I Should Have Known Better - A Mistake That Almost Broke Me
Near the end of 2024, I took on a job that I really shouldn't have. The last quarter of the year was slow, so when an inquiry for some custom prints hit my inbox, the excitement kicked in!
After speaking with the client and talking through my process and prices, they told me it wasn’t within their budget. I won’t go into the details, but their budget was LOW. I do understand that some brand owners just aren’t aware of the industry-standard pricing of fashion prints and this is why I encourage anyone looking to work with an experienced designer to do a bit of research before-hand. This way, you will have realistic expectations of pricing and can budget and plan accordingly.
Scroll to the end for a no-bullshit price guide for brand owners, print buyers and designers.
Anyway, I should have walked away there and then, but I decided to adjust the project scope and offer a non-exclusive license (first mistake - this isn’t the norm, as most fashion prints are sold as exclusive buyouts) and see if I could pull the budget up slightly. They agreed and I felt confident that we were on the same page, so I outlined the deliverables and we decided to go ahead with the project.
But, the reality was a far cry from my expectations; here’s where it all went downhill.
The client only shared a single image for inspiration and basically wanted a replica. I explained that I would do something with the same feel and style but ultimately it couldn’t be a copy. We agreed and I started designing the motifs, sharing my progress as I went. This went on, and on, and on, and..you get the point.
We had to move on.
I created the final repeat as agreed on at the beginning of the project, but the client wasn’t happy; what they actually wanted was a fully engineered print with no repeat. On a canvas size of 200cm. This wasn’t in the original agreement and fell well outside the project scope and price plan.
My guilt got the better of me. I spent far too many hours making adjustments and tweaking colours, and eventually I had to end the project and send them what I had.
I felt burnt-out, defeated and questioned my abilities as a print designer. However, I realised from that experience that I had learned A LOT, and I was going to use this to implement strong boundaries and detailed deliverables for future projects.
I thought I’d share my learnings with you, because chances are you might have gone through something similar or you’re a brand owner hoping to work with a print designer or purchase custom designs.
Here’s where I went wrong:
Accepting the low-ball offer in the first place. My prices are firm and are in-line with the industry standard - I should have walked away.
Ignoring red-flags (lack of planning, instagram messages when it should have been an email, constant changes outside the project scope)
Deliverables that lacked firm boundaries and non-negotiables.
But this failure didn’t break me. It was a valuable lesson.
I’ve since gone on to create a highly detailed set of deliverables that communicates the project scope to the client. This not only benefits me, but gives the client confidence in my abilities to plan and execute the project to a high standard.
It has taught me to double-down on my boundaries and value my worth and skillset as a professional and experienced print designer.
The advice from my epic fail is:
Designers - If you have had a similar experience, or feel the pressure to take on low-offer jobs - know that you have a valuable skill that is sought after. Consider the time it takes to plan, create and finalise a beautiful custom design, and the value it brings to the client. You are worth more than crumbs.
Buyers - Do your research before reaching out to a designer. Planning your collection and setting a realistic budget is key, and knowing what to expect will reduce any headaches down the road.
I hope this story inspires you.
To help both buyers and fellow designers who are unsure of industry-standard pricing - I’ve created this FREE pricing guide for you.
