Putting out fires

Rumour has it that things are getting a little nasty. Design companies that I speak to are spending at least a couple of days a week troubleshooting or putting out proverbial fires.

Instead of getting on with their core business – that small matter of creating innovative design work – or going out looking for new business opportunities and revenue streams, design firms are having to spend valuable time tussling with existing clients.



These are clients who simply cannot – or will not – pay their bills. But instead of coming clean and initiating an honest and upfront conversation about what can be done, these clients are desperately seeking ways to duck out of their commitments.

Instead of working with design companies to find a compromise that suits everyone, clients prefer to pretend that the design work is not up to scratch. They are waving contracts about and shouting foul play, finding fault where there is none.

As a result, design firms must spend valuable time and resources arguing and negotiating and discussing and to-ing and fro-ing. Just to get money that is already theirs.

It’s a dirty way to do business and clients might want to be careful. While design companies have little choice but to play ball now, in better days, such slights will be remembered. And when the tide turns, you don’t want to be on everyone’s black list.