One of the biggest gripes shared by most creative professionals is that essentially, they’re working to create other people’s visions. And that your client’s design aesthetics may not always agree with yours…or worse, they may have no taste at all.

via BuzzFeed

It is precisely for this reason that websites such as Clients From Hell have gained so much popularity in such a short span of time, or how pieces like How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell turn viral; fellow creative professionals have been granted a means to laugh and sympathize as we all sacrifice our own visions to pay the rent.

I have been pretty lucky in that most of my clients/supervisors have been understanding of my vision and abilities. There are those like the ladies of JAC Beauty, whose website I am currently redesigning, who are a delight to work with (even giving me cupcakes!) and trust me enough to give me almost full creative control.

But I would be lying if I said I have never crossed paths with clients who refuse to listen to my suggestions — even when they are the de facto standard — and seem to be hell-bent on achieving the most outdated, unprofessional, and flat-out ugly visual representations of themselves.

How do you deal with creative differences, or with people who seem straight out of a Clients from Hell entry? Do you suck it up and take it, or do you stand up for what you believe?

P.S. — I wrote two private posts today (request access here) that run along this line.