I don't get it. (Connecting designers and their clients)

Everyone is simply going to disagree on what looks good as far as design is concerned. Trends are always changing, and multiple demographics respond differently. For the most part, designers can use these road blocks as advantages. One issue however, can easily destroy your next project.

The big problem that designers run into is their tendency to design for designers. In other words, they complete projects and judge their success by approval from colleagues or awards from within the industry. One should ask, does this truly judge success?

Here is an example:

When was the last time you moseyed through an Art Gallery and found yourself disgusted at how terrible some of the artwork was? You most likely wondered who would buy the junk you

were looking at? Am I right? If you took time to read the description of the piece, it may be more appealing to you. If you ask a professional, perhaps the art starts to look acceptable. (if at all!) Where is this disconnect? The problem starts when artists create art for other artists, and not the general public. For this reason, the "best" artists are not necessarily the ones that are the most successful, keeping in mind someone needs to buy the art.

The harsh reality is, people are looking at graphic design projects in the same way. I would agree that a breakthrough for a truly great designer, might not be a breakthrough for the audience he or she is designing for. If a designer misses the target audience, there is no description plaque for them to read, and they certainly aren't going to take time to ask a professional to judge whether your work influenced them. Designers must listen to their target audience and the ones paying the bills!

Sound off! Have you experienced this or do you have any examples to share? Please comment!