Communicating With Clients Members  

This resource raises some of the common issues that should be considered when communicating with your clients.

Being an illustrator is a skilled profession, offering an important service to clients, and when a client is asking you to create something for them the lines of communications between you are important to ensure that the best result is achieved for both client and illustrator.

As with any business arrangement there is the potential for misunderstandings due to unclear instructions, untimely communication, unfounded assumptions, awkwardness around discussing certain aspects of the commission and more.

Professional Approach

You are offering a professional service as an illustrator, and even if you are just starting out it?s important to communicate in a professional, respectful manner.

Commissioners approaching you for a possible job will be reassured when you behave with professionalism ? asking questions, ensuring everything is clear, giving the client written licensing agreements (if they do not offer you one), hitting agreed deadlines, following up promptly with an invoice etc.

If your client is a friend/family

If you know the client, as a friend, family member or acquaintance, still treat the commission the same way you would from an unknown commissioner. Don?t treat the business side of the commission in a more casual manner, and don?t rely on any perceived ?short hand? in understanding between you -  you can?t be 100% sure that you?re both thinking the same thing if it has not been discussed and confirmed.

With every client:

? always get a clear brief for each commission, and finalise the fee
? complete an Illustrator Commissioner Agreement acceptance of commission form for every job
? deliver roughs so there can be no misunderstanding