I think “tough skin” is a product of experience. We learn as we develop in design that taking critiques or malicious comments personally can keep us from getting paid. The main thing to keep in mind in that kind of situation is what does the client see that’s ‘wrong’ and how to resolve the issue so the deadline isn’t surpassed. After dealing with client after client it becomes easier to just do the job without your feelings involved.

and to answer the question; I developed “Tough Skin” by the desire to get paid. I do what the client asks, make suggestions, if the client gets unreasonable, I just go their way, just so I can get paid for the work I’m doing. I used to take harsh critiques personally, but after losing a client due to my feelings, I just do what they want.

Great article!

-Casey

Well said both Josh in your article and Casey response! You gotta have a good balance when someone doesn’t like the design you made for them it should challenge you to be more creative, learn from their critique, and just strive above and beyond their expectations.

Nice Post Josh!

The one thing that I have learned is never take it personal… often times those offering the critique aren’t versed in design so when they are trying to provide feedback it can be a bit rough around the edges…

Take each bit of feedback as a challenge to improve your process, and design, because the success of a design/project is determined by the ability to communicate a clients vision to their perspective audience, not to mention keep them happy.

great content Josh

~ Aaron I

Another solid article. Keeping things short but sweet, I like it. And adding the list at the bottom was a nice touch. I’m glad you didn’t title the article “10 Things to help toughen you up” or some nonsense like that.

@Aaron - I like what you said about taking each bit of feedback as a challenge, because that’s exactly what it is. Even for someone who’s laid back, it’s hard not taking criticism lightly. Especially when you feel you’ve worked really hard on it.

@Casey - I like your outlook and attitude.

I think I would just have to jump on the band wagon here and say I’ve learned to “toughen up” through my experiences. There really is no better way in my opinion.

Thanks.

Awesome post again Josh. So glad to be a regular reader of this blog. You’re always bringing thoughts out that normally aren’t talked about on Design related blogs.

I’d say I developed “tough skin”. In my normal day to day activities, I have always had tough skin, but for some reason, I’d always take design butchering personal - until recently anyways. I just let things go now and realize that they are the clients who are paying for the job. I try to talk with them and find middle ground, but if I can’t, I just do the job and move on. Nothing else to really do IMO

I don’t think I have ever been in a situation where I had to have extremely “tough skin”. or maybe I just don’t see criticism as a bad thing. It’s exactly what I need as a student, how else am I suppose to get better.

With such a broad office hierarchy, my design work has to be approved by like 5 different people and I always get work back with, what seems to me, unnecessary changes, but it’s what they want so you’ve just got to do it.

I mean as a student you put your work up to have it critiqued and it’s basically your own personal roast. …well it’s good and bad. There have been students that can’t take it and get really upset, it makes me wonder if they’re ever gonna make it in this industry.

Number 4 and 5 are really important from your list Josh. Having patience and being optimistic is good advice for all aspects of life. I think people will respect you and want to work with you if you are a positive person. Take the feedback, learn from it, and if you feel like you’re being attacked just always have your integrity and do and say what you think is right.

Great Post Josh Thanks.

Christina

I couldn’t agree more with this article. Thanks, Josh.

Just a couple days ago, a client trashed all concepts presented by three different designers (myself included). It doesn’t pay to get upset. I simply asked questions about what they expected and all three of us submitted another design on our own time. Granted, some clients can be particularly difficult, but I was happy that everyone rose to the occasion and saved the client from going elsewhere. She liked the next round. I just made sure I asked for honest feedback. Tough skin is a given in this type of situation.

Josh, so many things to say so I figured I would post my own. Will be up today. Much love man.

My tough skin comes from life experiences:
• watching a mother die of cancer; and caring for your father for 10 years after that;
• realizing that a wife and 3 kids depend solely on you for food, and shelter;
• helping friends when their down and out;

Notice that none of these have to do with design. It’s who you are as a person.

Take the criticism like a professional. Whining and cowing like a dog with his tail between his legs is a sure sign of a rookie. We’re not curing cancer here people. If a client wants a bright green star-burst in the header, so be it. Do what you can to steer them the other way, but when it comes down to it, it’s THIER project. learn from it, take the check and move on.

I do both! I cower, whine, throw things, phone a friend, then sit down and write an email explaining why I did what I did, and how I aim to please.

Essentially (and as far as the client can tell!) I have tough skin, I take criticism well and make changes as required. BUT I don’t give in without a fight - or rather an explanation. If the things the client is asking for go against design principles, I let them know. Sometimes they back off, sometimes they insist. The job belongs to the client, and as long as I’m informing them of their decisions, then I’ve done my job. Besides, if they don’t like my designs, it’s ok. I’ll have another few ideas in a minute!

I developed tough skin through five years of formal art and design training. In the last year, my design teacher was particularly professional (ie brutal as hell!) and it rubbed off on the entire class. When we got together with another class for a mass-critique, the others were the ones with deer-in-the-headlights expressions, fumbling and muttering through their explanations!

As a designer we are dealing with people, and as such, people can be everything from polite and compliant to ignorant and neurotic. Deal with it!

I quickly learned the value of “thick skin” on my first design job at an agency. None of my original concepts ever made it to the final product, despite the fact that myself and all the other artists on staff preferred the early concepts to the style of the final drafts. However, instead of whining and dragging my feet, as you say, I just kept my mouth shut and listened to what the client or director wanted and did my best to meet their vision. It’s something you need to learn to deal with early on, because you will encounter some level of it on any project. That’s why it’s good to always take time to design for yourself, so you can make the kind of art you like as well.

I always go into a client meeting knowing that no matter what happens, I have not lost a thing. If they hate every work I present, I listen intently to what they say and are “not” saying. I’m happy to work through a new exercise with new direction, knowing that EVERYTHING I have done to date has the potential to build my repertoire, my own product initiatives and my own artworks. Nothing is lost.

Generally a good ripping is deserved if the client’s subtle nuances and partial comments are not weighed more carefully than their direct statements. You look into their eyes and you watch their body language and you get a better feel for their expectations than what they necessarily are saying to you.

Good conversation about a great topic.

One thing I would contribute is that sometimes the client is right. We often thing we know it all (and most of the time we do), but sometimes the client has insight that we don’t.

And oh, the personal satisfaction of taking client feedback and producing a design that meets my standards AND the client’s.