Finished another design today. Eighth revision.
The client is a young guy running a streetwear brand. Lots of ideas, sends new ones every couple of days. First version: solid color with logo. Second: added a gradient. Third: gradient doesn't work, go back to solid. Fourth: add a graphic. Fifth: move the graphic. Sixth: change the colors. Seventh: change them back halfway. Eighth—honestly, I don't even remember what changed. But the client said "this is close enough."
Some people think I have a short temper. But I didn't even blink at the eighth revision. Not because I'm patient—I'm just used to it. That's how custom design works. The client has a picture in their head, but they don't know what that picture actually looks like until they try a bunch of things. You let them try. When they finally say "that's it," that's it.
I sent the file to Old Zheng. He looked it over and said: "We can do it. Colors are fine. Just need to adjust the stitching slightly." I said: "You handle it." He said: "Got it."
After I hung up, I stared at the screen for a moment. Nothing spectacular. Clean, though. The client would like it. The eighth version was basically the same as the first. It just took the client a month to figure out what they wanted. Happens all the time.
Eventually the client said "this is it." I saved the file and put my phone on silent. I'd done eight revisions this week. I told the team I wasn't going to the year-end dinner. Just wanted to be alone for a while.