Client Red Flags Every Designer Should Watch Out For AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM

“ The best way to avoid nightmare clients is to trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Red flags exist for a reason, and it’s okay to walk away from a bad deal . “

"We Don’t Have a Budget, But This Will Be Great Exposure for You!"

Ah, the classic "work for exposure" pitch. Love that for you. Except, wait… exposure doesn’t pay rent.

If someone isn’t willing to pay for design work, they don’t value design. And if they don’t value design, they’re going to be a nightmare to work with anyway.

How to shut this down:

Thank them for the opportunity and let them know you don’t take unpaid work. Something like "I’d love to help, but I only take on paid projects. Let me know if you have a budget in the future!" keeps things professional while making it clear you’re not working for free.

If you do want to work for free for a nonprofit or a passion project, make sure it’s on your terms, not because someone is trying to get something for nothing.

"Can You Just Whip This Up Really Quick?"

When a client says something will be "super quick" or "should only take an hour," they don’t understand (or respect) the time and skill that goes into design work.

How to set boundaries:

Respond with something like "I'd love to help! My minimum project fee is [$X] and my turnaround time is [X days]. Let me know if that works for you!"

Also, if they need it yesterday, make sure you charge a rush fee. If they’re in a hurry, they should be willing to pay for it.

"We’ll Know What We Want When We See It"

Oh no. This one is dangerous. It basically means "We have no clue what we want, so we’ll keep making you redesign it forever until we figure it out."

If a client can’t communicate what they’re looking for, you are in for a long, painful, never-ending project.

How to get clarity upfront:

Before you agree to anything, ask detailed questions. What styles do they like? What colors do they hate? Do they have reference images? If they can’t give you any direction, offer to create a mood board as a paid add-on.

If they’re not willing to pay for the extra work and still refuse to give direction… it’s probably best to run.

"We’ll Pay You When We Love It"

Nope. Absolutely not. If a client won’t commit to paying you upfront, there is a very real chance they will never pay you at all.

They might drag out revisions forever, disappear after the final design is sent, or claim they just "aren’t happy with it" to avoid paying.

How to protect yourself:

Always require a deposit (30 to 50 percent) upfront before you even touch a project. No deposit, no design. End of story.

Also, put your payment terms in writing in your contract. That way, if they try to pull the "we’re not happy, so we don’t want to pay" card, you have protection.

"Can You Make It Look Exactly Like [Insert Another Designer’s Work]?"

This one is sneaky because it seems harmless at first. But what they are really asking you to do is copy someone else’s design.

Aside from being unethical, it can also get you into legal trouble.

How to steer them in the right direction:

Say something like "I’d love to take inspiration from that style and create something unique for you, but I can’t copy another designer’s work. If you want something identical, you’ll need to contact the original creator."

If they keep pushing for an exact copy, take that as your cue to walk away.

"We Need Unlimited Revisions, Right?"

Oh, sweet summer child. Unlimited revisions are a trap.

Without a clear revision limit, clients will just keep tweaking things forever. One day you’re designing a sleek, modern logo, and before you know it, you’ve revised it 12 times, added a weird drop shadow, and now it looks like it was made in Microsoft Paint.

How to set revision boundaries:

Be crystal clear upfront. Your contract should say how many revisions are included and how much additional revisions will cost.

A simple line like "This project includes two rounds of revisions. Additional revisions will be billed at [$X] per round." can save you from endless design purgatory.

"We Have This Huge Project… But No Deadline!"

No deadline means the project will never end. These are the clients who disappear for weeks and then suddenly email you at 11 PM demanding updates immediately.

How to keep projects on track:

Set hard deadlines in your contract. Something like "Initial concepts will be delivered by [date]. If client response is delayed by more than X days, the project timeline will be adjusted accordingly."

And if they disappear for too long, charge a re-engagement fee before picking the project back up.

"Can We Pay You in Equity, Exposure, or Future Work?"

No. Just no.

Exposure doesn’t pay rent. Future work isn’t guaranteed. And unless you’re getting a legally binding contract that outlines equity, it’s probably worthless.

How to respond:

Keep it professional but firm. Something like "I only take on paid projects, but I’d love to work with you if your budget allows in the future!"

Then, move on.

Final Thoughts: Trust Your Gut

The best way to avoid nightmare clients is to trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Red flags exist for a reason, and it’s okay to walk away from a bad deal.

The best clients respect your time, pay on time, and understand the value of good design. Those are the ones you want to work with.

Now go forth, design like a boss, and say no to the nonsense.