more you think, the longer it takes. When I feel that I’ve come up with the right solution, I move onto the next thing. I think a lot of people don’t trust their gut and my experience has told me that the first charge is usually the right one. The fact is, clients usually make decisions very quickly so I design everything and present it all at once. To involve the client during the process of creativity is watering down your project and drawing out the process. Try to design the project completely and then present it to the client. You’ll see it go much faster. I know a lot of people who are very seasoned and still take a long time to design a project. And regarding the learning curve? I am still on one and I think anybody who is able to maintain their creativity at a high level will always learn. The day you die is the day you stop learning. It’s not the learning curve they’re paying for, it’s what you produce. If you’re charging by the hour it still takes you what it takes you to create. Try coming up with a flat fee that eliminates the question in your mind.