patc77•1mo ago

Realized why simple drafts matter after a face-palm moment with a client

I shared a floor plan with a client the other day. They thought the electrical symbols were part of the furniture layout. Honestly, it was so hard to keep a straight face. Tbh, that mix-up taught me to use clear legends from now on. Now I explain each layer upfront to avoid confusion.

4 comments

4 Comments

kim.nina25d ago

My old boss used to say a good drawing should pass the "lunch break test." If the junior intern can look at it alone and get the main idea, it works. The goal is to share a clear idea, not prove you went to design school. If the client is stuck on symbols, the whole project timeline falls apart waiting for basic answers.

blake7921mo ago

Oversimplifying everything, like @diana_carr66 said, is becoming a weird trend in daily life too.

diana_carr661mo ago

Challenge the need to oversimplify every draft. Detailed plans show you know your stuff and trust the client to keep up. If someone mixes up basic symbols, that's a chance for them to learn, not for you to redo your work. Constantly explaining everything just slows down the process and treats clients like kids.

drew_hart41mo ago

Honestly that story is the perfect example of why @blake792 has a point. Trying to show off with a super detailed draft just got your client thinking the outlet symbols were new minimalist chairs. Next thing you know they will be asking where to buy the tiny ceiling fan circles. Sometimes keeping it simple stops the whole project from turning into a confusing puzzle.