Images + MS Word = Ridiculous
Published by ColourMod October 5th, 2005 in Client IdiosyncrasiesI’ve noticed a weird trend among clients when they send image files. Most send a straight image file (.jpg, .gif, .tiff), but then there are the few (actually more than you’d think), who like to attach a Microsoft Word document containing the image. What is up with that? Why would you put an image in a MS Word document when you could just attach the actual image? This makes no sense to me.
I want to get inside the head of a client so I can find out what drives them to feel that it is necessary to put images in Word. Is it because Word is all they know and they somehow think that Word documents are the only kind of attachement that can be attached to an email? Actually, I got a CD today that was burned containing a Word document with the image in the document.
Maybe clients think that Word is a compression utility? If they put an image in Word it magically reduces the overall size and can be sent via email, without exceeding any size limits. I’m pretty sure the oposite is true. Anyway, enough of my ranting. I want to hear what experiences you have with clients that are absolutely bizarre. Let me have it.
13 Responses to “Images + MS Word = Ridiculous”
- 1 Trackback on May 31st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
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What was the source of the document?
What do you mean Fernando?
Funny you should mention this. Just yesterday I had one of those “I want to smack someone” moments
I was working on a PowerPoint template (of all things) for a special campaign presentation. After I spent several hours looking for the right photography and developing a template for the presentation, they decided they didn’t like it and wanted to use something that “their graphic designer” made.
I was already frustrated that I was even working in PowerPoint instead of working on the markup and css for our huge website relaunch (which is the real project I should be working on). Then I got a call from the client.
She called me and asked if she could send an image to me and I could “convert it to PowerPoint”. Conver it to PowerPoint, I asked? She said, “Yes, I don’t think I have the capability.” I said, “Yes you do, you just don’t know how.” But I said it in much nicer way
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I hate it when they think some of the things you do are as simple as pressing the “convert” button. Clients = fun, fun, fun!
Hahahah, convert it to powerpoint!!! That is hilarious.
I did a design for a client once, and in my opinion it was sweet, but the client was an artist. The only problem was that he was a painter, not a web designer. Anyway, he brought in his mockup of what he thought the website should look like. It was bad, but we used it anyway, because he was extremely insistent that we use his design.
I’m still not sure why he was having us design his website, when he obviously wanted to do it himself.
In my experience, I’ve found that some clients don’t really understand that graphic files can be attached to an email. They know that Microsoft Word can import pictures and that they can attach word files to their email - so they go with what they know.
I guess it’s hard for most of us to imagine what it’d be like not to know how to use a computer
. I certainly hear your frustration!
Yeah, I guess people just do what they know how to do. It is hard for me to imagine someone not thinking that there must be a way to attach an image to an email.
This is all sounding way too familiar. I was presented with a job from some (well intending) people one time. They had this print out that was (I thought) a “concept” for their main site. I will go out on a limb and just say that it sucked. We are talking three columns of centered text, Red balloony font, clipart. Just think of the worst design you possibly can-Have a clear picture of that? - now double it.
Anyway, So I took what they had and quickly “elevated” them to something acceptable. Actaully, I thought the design I came up with initially was one of my best “quick” ideas I have ever had.
I get a call soon enought that they want to talk about it…
“Uh, well - this is nice, but is there any way we can just scan what we gave you in and put that up?”
…
…
…Scan it in? I must say I was so shocked that I almost did what they said. I thought having my design up AND theirs with a little “vote on the best” button or something…
Instead I simply said, “No, I’m afraid that’s not the way the Interenet works.” That was good enough for them I guess.
I kept the print out they originally gave me though and now it is in my file cabinet under (believe it or not) “Idiosyncratic”.
No Joke!
Marvelous. Thanks, will spread this among my friends!