If a client or customer asked you to implement a decision exactly as they say, and you know it is a bad shortsighted decision and there is a better way to accomplish the same result, but they are insistent it is their way or the highway, would you do it and for how much and why?

I know there are two sides to this debate. Asking for a friend...

And does changing "client" to "existing client relationship" change your answer at all? 

Edited July 20, 20215 yr by RobertS

you can just walk away amicably or then do it for the normal price you would charge but make sure you have a contract in place, you get a deposit (1/3 or 1/2) upfront before starting, and make it clear that you're willing to do it even though you don't agree with it. don't use it in your portfolio or put your name to the project either. (this is assuming you've gone into a detailed explanation of why your way is better for THEM).

I think it depends on the subject.

Certainly if the client was asking for something unethical or in an illegal grey area that'd be a red flag and a sign to walk away.

Conversely if we're talking things like design or content presentation/structure then its your choice how to proceed. We all end up doing things the way the client wants sometimes, even though we recommend something different - in situations like this describe how your solution would work vs the clients solution and let them decide how to proceed - they are after all paying the bill.

Like @davep said, you don't have to add the site to your portfolio.

This situation was for an existing client. A non-profit with a board of directors and had just completed a redesign and moving into the maintenance faze. 

My "crime" was I knew the decision (not necessarily design wise even though we butted heads on that too but moreover the choice of contact forms used for sensitive information) was not in their best interest and I pushed too hard - not disrespectfully but was dismissed without full explanation and I didn't let it go. I tried to make sure the entire board knew and the potential repercussions of this decision and the person I was working with did not appreciate it. I was deemed "difficult" to work with moving forward. At the end of the day, I think this was a matter of the client (who I was working with) wanting to take over management because from my experience, she cant play well with others. Her way or the highway. Just my take on it. I might be wrong. With all of that being said, I DO understand their concerns. Sometimes you just want your way without being questioned. Allrightlythen. 

The proverbial question moving forward is - Do I follow orders or do what is right? I choose to do what I think is in the best interest of the client. That is my job. 8 years and still learning better ways to find a better balance between giving what the client wants and what they deserve without compromising my standards or upsetting them too much. 

Cannot please everyone all of the time.

Oooh yes that's tough when you have a client with no people skills (or a power merchant!).

Contact forms asking for "too much" or irrelevant/sensitive information is a regular one for me as well. In the UK we have GDPR to take into account (mentioning legal issues for sensitive info usually makes clients think twice!). Over the pond you have the CCPA and others to take into account - maybe your client wasn't aware of that?

Follow orders or do what is right? Tough one. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do things the clients way, but if it's a difficult problem like you had I'd consider doing what they ask but provide a written disclaimer to say you're not responsible for any negative outcomes.

If you know the decision is bad, I'd say about it and make the client understand why the final result can be not that perfect as he/she thinks. I mean the customer shouldn't have claims when the work is done.

Edited March 19, 20224 yr by maximus777