I’ve been handed two jobs this year from clients who weren’t happy with what they were given or how the previous animation team had handled the job. I deal a little differently with these clients then others because I know they’ve already been through the process of creating a video and they weren’t happy with the result. Communication is critical, maybe even more so then with other clients. When I take over the projects, I make sure to have a very open communication with the clients in order to determine how to effectively execute what the client wanted and the previous creative team wasn’t doing. First I ask them why the other team failed so not to fall into the same trap with them. Then we go into what was needed or what needed to be adjusted and why they felt these changes needed to happen. By simply asking them why, you will make clients think about the comments and changes they are asking for even if the answer is as simple as they didn’t like the way it looked.

If the client is asking you to make changes that you feel are out of place or dumb, think about it for a moment before responding. Remember that they aren’t the enemy and the two of you are there to make a great project. Ask them why they want to make these changes and explain why you did what you did. When you explain your choices, you make the client see that you thought about what you did and you didn’t just make the logo pink because you like pink. 

At the end of the day, I’m here to make something they are happy with and get paid. I’d like to be proud of the work as well but I want them to be happy that they chose to work with me and I delivered the video they wanted but the previous animation team couldn’t quite deliver.