What "A Few Small Changes" Really Means

By Crystal Ashley-Weekes | C. Ashley Design

Every designer knows the phrase. "Can you just make a few small changes?"

Sometimes it really is small. Sometimes "a few small changes" turns into a whole new design, three weeks later, with nobody quite sure how it got there.

I'm writing this not to complain, but to explain how design revisions actually work, so that when you hire me or any designer, you know exactly what to expect and we both stay happy.

This is about protecting you as much as me. Clear expectations up front mean no awkward surprises later. That's how I try to work, and it's why my projects tend to go smoothly.

Why "Small" Is Trickier Than It Sounds

Here's something most people don't realize: a change that sounds tiny in words can be a big job in practice, and a change that sounds huge can take two minutes. The words don't always match the work.

"Just move the logo a little" is genuinely small.

"Just make it pop more" is not small at all, because there are a hundred ways to do that and I have to figure out which one you mean, try several, and show you options.

"Can we see it in a different colour" is quick.

"Can we try a totally different direction" is essentially starting over, even though it's phrased as casually as the colour change.

None of this is a problem. It just helps to know that "small" describes how it sounds, not always how much work it is.

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."

How Revision Rounds Actually Work

To keep projects fair and moving, most designers, me included, work in revision rounds. Here's what that means in plain language.

When I send you a design, you get a chance to review it and send me back your changes. I gather up all your feedback, make those changes, and send you an updated version. That's one round.

Each of my packages includes a set number of these rounds, agreed on up front, so you always know where you stand. My Starter includes two rounds, and my Brand Kit packages include more, because bigger branding projects naturally take more back-and-forth to get exactly right. It's usually plenty, because the feedback is collected and handled in batches instead of one tiny tweak at a time.

The reason for rounds isn't to limit you. It's to keep the project from drifting forever and to keep the price predictable for both of us.

The Thing That Quietly Blows Up Projects

The trap isn't big changes. It's the slow drip.

A tweak here. A "while we're at it" there. A new idea that came up after we'd already agreed it was done. Each one feels tiny, but stacked together they turn a finished project into a never-ending one. This is what designers call scope creep, and it's the single most common reason projects go sideways for everyone involved.

The fix is simple and it protects you: send your feedback all at once per round, and try to get all the decision-makers to look before you send it. If your business partner has thoughts, get them now, not after I've made the first set of changes based only on yours.

How to Give Feedback That Gets You What You Want

The best thing you can do to get a result you love, faster, is to be specific. "I don't like it" tells me nothing I can act on. "The font feels too formal for us, we're more friendly and casual" tells me exactly where to go.

A few things that help enormously:

• Tell me what feeling is off, not just what you don't like. "Too corporate," "too playful," "too busy."

• Point to specific parts. "The icon, not the text."

• If you've seen something you like, show me. A reference is worth a paragraph of explanation.

• Round up all your notes before sending, so we handle them together.

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Give me that, and revisions go fast and smooth.

Why I Do It This Way

After years of design, I've learned that the projects that go well aren't the ones with the easiest clients. They're the ones where communication is key and everybody knew the plan from the start. Clear rounds, clear feedback, clear finish line. That's better for you, because you get a result you love without surprise costs, and it's better for me, because I can do my best work instead of guessing in the dark.

Good systems prevent misunderstandings. That's true for any design, and it's just as true for how we work together.

Working With C. Ashley Design

When you start a project with me, I tell you up front how many revision rounds are included and walk you through the process, so there are no surprises. You'll always know where we are and what happens next. And because every business is a little different, my packages are customizable, so if your project needs something more than the standard scope, we sort that out clearly at the start rather than halfway through.

If you'd like to see how I structure my packages, take a look here: www.ashleydesign.ca/pricing.

Ready to Start a Project That Runs Smoothly?

If you've got a design project in mind and you want it handled clearly and professionally from start to finish, I'd love to hear about it.

I'm Crystal Ashley-Weekes, a graphic designer based in Williams Lake, BC with over 25 years of experience in print, apparel, and branding. C. Ashley Design is an Indigenous-owned business serving clients across Canada.

Get in touch at connect@c.ashleydesign.ca or visit www.ashleydesign.ca to talk about your next project.

C. Ashley Design offers graphic design, branding, embroidery digitizing, custom embroidery, and print services for businesses across Canada. Based in Williams Lake, British Columbia.