> *1. Microsoft Office
> *When you have to send a graphic designer a document, make sure it's made with a program from Microsoft Office. PC version if possible. If you have to send pictures, you'll have more success in driving them mad if, instead of just sending a jpeg or a raw camera file, you embed the pictures inside a Microsoft Office document like Word or Powerpoint. Don't forget to lower the resolution to 72 dpi so that they'll have to contact you again for a higher quality version. When you send them the "higher" version, make sure the size is at least 50% smaller. And if you're using email to send the pictures, forget the attatchment once in a while.
>
> *2. Fonts
> *If the graphic designer chooses Helvetica for a font, ask for Arial. If he chooses Arial, ask for Comic Sans. If he chooses Comic Sans, he's already half-insane, so your job's half done.
>
*3. More is Better
> *Let's say you want a newsletter designed. Graphic designers will always try to leave white space everywhere. Large margins, the leading and kerning of text, etc. They will tell you that they do this because it's easier to read, and leads to a more clean, professional look. But do
> not believe those lies. The reason they do this is to make the document bigger, with more pages, so that it costs you more at the print shop.
>
> So make sure you ask them to put smaller margins and
> really, really small
> text. Many different fonts are also suggested (bonus
> if you ask for Comic
> Sans, Arial or Sand). Ask for clipart. Ask for many
> pictures (if you don't
> know how to send them, refer to #1). They will try
> to argument, and defend
> their choices but don't worry, in the end the client
> is always right and
> they will bow to your many requests.
>
> *4. Logos
> *If you have to send a graphic designer a logo for a
> particular project,
> let's say of a sponsor or partner, be sure to have
> it really really small
> and in a low-res gif or jpeg format. Again, bonus
> points if you insert it in
> a Word document before sending it. Now you might
> think that would be enough
> but if you really want to be successful in lowering
> the mental stability of
> a graphic designer, do your best to send a version
> of the logo over a hard
> to cut-out background. Black or white backgrounds
> should be avoided, as they
> are easy to cut-out with the darken or lighten layer
> style in photoshop.
> Once the graphic designer is done working on that
> bitmap logo, tell him you
> need it to be bigger.
>
> If you need a custom made logo, make your own
> sketches on a napkin. Or
> better yet, make your 9 year old kid draw it. Your
> sketch shouldn't take
> more than 5 minutes to make. You don't want to make
> something that's
> detailed and easy to understand, because the less
> the designer understands
> what you want, the more you can make him change
> things
> afterwards. Never accept the first logo. Never
> accept the 9th, make him do
> many changes, colors, fonts & clip art. Ask him to
> add a picture in the
> logo. Bevels. Gradients. Comic Sans. And when he's
> at his 10th attempt, tell
> him that you like the 2nd one the most. I know, it's
> mean but remember:
> graphic designers are the cause of breast cancer
> among
> middle aged women.
>
> *5. Choosing your words
> *When describing what you want in a design, make
> sure to use terms that
> don't really mean anything. Terms like "jazz it up a
> bit" or "can you make
> it more webbish?". "I would like the design to be
> beautiful" or "I prefer
> nice graphics, graphics that, you know, when you
> look at them you go: Those
> are nice graphics." are other options. Don't feel
> bad about it, you've got
> the right. In fact, it's your duty because we all
> know that on fullmoons,
> graphic designers shapeshift into werewolves.
>
> *6. Colours
> *The best way for you to pick colors (because you
> don't want to let the
> graphic designer choose) is to write random colors
> on pieces of paper, put
> them in a hat and choose. The graphic designer will
> suggest to stay with 2-3
> main colors at the most, but no. Choose as many as
> you like, and make sure
> to do the hat thing in front of him. While doing it,
> sing a very annoying
> song.
>
> *7. Deadlines
> *When it's your turn to approve the design, take
> your time. There is no
> rush. Take two days. Take six. Just as long as when
> the deadline of the
> project approaches, you get back to the designer
> with more corrections and
> changes that he has time to make.
>
> *8. Finish Him/her
> *After you've applied this list on your victim, it
> is part of human nature
> (although some would argue weather they're human or
> not) to get a bit
> insecure. As he realises that he just can't satisfy
> your needs, the graphic
> designer will most likely abandon all hopes of
> winning an argument and will
> just do whatever you tell him to do, without
> question.
> You want that in purple? Purple it is. Six different
> fonts? Sure!
>
> You would think that at this point you have won, but don't forget the goal
> of this: he has to quit this business. So be ready for the final blow: When
> making final decisions on colors, shapes, fonts, etc, tell him that you are
> disappointed by his lack of initiative. Tell him that after all, he is the
> designer and that he should be the one to put his expertise and talent at
> work, not you. That you were expecting more output and advices about design
> from him.
>
> Tell him you've had enough with his lack of creativity and that you would rather do your own layouts on Publisher instead of paying for his services. And there you go. You should have graphic designer all tucked into a straight jacket in no time!
