Clients come in all sizes
One of the things I love most about being a designer is how different every project—and every client—can be. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with everything from scrappy startups to well-established global brands. And while the scale, speed, and processes can vary wildly, both types of clients have taught me valuable lessons that continue to shape my approach.
Small Clients: Fast, Close, and Personal
Working with smaller clients—startups, early-stage founders, indie brands—often means wearing many hats. You’re not just designing; you’re helping shape strategy, define brand direction, and even influence product decisions.
Here’s what I love about it:
Agility – Decisions happen fast. You can move quickly and see your work live in days, not months.
Ownership – You’re involved in more than just visuals. Your voice really matters.
Personal Connection – There’s often a shared excitement. You feel like a real partner, not just a service provider.
But it also comes with challenges: tighter budgets, evolving scopes, and sometimes less clarity at the start. It forces you to stay flexible and focused on value.
Big Clients: Structured, Strategic, and Scalable
On the other end of the spectrum, working with larger organizations usually means more structure, more people, and more layers of decision-making. You might be working within a mature design system, collaborating with large cross-functional teams, and aligning with long-term roadmaps.
Here’s what I value:
Clear Process – There’s a rhythm to how things get done, which can be very efficient.
Deeper Specialization – You often get to dive deeper into a specific area of design.
Big Impact – Even small design decisions can affect thousands (or millions) of users.
It requires a different kind of patience and attention—balancing creativity with alignment, and pushing for innovation within the boundaries of an existing ecosystem.
The Sweet Spot: Adapting to Both
What I’ve learned is that great design can happen at any scale. The key is adapting your mindset and methods:
With small clients, you lead with initiative and help shape the vision.
With big clients, you lead with clarity and help scale the vision.
Each type of project builds a different muscle, and together they’ve made me a more thoughtful, well-rounded designer.
Whether I’m building a brand from scratch or refining a product at scale, I bring the same mindset: listen closely, think clearly, and design with intention.
