Sometimes You Just Make It Blue.
At some point in your career, a client or manager will ask you to do something you disagree with. Make the logo bigger. Add more text. Change the color to something that clashes with everything else. Use a photo that undermines the whole concept.
You'll explain why it's not the right call. You'll show examples. You'll make your case clearly and professionally.
And they'll say, "I hear you, but let's try it my way."
So you make it blue. Because at the end of the day, whoever is paying gets what they want.
That's not defeat. That's the job.
Your Opinion Matters. But It's Not Final.
Designers are hired for their expertise. Clients are paying for your eye, your judgment, your ability to solve problems visually. That expertise matters.
But expertise doesn't mean control. You're not the one running the business, signing off on the budget, or facing the board if something flops. The client carries risk you don't. That earns them the final call, even when they're wrong.
This is hard to accept when you're early in your career. It gets easier with time. Not because you stop caring, but because you learn where your influence actually lives.
The Job Is To Advise, Not To Decide
Your job is to give your honest recommendation and explain the reasoning behind it. That's it. You present the options, make a case for the one you believe in, and then let the client decide.
If they take your advice, great. If they don't, you've still done your job. The outcome isn't entirely in your hands, and that's not a failure on your part.
Where creatives get stuck is when they attach their identity to every decision. If the client picks the weaker option, it feels like a personal loss. But it's not. You gave them the information. They made a choice. That's how it works.
How To Push Back Without Burning The Relationship
There's a difference between advocating for good work and being difficult to work with. The first one earns respect. The second one gets you replaced.
When you disagree with feedback, start with curiosity. Ask what's driving the request. Sometimes there's context you're missing. Maybe leadership gave input you weren't part of. Maybe there's a constraint you didn't know about. Maybe the client has history with this kind of decision that makes them cautious.
Once you understand the why, you can respond more strategically. Sometimes the feedback still doesn't make sense, but at least you're not arguing against a phantom.
If you want to push back, do it once and do it clearly. Explain what you'd recommend and why. Tie it to their goals, not your preferences. "I think this version will convert better because..." lands differently than "I don't think that looks as good."
Then let it go. If they still want the other direction, you've done your part. Make the revision and move on.
Some Battles Aren't Worth Fighting
Not every hill is worth dying on.
A color change that bugs you but doesn't break the design? Let it go.
A font swap that's not your favorite but still works? Let it go.
A layout tweak that feels unnecessary but doesn't harm the function? Let it go.
Save your pushback for the things that actually matter. The decisions that affect whether the work succeeds or fails. The choices that will make the client look bad or confuse their audience. The moments where staying silent would be doing them a disservice.
If you fight everything, your opinion stops carrying weight. If you only speak up when it matters, people listen.
How To Make Peace With Losing
You're going to lose sometimes. The client will pick the weaker concept. The manager will override your recommendation. The work that goes live won't be the version you're proudest of.
That's okay. You're not the only voice in the room, and you shouldn't be. Collaboration means compromise. It means other people's priorities and preferences shape the outcome alongside yours.
What helps is separating your worth from the work. You can do excellent work and still have it get changed. You can give the right advice and still get overruled. That doesn't mean you failed. It means you're working with other humans who have their own opinions and pressures.
Do your best. Make your case. And when they still want it blue, make it blue.
A Note On Protecting Your Portfolio
One Practical Concern: what do you show in your portfolio when the final product isn't what you'd recommend?
You have options. Show the version you presented, with a note that the final direction shifted. Show the process and explain your thinking. Or just don't include that project at all.
Your portfolio is a curated view of your work, not a comprehensive archive. You're allowed to show what represents you best.
Quick Answers
How do I handle bad feedback from a client?
Ask questions to understand the reasoning, make your case once if you disagree, and then respect their decision. You advise. They decide.
What if my client wants something that won't work?
Explain why you think it won't work and offer an alternative. If they still want it, do it. Document your recommendation if you're concerned about accountability.
How do I push back without damaging the relationship?
Be curious, not combative. Tie your feedback to their goals, not your taste. And pick your battles wisely.
What if I hate the final result?
It happens. Separate your identity from the outcome. Show the better version in your portfolio if you need to. Move on to the next project.
The Takeaway
You're not going to win every round. That's not a flaw in the system. That's the system working as intended.
Your job is to bring your expertise, advocate for good work, and help your clients make informed decisions. What they do with that is up to them.
Sometimes they'll listen. Sometimes they won't. And sometimes, you just make it blue.
