A very important part of a designer’s ability to create magic is the ability to focus on the project at hand. The need to stick to the brief and create something that the client wants is of utmost importance, even more so than creativity itself. However, in our quest to hit the highs of our professions, many designers tend to overlook the kind of work they should be doing and replace it with the kind of work they want to do.

Here’s a look at some common mistakes that designers tend to make:

Missing the Point

There are plenty of design creations out there that are completely fantastic when it comes to appearance and the overall effect, however, when it comes to highlighting the product or service, they are complete failures. While the entire concept of creating the design might be to highlight the product, how many times have you seen them actually making a probable customer think about that product or service?

If you create a design where the product or service isn’t the real hero of the design, then there’s no point making it, is there?

Too Much Fluff

How often have you seen flamboyant designs that cause unnecessary distractions despite putting the product/service in the heart of things? Even if its once, that’s one time too many. A designer is paid to create a design that puts the product in the best possible light. The “best possible light” is often misinterpreted as the freedom to show off!

What you, inevitably, end up with are too many elements that lead to a lot of confusion and even though the product is the heart & soul of the design, it doesn’t hold your attention thanks to the irritants around it.

Portfolio Material

Every time a designer begins thrusting ideas onto clients that are better for them and not for the client, it is a time to shudder. Get rid of this designer as quickly as you can no matter how brilliant their technique or capability is to be creative. Any designer who pays more attention to selling their handiwork rather than fulfilling the brief is merely exploiting you as a stepping stone, and not in the right way. They will sacrifice the success of your product/service without a second thought as long as their portfolio looks better for their next client.

Missing the Brief

In every project, designers are constantly searching for inspiration to carry out their work. Whether searching online, through books or talking to others, designers are constantly exposed to a number of elements that, individually and together, stimulate different thoughts in their mind. There is a very high possibility, in such circumstances, that designers forget a part of their brief, sometimes the most important bits.

Paying attention to detail doesn’t allow waivers at any point of time. For a designer to create world class graphic design, sticking to the brief is more important. Understanding that the brief is finite and has boundaries is also very important for the designer. Missing this point is, often, the worst thing any designer can do to you.

If you are a client, then these points will help you identify where a designer can go wrong. It will also help you understand the kind of person you are dealing with. If, on the other hand, you are a designer, then these are certain aspects that you need to avoid at any given point of time. As long as you are true to yourself and to your profession, you will always find there’s more good waiting for you in the future.