🚩 The client is focused on cutting costs
The first red flag? A client who wants to complete the project as cheaply as possible.
Of course, we understand that budgets matter (for us too!), especially in tough times. However, if the client aggressively negotiates rates and says something like: "John Doe can build this website for £900. Can you do it for less?" – walk away.
A client fixated on minimising costs often fails to appreciate the value you bring as a professional. They may not understand the time, effort, experience, and tools required to deliver a high-quality project.
👉 These clients might initially agree to a low budget but later sneak in additional requirements without offering extra payment. This phenomenon, known as scope creep, leads to more work without increased compensation.
Clients obsessed with saving money are often inflexible, difficult to negotiate with, and expect immediate, unrealistic results given their limited budget.
They also rarely commit to long-term collaborations, opting instead for whoever offers the lowest price at any given time.
On top of that, lower pay means less motivation, resulting in a less polished project that won’t enhance your portfolio as much as it could.
💡 Creativity thrives on freedom to experiment. Clients focused on cost-cutting are rarely open to innovation because... well, experimenting takes time and research, which means additional costs.
While it might be tempting to take on such projects for quick cash, in the long run, they often cause more problems than they’re worth.
👉 Work with clients who understand the value of your expertise and are willing to pay for quality and professionalism.
🚩 The client refuses to sign a contract
The second red flag? A client who, for some reason, doesn’t want to sign a contract.
📄 A contract is a fundamental document that protects your rights, ensuring you can, for example, showcase the project in your portfolio, define the number of revisions, and establish that any extra work beyond the agreed scope will be billed accordingly. Without it, things can spiral out of control.
A contract is crucial. If a client refuses to sign because they’re a friend and say, "Come on, let’s not bother with the formalities," that’s a red flag. In our opinion, contracts are non-negotiable when money is involved. If you’re designing a website for a friend as a favour, that’s a different story. But for paid work? Absolutely essential.
👉 Remember the scope creep we mentioned earlier? A contract protects you from this. Without one, clients may demand endless changes and additions without compensation. ❌
A contract also clarifies payment terms – including the amount and deadlines. Without this, you risk late or even missing payments. And should things go south, the contract is your legal safety net.
🚩 The client doesn’t appreciate good design
Another red flag is a client who doesn’t value good design or insists on references that completely disregard industry standards.
They don’t need to be design experts, but... if you present high-quality references and they remain unimpressed, that’s a warning sign. If they insist on their own subpar examples and refuse to listen, that’s another one. ❌
Good design is key to a strong professional image, and poor-quality work can damage not only their brand but also your reputation.
🎨 If you agree to produce work below your skill level just to keep the client happy, you risk weakening your portfolio. Such projects will likely not be ones you’re proud to showcase.
⚠️ A client who doesn’t value design may challenge you on multiple fronts – from aesthetics to business decisions. They might also dismiss your expertise, even if your work meets the highest standards.
In such cases, it’s important to clearly communicate the value of good design and stand by your professional standards.
If they remain unwilling to listen, ask yourself: is this collaboration really worth it? Some projects just aren’t worth pursuing. 🍞
🚩 The client doesn’t understand the importance of content
Now for the biggest deal-breaker: a client who doesn’t grasp the importance of content.
Content is the single most important element of any project, especially websites. If the client doesn’t understand this and assumes you’ll handle everything – photography, copywriting, video, illustrations – that’s a major red flag.
Clients often request a website design but fail to provide any content. No photos, no videos, no text. Designing without proper content is challenging because a design cannot exist in a vacuum.
🌐 Just like a newspaper needs articles, a website needs content to be meaningful. Without it, the final product will lack coherence and impact.
Many clients don’t realise that a designer’s role is to organise and present content attractively, not to create it from scratch.
Without quality content, the project will suffer. If the client doesn’t care about the quality of their images, text, or videos, the final result will fall short of expectations.
Great content – professional photos, well-crafted copy, high-quality videos – allows design to shine. Your job is to structure and highlight that content, not generate it.
If a client expects you to create content, you must clearly state that this isn’t part of your role. Unless, of course, you offer content creation services – in which case, this should be a separately priced service. 💰
Looking at the best website projects, one thing stands out: they succeed because of quality content, not just the layout.
💡 Pro tip
Want a strong portfolio? Work with clients who understand the importance of good content.
This gives you the chance to create standout designs, because it’s content, not just layout, that leaves a lasting impression.
A design studio that recognises the importance of strong content will always prioritise working with clients who provide it. You should too.
If a client has poor content and refuses to see its importance, it’s worth considering whether the project is even viable. A weak foundation leads to a weak result. Be upfront: without quality content, the project simply won’t work.
👞 Thinking like an art director
If you’re ready to step up and take charge of both design and content, this can be a valuable career move.
📹 Art direction means overseeing the project’s entire visual and content strategy – choosing the right materials, creating them, and ensuring a cohesive presentation. It’s a natural progression that opens up more opportunities but also requires clearly defined terms of collaboration. And an appropriate budget.
If a client doesn’t understand the role of content and expects you to do everything, that’s a serious red flag.
Your job is to organise content, not create it. Keep that in mind when setting boundaries.
And that’s a wrap! Let us know your thoughts in the comments. ❤️
