7 Ways to Reduce Revision Requests on Your Designs

Design process typically includes some revisions, since it’s hard to capture a client’s vision perfectly right away. But this doesn’t mean you should let the revision process take up all of your time. Instead, use these tips to reduce the amount of time you spend on revisions for your next project. This way, you can move on to other projects sooner while ensuring your last client is satisfied with the final results.

Your contract should state how many revisions you’ll do for your client. Otherwise, some clients may expect unlimited revisions, which can take up more of your time than you originally anticipated. It’s common to offer anywhere from one to three revisions for a project, so determine which option works the best for you and put it down in the contract. You might also want to specify a period of time that the client has to request revisions, or else you might get an unexpected revision request months after you thought the project was complete.

Maybe your client knows you’ll complete three revisions, but they are not clear how many revisions you have done. You can make this easy by letting the client know how many you’ve done and how many you have left each time you make an edit. This can be as easy as adding “first revision out of three” to the subject line of your email. You can easily do the same with any other technology you’re using for the project.

If you want to reduce the number of revisions you’ll have to do, try to get the client’s vision right as soon as possible. While there’s no surefire way to do this with every client, you’re a lot more likely to get it done by keep your client updated every step of the way. This means getting a clear picture of what the client wants before you even begin, which may mean going through a few brainstorming sessions.

Collaborating closely from the beginning will help reduce the number of revisions you need to do, but even if you and your client were on the same page when you start the project, some revision requests will still come up as the design comes to life. Editing the project in real-time will help you get the results your client is hoping for, since you can revise the design as he or she walks you through it.

Another way to reduce the number of revision on your project is to make sure your client knows why you make certain design decisions. You can do this when you present the whole design to the client or at the end of each phase of the project. Either way, invite your client to a jam through Google Jamboard and set up a Google Hangouts session so you can explain the reasoning for your design choices while answering any questions your client may have.

When you’re making a design, using words to describe your ideas takes much longer than simply showing your client your vision. When you use a digital whiteboard like Google Jamboard, you can sketch out your ideas and let your client approve or modify when necessary. You can also add images and videos, or write brief notes on the board if you must use words to describe your ideas.

In many cases, your client is not the only person making decisions at his or her company. He or she probably answers to someone at work, or even several people, and they might have to approve the results before accepting the project. So consider using Google Jamboard and setting up a Google Hangouts meeting with the decision makers at your client’s company, as this will let you collect all the feedback at once instead of revising little by little as more people review the design.