I don’t believe the client is a good source for how a design will be perceived out in the real world. The client’s opinion is biased. They have an intention. This is why I feel it is important to explain to them how a design fulfills their needs. I feel that educating a client about how your choices can influence the general public is an important step.

I’m glad my post has inspired you to write something of your own. I have no problem with you writing a follow up.

Cheers!

This is a great and really thought provoking post for me. It’s SUCH a bummer when you design something you really believe in, and it gets tossed aside. And I think it’s probably true (and totally hysterical) that your editor saw the LifeStyles condom redesign and subconsciously remembered it.

This is something I debate a lot internally, though. Whenever I do a design, I have lots of reasons behind my choices (as you so clearly show here). I’m always torn between giving all of my rationales and reasons, and just letting the designs speak for themselves, the way they would to everyone who viewed them out in the world. Is the first, untutored response the best way to see how a design will play in the real world? Or do we have a responsibility as professional designers to push past that?

I may post a followup to this on my blog if a) you don’t mind and b) I get my act together to write something. I’d link back to you, of course.