It's On Us to Dictate This

Summary

In this episode, Jake and Kristin dive into the messy, meaningful side of client work—where strategy meets real talk. They unpack the importance of setting expectations early, owning the process, and leading clients with clarity and confidence. From subscription models and value-based pricing to design briefs and project pivots, they share hard-earned lessons from the trenches. It’s a candid conversation about when to push, when to listen, and why it’s up to us—the creatives—to steer the ship.

Takeaways

Here’s the deal: if you’re not leading your projects, your clients definitely will—and that’s how good work goes off the rails. This episode is a reminder that it’s on us, as designers, to set the tone, define the process, and hold the line. That means crystal-clear briefs, real talk about strategy, and pushing back when things get fuzzy. Subscription models? They’ll eat you alive without boundaries. Value-based pricing? Useless if you’re afraid to talk about risk. The takeaway? Take control, stay accountable, and stop waiting for permission to lead.

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00:00 — Intro

04:13 — Navigating Client Relationships and Design Tests

08:46 — Subscription Models: Pros, Cons & Pitfalls

15:00 — Strategy vs. Execution: Finding the Balance

28:08 — Why Design Briefs Matter (More Than You Think)

38:30 — Client Communication: Say It Early, Say It Often

49:58 — Owning Accountability in Your Creative Business

56:48 — Value-Based Pricing: What It Really Takes

01:12:12 — Pricing Models and Managing Risk

01:24:00 — Setting Expectations (Before They Set You)

01:29:27 — Outro

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Keywords

creative business updates, managing client relationships, design process testing, design project workflows, subscription pricing for designers, retainer models for creative services, brand strategy implementation, client communication strategies, writing effective design briefs, educating design clients, professional development for designers, creative project management, accountability in client work, creative business strategy, value-based pricing for creatives, managing pricing risk, delivering impactful design, self-reflection in creative work, setting client expectations, boundaries in design projects, design feedback and iteration, scope creep management, onboarding design clients, creative services pricing models