There she is again, your competitor, smiling back at you from her newly designed website. How does she do it; how does she get her website and promotional materials to look so professional. It has to be that new designer she hired. From the looks of the design, you can tell that your competitor and her designer have a great relationship; she received more than she bargained for.

Guess what? Getting great work from your designer is not as challenging as it may seem. Super Clients, as designers so lovingly call them, make the process of designing simple, allowing room for the creative juices to flow. Your designer will want to do a more thorough job on your project if you pull back and let them take the reins. So how do you relinquish control to get the best design work from your designer? It is easy, by becoming a Super Client.

You might be wondering, 'Why would I want to be a Super Client? Isn't it the designer's job to make sure I'm happy with the design and to keep working until I'm satisfied?' Trust me; it will make your life simpler if you became a Super Client. Here are three reasons why you should.

Super Clients save money on design. Hours of research go unpaid for when you are a Super Client. Your designer will be happy to work harder for you because you are such a great client to work for. They will not mind presenting you with more ideas and solutions and will be willing to work after hours or off the clock to see that your job is complete.

Super Clients get free tech support. Need some good design advice on your do it yourself projects? There is no one to go to better than your designer. Sure, most designers will give you a free consultation but unless you are on their good list you will not get those pearls of wisdom that are generally reserved for their Super Clients. Super Clients will be on the receiving end of those goodies. For demanding, overbearing or problem clients, you will get just enough information to get you off the phone.

Super Clients are at the top of the priority list. If you are a Super Client, rest assured that your project is on the top of most designers list. You will get the best service and care when you are a Super Client. Best of all, your entire project will be complete in record time.

How do you become a Super Client you ask? Here are 7 tips to get you well on your way to becoming a Super Client.

1. Have an open mind. When choosing to go to a designer for help, understand that these individuals are highly creative and bring many ideas to the table. Unleash this creative energy on your project and the results will be surprising. Limit the creative spirit and you'll put a limit on that very resource that you sought to acquire from the beginning. Bring an open mind to the table and recognize ideas for what they are; the seeds to cultivating a great results. Changes can be made and nothing is set in stone.

2. Brainstorm before your initial meeting. In conversations with other designers, the number one complaint is "Clients have no idea what they want" and for the most part, it's true. We understand that you are coming to us to help you find a design solution to your problem, but if you do not know what your message is, guess what - we do not know what your message is either. Do a little research; who are you targeting and why, what is your message, how do you want to deliver that message and when. This is just a starting point but it would help both parties if you as the client come to the meeting with a plan.

3. Come to the meeting prepared. The night before a meeting is the prefect time to prepare your thoughts. Clearly jot down ideas, changes and revisions to the current project, and any other information that can help your designer with the current project at hand. You'll find that your meetings will go smoother if both of you are on the same page.

4. Don't be a smarty-pants. This should be a "no brainer" but you would be surprised at the number of clients that break this rule. Be respectful, if your designer asks "why" to a change or a design decision that you have made, never say, "Because I told you so." I don't mean to sound too preachy or too much like my mother, but remember the Golden Rule and do un to your designer as you would like your designer to do un to you.

5. Don't be a squeaky wheel. The squeaky wheel may get the oil, but the squeaky person gets the boot. Don't be a complainer instead find constructive ways to get your point across. A good technique to being heard is to:
# Write out all your ideas comments, revisions or changes in detail # Walk away from the design for a day or two. A clearer head can reveal a clearer solution.
# Come back to your written ideas, revisions, or changes and give them the once over. Check for errors and make sure that you can support your comments with reasons or facts. Then voice your concerns, changes, or opinions.

I often find that when a client makes many changes at once the result is better than if they had made single changes one after the other. This lifts the frustration level for both the client and the designer.

6. Understand the designer's role. The Graphic Designer's role is to breathe life into your design ideas as well as explore a few of their own. Their main role is design and layout not photography, copywriting, or proofreading. If you require all these skills for your project, make sure that you look for a designer who can handle the task. If need be, ask to see similar projects in their portfolio that displays the necessary skills that you require. You'd be doing both the designer and yourself a huge favor.

7. Don't be a Backseat Designer. Criticism. BAD. Constructive Criticism. BETTER! If you ever had to drive down a snow-covered street, without chains, you know that the last thing you need is a person in the backseat yelling in your ear every step of the way. You do not want to be told how to navigate the uncharted roads ahead, littered with black ice and yellow snow, you just want to concentrate and deal with the task. Your safe arrival to your destination is all that matters. Now imaging you're a designer, the snow-covered street is actually a black and white brochure littered with uninteresting copy, photographs that aren't print ready and that screaming person in the backseat is your client telling you how black isn't a color. I have news for you; this nightmare occurs more times than you could imagine. Designers try to do the jobs that their clients assign them, yet the clients become impatient and try to tell the designer how to doing their job. Not only does this undermine the designer investment in their design education and years of experience, but also it undermines the success of the project. If designing were so easy you would not be going to a designer. Since you did allow your project to survive, the fatal crimes of bad design by letting your designer do their job. If not, your project could become a design statistic.

Now that you know the secrets to becoming a Super Client, go forth and implement them. You will find that the money you will save, time and effort will be an enjoyable journey to design success.

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For the past 6 years, Jeaneen Benson has enjoyed an active career in the design industry. Jeaneen holds a Certificate in Multimedia, an AA in Graphic Design, as well as a Bachelors of Science in Advertising. The author of online newsletter, Design Smartz, Jeaneen owns and operates an online design firm, target="_blank">Design911.net that focuses on helping business owners to succeed with affordable design solutions.

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