Ok then, i'm flitting back to the subject of design today ok? good, i'll take your eager silence as a yes :)

Now then as most of you are probably unfamiliar with this process i'll go through it step by step:

Step 1 - Client comes in and asks for your help in designing something.
Step 2 - Meeting with Client to discuss *exactly* what they want, target markets, preferred styles etc.
Step 3 - Initial designs.
Step 4 - Produce 3 different options, a 'safe' version (ie. boring crap that *every* other business in the world does), a good version (ie. something very nice and slightly different...but not going too far), and finally a version that, if you had your own way, you would use (ie. something adventureous which would, ultimately, cause a stir and get you noticed).
Step 5 - Have meeting where client picks their favourite.
Step 6 - Get very very angry.

Those of you who've been paying attention will already have surmised that the client *invariably* goes for the shit safe option...which would be fine if they didn't come in looking for something that 'sets them apart from their competitors', they specifically ask for something nice and adventureous...then chicken out at the last minute...which is bloody frustrating! The thing that i've never been able to understand is that they're perfectly willing to pay you loads of money for your professional advice, after all that's why i'm here :), and then when you tell them what you think they ignore you completely and do what everyone else does...GAH!...it's like they *want* to just float around in a sea of mediocrity forever! *sigh* if I didn't do my own artwork at home I think i'd end up killing someone :)