Design

The client wants clichés and cliches. How can I change their mind?

The client wants clichés and cliches. How can I change their mind?

Contents:

    Learn: Commercial Illustrator Profession

    Learn More

    A reader's question is an important element of audience engagement. It allows us to establish a dialogue and understand our readers' needs. By discussing questions, we can better understand the interests of our target audience and provide them with more valuable content. This also helps improve SEO, since answers to frequently asked questions can drive additional traffic to the site. By paying attention to reader questions, we create a more engaging and informative environment, which in turn increases audience engagement and improves overall website performance.

    There are several ways to convince a client to avoid using cliches in their texts. First and foremost, it's important to explain that cliches make content less original and appealing. Showing examples of successful work that stands out due to its uniqueness can demonstrate how fresh ideas can improve perception.

    Also, it's worth paying attention to the target audience. Research shows that modern consumers value originality and a personalized approach. Using cliches can alienate potential customers and reduce brand trust.

    It's recommended to offer alternative phrases or ideas that can replace cliches. This will help the client see that the idea can be expressed differently while maintaining the essence of the message. It's important to clearly demonstrate how unique content can increase conversions and improve the company's image.

    Therefore, emphasizing originality and the benefits of a personalized approach will help convince the client to abandon clichés.

    Anya is a name borne by many women around the world. It has ancient roots and is popular in various cultures. The name Anya is associated with nobility and beauty. Many famous people bear this name, testifying to its popularity and significance. Anya is more than just a name; it is a symbol of femininity, strength, and independence. This name is inspiring and appealing, making it a unique choice for newborn girls.

    This question was answered by Natasha Dzhola.

    Photo: from the personal archive of Natasha Dzhola

    Illustrator and artist, as well as a teacher, actively She collaborates with Russian and international publications and brands. Her portfolio includes work for companies such as Nike, Nina Ricci, Chanel, Adidas, and the Moscow Metro. She currently works on Reddit, where she shares her experiments with various artistic techniques, including 3D and augmented reality (AR). Her work combines innovation and traditional approaches, making her work unique and sought-after.

    Links are an important element of web content, providing navigation between pages and resources on the internet. They can be internal, pointing to other pages on your site, or external, leading to third-party resources. Link optimization plays a key role in SEO, as search engines take them into account when ranking. It's important to use relevant anchor text so that users and search engines understand the content of the target page. It's also important to monitor the quality of external links to increase your site's authority. Effective use of links not only improves user experience but also contributes to increased visibility in search engines.

    The key is to understand why the client is using a cliché. Understanding the client's motivation will help you better tailor content to their expectations. It's important to consider that the use of clichés may be related to the desire to create recognition, attract attention, or evoke certain associations in the target audience. By analyzing the client's needs and intentions, you can work more effectively with the text, avoiding unnecessary templates and giving the content uniqueness.

    Photo: from the personal archive of Natasha Dzhola

    Illustrator, artist and teacher, actively collaborating with Russian and international Publications and brands. His portfolio includes work for companies such as Nike, Nina Ricci, Chanel, and Adidas, as well as projects for the Moscow Metro. He currently works on Reddit, where he shares his creations. The artist actively experiments with various techniques, including 3D and augmented reality (AR), allowing him to create unique and innovative visual solutions. Links play a vital role in the structure of the internet and are the primary navigation tool between web pages. They allow users to easily navigate from one resource to another, providing access to information and content. There are several types of links, including internal links, which link pages on the same website, and external links, which lead to other domains. Proper use of links can significantly improve a website's SEO rankings, as search engines take them into account when evaluating the relevance and authority of pages. Link optimization, including the use of keywords in anchor text, can increase the visibility of your content in search engines. Additionally, high-quality external links to your website can increase trust and attract new audiences. It's important to ensure all links on your site are up-to-date and functional, as broken links can negatively impact user experience and SEO rankings.

    Clients often don't realize the importance of illustrations and graphic design in shaping their brand's perception. Many lack the experience and visibility to understand how visual elements can enhance their image. It's important to help your client see examples of successful design that attracts attention and creates a positive impression. Share examples of effective illustrations and graphic solutions that demonstrate how the right visual approach can significantly improve brand perception and enhance its competitiveness.

    It's important that your references match the product context. We don't act in isolation; we solve specific communication problems. This means that the chosen illustrations should not simply be attractive but harmoniously align with the tone of communication, design, core message, and atmosphere of the product. The right references will help create a holistic perception and strengthen communication with the target audience.

    If you want to illustrate an article for a business magazine, it's important to choose examples of successful business illustrations, not music covers. It's recommended to focus on brand rather than style. Don't just curate a list of illustrators whose work you admire. Instead, conduct research demonstrating how similar brands and industry leaders use bold and striking illustrations. Such examples can inspire clients, encourage them to look to the best and most innovative, and help them stand out from the competition.

    The second limiting factor is fear. Clients worry that their ideas will be misunderstood by their audience, customers, or readers. This leads to safer choices, such as using subdued colors or realistic images of adults. Often, I hear thoughts like, "We won't be understood" or "Our audience is men over 40." In these situations, I like to turn to illustrations from MIT Technology Review, Bloomberg Businessweek, and the New York Times to demonstrate that creativity and maturity, as well as creativity and appropriateness, can coexist. It's important to understand that bold and innovative approaches can capture the attention and interest of audiences, regardless of age and preferences.

    I'd like to draw attention to the use of stock illustrations, known as generics. These images are characterized by generalized scenes, simplified designs, and a lack of specific details. In most cases, such illustrations lack faces, eyes, and emotion, making them less appealing to viewers. When choosing visual content for your project, it's important to consider that stock images may not always convey the desired mood or concept. Using unique and authentic illustrations can significantly enhance the quality and appeal of your content.

    Humans instinctively seek interaction with others, and our gaze always seeks out eyes. This explains the phenomenon of pareidolia, when we recognize facial outlines and emotional expressions in inanimate objects and the environment. We pay attention to faces, activate mirror neurons and empathy to assess the situation and determine whether we can trust this person, whether they are aggressive or kind. These reactions are part of our survival instinct and desire for safety. Therefore, images of emotional facial expressions play an important role in our perception and interaction with the world.

    Generic images are versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts, but they are not tied to a specific topic. Such images often lack uniqueness and individuality, which can reduce interest in the content. To achieve maximum impact, it is important to select images that align with the content and goals of your project. Using unique and thematically relevant images improves the user experience and increases the chances of attracting the target audience.

    Illustrations have a unique quality that allows them to stand out from other visual media. They not only attract attention but also help convey important messages and ideas. Illustrations are a powerful communication tool and can have a significant emotional impact on the audience. It is important for more people to recognize their potential and use it in their projects. Discussing this aspect with the client is essential, as it can lead to more effective interaction and a better result.

    Stock illustrations are effectively used during the MVP stage, on landing pages, or when launching a new website. In such situations, there's no point in immediately investing in unique images, as the startup's outcome is not yet clear. Stock images serve as a temporary solution, an interim version that helps transition to high-quality, professional content. If you're approached for professional graphics or illustrations, it's important to explain to the client that achieving a high level of visual design requires something more complex and thoughtful, not just a budget option. When used correctly, illustrations can effectively convey complex ideas and stories without words, appealing to everyone, regardless of age, nationality, or historical period. Examples of illustrations, such as those on ancient caves, Greek amphoras, and pyramids, remain understandable and relevant today. This versatility and power of visual language are impressive and highlight the importance of illustration in communication. Also read: I don't like the client. What to do?

  • Ask an expert: how to avoid dying on deadline from endless edits
  • Ask an expert: design criticism
  • Ask an expert: what does “selling” design mean?
  • Profession Commercial Illustrator

    You'll learn how to professionally create commercial illustrations, characters, and animation. Choose a specialization and create a portfolio. Learn how to promote your personal brand and make illustration your primary source of income.

    Find out more