The Only Thing Not “Working” Is That Designer’s Brain

A few years ago, I designed a logo for a client. I delivered several versions, sizes, variants, and file formats, including the original design file. For many reasons, I switched to another range of professional and award-winning graphics software sometime before that. Although not the “industry standard,” this software is capable of everything and more to deliver professional and quality design for screen and print.

Some time ago, this client wanted to print the logo in a much bigger size. At that moment, this person was working with another designer that also did the printing whereas I outsourced that. The new designer requested the original design in the file format of that “industry standard” graphics software. I couldn’t export as such. I showed this designer the support page with all the file formats that I could deliver and asked for the dimensions of the print.

The new designer and I emailed several times back and forth, every time the same issue and story. My exported file didn’t “work” in her software. Every time, I technically explained why it did not “work”. Every time, I exported the logo in another file format she requested and believed would be the solution, knowing it wouldn’t. Every time, I asked for the dimensions of the print so that I could export it to PDF, which would work. Never did I get an answer to my question about the dimensions.

In the end, she asked the client for permission to just recreate the logo by tracing. It would only take an hour and the result would be the same. She had never experienced a design not “working” in her software. Normally, she would just get a design in that one “industry standard” proprietary file format. That works.

I never got an answer or reply from the client. A few weeks later, I saw a picture of the big print on social media: a flat traced version without the effects and finishing touches I had intuitively applied. Not the same result, of course, although both the new designer and client probably believe I lacked the skills.

Learning your craft with a certain tool doesn’t make that the only tool for the job, it doesn’t mean everyone should use that tool, and it doesn’t validate your technical knowledge in the craft, either.