The
Creative
Contractor
Commandments

After 20+ years of creative direction, design, and consulting, I've recognized several consistent hurdles in designer-client interactions. Through both humbling and challenging moments, I've become more intentional with my engagements—cultivating patience, empathy, and confidence in my creative approaches.

I believe the onus of a successful partnership should be shared by all parties involved. To that end, I've developed a set of 19 "commandments" for creatives, paired with 19 complementary "commandments" for the clients who hire us.

While there's nothing particularly profound here, these principles represent constant themes from my experience that may serve as helpful guidelines for executives, business owners, and individuals engaging with creatives (and vice versa)—whether for the first or twentieth time.

I've designed these as interactive flashcards that you can browse on my website or download as a PDF [link]. I welcome your contributions and alternate perspectives in the comments. Perhaps you'll find one takeaway—or nineteen—to enhance your creative collaborations.