10 Hilarious Client Requests Every Designer Has Heard

As a graphic designer, I've heard some wild client requests that make you laugh, cry, or question my career choice. Here’s a lighthearted list of 10 classic client requests that graphic designers hear:

1. "Can you make the logo bigger?"

The age-old request that never dies. Clients love a giant logo, believing it’s the key to brand domination.
Why It Happens: Clients often equate size with importance, not realizing a balanced design communicates better.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "Sure, let’s turn your logo into a billboard that overshadows the entire design."

2. "Just use Comic Sans—it’s fun!"

Nothing strikes fear into a designer’s heart like the mention of Comic Sans.
Why It Happens: Clients associate it with playfulness, unaware of its reputation as the internet’s most mocked font.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "I need a stiff drink and a font intervention."

3. "Can you make it pop?"

The vaguest request in the book. What does "pop" even mean? More color? More contrast? A literal explosion?
Why It Happens: Clients want something eye-catching but lack the design vocabulary to explain it.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "I’ll just crank the saturation to 11 and call it a day."

4. "I need it done yesterday."

Deadlines are tight, but this one defies the laws of time.
Why It Happens: Poor planning or last-minute decisions lead clients to expect miracles.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "Unless you’ve got a time machine, ‘yesterday’ isn’t happening."

5. "My cousin’s kid can do this on their phone."

Clients sometimes think design is just slapping filters on a photo, thanks to user-friendly apps.
Why It Happens: Design tools like Canva make the process look deceptively simple.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "Great, let’s see their kid nail brand consistency and vector scaling."

6. "Can you just copy this other brand’s style?"

Imitation might be flattery, but it’s also a legal gray area.
Why It Happens: Clients see a competitor’s design and want a similar vibe without understanding originality.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "Sure, let’s flirt with a lawsuit for fun."

7. "Make it look exactly like this, but different."

A paradox wrapped in a riddle. Clients want a design inspired by something else but “unique.”
Why It Happens: They’re trying to balance familiarity with originality without clear direction.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "So, you want a clone, but not a clone. Got it."

8. "I don’t know what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it."

This request turns you into a mind reader with a tight deadline.
Why It Happens: Clients sometimes lack a clear vision and expect you to magically figure it out.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "Time to churn out 50 variations and pray."

9. "Can you use all my favorite colors?"

Think rainbow explosions with clashing neons and pastels.
Why It Happens: Clients get attached to personal preferences, forgetting about target audiences or readability.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "This palette looks like a unicorn had a meltdown."

10. "It’s just a quick change!"

Spoiler: It’s never quick. A “small tweak” often spirals into hours of revisions.
Why It Happens: Clients underestimate the ripple effect of changes in a carefully crafted design.
Designer’s Inner Monologue: "Quick? I’ll just re-align the universe real fast."