Client reply by Wanda Goldwag

We know there are design agencies out there which overestimate their abilities. Unfortunately, these companies don’t have the support systems they need and clients only find that out when it is too late.

Our advice would be for clients to go for larger and better known agencies (which may well be more expensive) rather than a pair of designers at a drawing board.

Similarly, we find that communication between agency and client is usually a bone of contention. We believe the problem often stems from too many people on the client side sending out too many messages – preventing a single and clear strategy being communicated to the agency. We try to maintain easily identifiable contacts, on both agency and client side, throughout a job in order to avoid this.

We are well aware that the exhibition stand we produce is a backdrop for our client’s main message. We know that simple, clear and memorable stands are conducive to customer satisfaction and that clutter is visual pollution that dilutes messages and confuses visitors.

We always pay attention to requested stand practicalities – but at the same time cannot change anything once the show has begun. If we are requested to provide space for essentials like bags, coats and literature – it is up to the stand managers to ensure their staff don’t bring enough paraphernalia to sink a ship.

Developing relationships with clients and knowing what each side expects of the other is a long-term process. It is something that is likely to get better over time.

To conclude – to see whether this elusive perfect working relationship is possible, perhaps we can work face-to-face as opposed to head-on and report on that outcome?