Fear not, for this guide will arm you with the tools and humor needed to navigate these meetings with style (and sanity) intact.
1. Master Your Facial Expressions
First things first: when the client says, “Can you make it pop?”, your face is a canvas that needs to remain as neutral as Helvetica.
Resist the urge to roll your eyes so hard they’re at risk of orbiting the sun. Instead, master the subtle nod paired with a thoughtful “Hmm,” as if you’re a wise sage deciphering the mysteries of the universe.
Pro tip: Practice in front of the mirror so your face says, “I’m intrigued,” instead of “I’m Googling how to change careers.”
2. Decode the Pop Factor
What does “pop” mean? Good question! No one knows. In fact, ‘pop’ is a cryptid, somewhere between Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster in terms of actual sightings.
But that won’t stop clients from using it like it’s on page one of the design manual.
Here are a few common translations of ‘pop’:
Make it brighter: Double-check that your design isn’t already capable of blinding astronauts. If not, unleash a palette of neon.
Add more contrast: Prepare to juggle gradients and shadows like a circus act.
Something ‘fun’: Add confetti! No one can complain about confetti.
3. The Color Gauntlet
When a client asks for “more pop,” 99% of the time they want color. Lots of it. The kind of color that makes you question your entire aesthetic sensibility. You might have envisioned a clean, minimalist layout—something that whispers sophistication.
But now you need to bring in more saturated hues than a ’80s fashion show.
Your strategy: Open your design software, set your color wheel to “Unleash Chaos,” and make peace with the fact that subtlety is no longer in the building.
4. Add Unnecessary Sparkle
If things start to go south and the client still looks unconvinced, here’s a designer secret: add a glow, shimmer, or ‘futuristic’ shine.
The magic of unnecessary sparkles is that clients often don’t know what they want until they see something that distracts them long enough to forget their original request.
Disclaimer: Excessive sparkles may lead to existential questioning of your career choices.
5. The “Just One More Thing” Loop
Once you’ve ‘popped’ the design to within an inch of its life, the client will inevitably say, “It’s great, but can you add just one more thing?” This is a pivotal moment where you must embrace your inner zen master.
Mental exercise: Picture yourself as a superhero whose only power is to smile and say, “Of course!” while internally questioning how many ‘one more things’ it takes to reach creative enlightenment.
6. The Great Font Debate
If your design involves text, prepare for the client to request that the headline “pop” more. Suddenly, every typeface you suggest will be compared to a distant cousin’s wedding invite or an obscure 1992 music festival poster. And just when you think you’ve found the perfect font, they’ll say, “Can we try Comic Sans?”
Response: Take a deep breath, channel your best customer service voice, and gently guide them away from the abyss.
7. When All Else Fails, Add an Exclamation Point!
Nothing says “pop” quite like adding an exclamation point to everything. Your client might not know why it works, but they’ll be convinced it does.
It’s the design equivalent of yelling, “Ta-da!” after revealing a trick.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, remember that “popping” is an art form, a mystical dance between client expectations and your creative limits.
Sometimes, it means finding that perfect middle ground between tasteful and tacky. Other times, it means letting go and accepting that your carefully crafted layout now resembles a carnival flyer.
Smile, nod, and don’t forget—you’re not just a designer. You’re a magician, conjuring bursts of color, sparkle, and fonts into creations that ‘pop’ just enough to keep everyone happy—or at least not asking for Comic Sans again.
