When your ‘Ta-da!” is met with blank stares, general umming and aahing, or downright hurtful statements, it’s hard not to take it personally. While it can be disheartening when your client just doesn’t like the website design you’ve slaved over, when handled correctly, it can lead to a better end product and a stronger client relationship. 

Here’s how to navigate the tricky waters when your client doesn’t like the proposed website design, with useful tips from our outsource digital marketing services team.

How to Listen and Interpret Criticism

The first and most crucial step is to listen carefully to your client’s feedback. It’s easy to get defensive, especially when you’ve invested significant time and creative energy into a project. However, active listening is key to understanding the root of their dissatisfaction.

Ask clarifying questions to ensure you fully grasp their concerns. Are they unhappy with the colour scheme, layout, or overall aesthetic? 

Conducting a Design Review

Once you’ve gathered feedback, it’s time to revisit the design brief and initial discussions to see if there’s a disconnect between the client’s expectations and your interpretation.

Sometimes, the dissatisfaction arises from miscommunication or vague requirements. Review the project goals, brand guidelines, and any inspiration boards or examples provided by the client. 

Compromise and Collaboration

Design is inherently subjective, and what works aesthetically for one person might not resonate with another. 

Invite the client to collaborate on the solution. This might involve creating a mood board together or having the client point out specific elements they like or dislike on competitor websites. 

However, it’s essential to balance compromise with your expertise as a designer. If a client’s request could harm the usability or effectiveness of the site, it’s your responsibility to explain why and propose alternatives that align with both the client’s desires and best design practices.

Revisions and Redesigns

After identifying the issues and agreeing on a path forward, it’s time to implement revisions or even a complete redesign. Set clear expectations with your client about the scope of these changes, the timeline, and how many revision rounds are included in the project.

If the redesign still doesn’t meet expectations, it may be time to revisit the project’s foundation or even consult with a third party, such as a brand strategist, to realign the vision.

Hearing that your client hasn’t fallen in love with your design can be tough, but our outsource digital marketing services team can help. Let us take care of actioning edits so that you can focus on communicating with your client.