What Makes a Good Retainer Client?
It’s a Two-Way Street
We’ve all heard horror stories or freelancers ghosting mid-project, agencies missing the mark, brands overwhelmed by lacklustre creative support. That’s exactly why ongoing design retainers can be such a game-changer…when they work well.
But here's the truth: great results come from great partnerships. Our best work happens when our clients meet us in the middle.
Got a project in mind and want to get in touch?
1. Clear and Timely Communication
Design is collaborative. The best outcomes happen when feedback is prompt, briefs are clear, and expectations are aligned.
What this looks like:
- Regular check-ins or updates
- Sharing deadlines and launch goals early
- Constructive, honest feedback (we’re here for it!)
2. Strategic Clarity
The best clients don’t just tell us what they want, they tell us why. When we understand your business goals, we can design with purpose.
Try this instead of:
❌ “Make it pop”
✅ “We want this landing page to increase sign-ups by 25% in Q2”
3. Trust in the Process
You hired us for a reason. We’ll always collaborate but we also thrive when given the space to bring our commercial and creative expertise to the table.
Great clients:
- Are open to new ideas
- Give feedback but don’t micro-manage
- Let us guide design strategy and implementation
4. Respect for Boundaries & Timelines
Retainer work is agile and flexible but it still needs structure. We do our best work when there’s mutual respect for the scope, turnaround times, and bandwidth.
Top Tip:
If you’ve got a busy season or launch coming up, looping us in early helps us plan and prioritise.
5. Belief in Design as a Business Tool
The strongest partnerships are built on a shared belief: design drives growth.
Our retainer clients don’t just want pretty visuals they want ROI, brand loyalty, consistency, and commercial success. And that’s exactly what we help deliver.
What Do Retainer Clients Get at Soley Creative?
- Priority access to our design team over our project bookings (without the price tag of a big agency)
- Commercially focused design tailored to your brand and customer
- Experience across packaging, Klaviyo, web, print and digital
- Fast turn-around times and reactivity
- Peace of mind, because you always have creative support on hand
💡 Want to work with a design team that feels like part of your own? Let’s build something brilliant—together. Get in touch and let’s explore what a design retainer could do for your brand.
