Taking the high road [design management]
I was fired from a project last week. It's not a big or even important project, but the client was a friend first. I had some suspicions about her character but nothing to go on...
I was fired in an email after I had asked to meet to get the project running again. I had been away on vacation and was back early - but I was stick with a stomach bug for a couple days. I was simply told that she was going to hire somebody else. Of course, I responded that that was really annoying to me...
And then she called me wife to explain a few reasons why which wa a bit surreal.
The project was a little stalled because the name was so close to another mulit-national clothing manufacturer I was absolutely certain that this was a huge red flag. So, a new name was found - and I came up with the final iteration of the name - but it took another week. Which meant it backed into two other larger (and more important) projects I had starting. And then, I was leaving for nine days in Mexico.
I was fired for "having other priorities" and because I was "too busy". It had nothing to do with any design work I showed because I never showed any. We had no deadlines set, yet. But, before I left on my trip I told her that I was a bit backed up and that we would catch up when I was back - I told it was ok. Well, it wasn't...
So, being fired on a friday evening really pissed me off. Ruined my weekend.
But now I want to tell all of our common friends what happened - because her saying something like "it didn't work out" still makes me look bad. I also want people to know that I named the company - you know, because I wasn't doing anything to contribute.
At this moment, it takes all my energy not to fire off emails bitching about this. I'm trying to find the energy to take the high road. This person has a problem. Sadly, I've seen this too much, well-to-do, entitled, diplomatic people (and I realize I'm technically one of these, too). In Mauritania, we tried to avoid these people because it's not like us to expect people to do everything for us.
If I ever hear anybody talk about this like I did something wrong I'm going to lose it - and I hope that never happens. Anyways, taking the high road, you ever have a situation like this?
I have my hunch that her husband is not cool with what she did. My wife grilled her on the phone about basic design project management - were there any deadlines established? did you send him a note with your concerns? etc., etc. Tonight I'm stressing this and can't sleep. I know it's not really important but this is so insidious in my opinion I'm really bothered.
I was fired in an email after I had asked to meet to get the project running again. I had been away on vacation and was back early - but I was stick with a stomach bug for a couple days. I was simply told that she was going to hire somebody else. Of course, I responded that that was really annoying to me...
And then she called me wife to explain a few reasons why which wa a bit surreal.
The project was a little stalled because the name was so close to another mulit-national clothing manufacturer I was absolutely certain that this was a huge red flag. So, a new name was found - and I came up with the final iteration of the name - but it took another week. Which meant it backed into two other larger (and more important) projects I had starting. And then, I was leaving for nine days in Mexico.
I was fired for "having other priorities" and because I was "too busy". It had nothing to do with any design work I showed because I never showed any. We had no deadlines set, yet. But, before I left on my trip I told her that I was a bit backed up and that we would catch up when I was back - I told it was ok. Well, it wasn't...
So, being fired on a friday evening really pissed me off. Ruined my weekend.
But now I want to tell all of our common friends what happened - because her saying something like "it didn't work out" still makes me look bad. I also want people to know that I named the company - you know, because I wasn't doing anything to contribute.
At this moment, it takes all my energy not to fire off emails bitching about this. I'm trying to find the energy to take the high road. This person has a problem. Sadly, I've seen this too much, well-to-do, entitled, diplomatic people (and I realize I'm technically one of these, too). In Mauritania, we tried to avoid these people because it's not like us to expect people to do everything for us.
If I ever hear anybody talk about this like I did something wrong I'm going to lose it - and I hope that never happens. Anyways, taking the high road, you ever have a situation like this?
I have my hunch that her husband is not cool with what she did. My wife grilled her on the phone about basic design project management - were there any deadlines established? did you send him a note with your concerns? etc., etc. Tonight I'm stressing this and can't sleep. I know it's not really important but this is so insidious in my opinion I'm really bothered.
Comments
And it puts a huge strain on other in-common friendships. I'm super pissed about this.
The person has no ethics or conscience. I could never fire a friend like this even if they were a terrible designer - I would work with them to make something good. But that's not the issue.
Maybe I should add? She's worked in government for years - this is her first venture as an "artitst". Yeah, I know.
Probably a combination of getting so mad that I was "behind" schedule...and I think she met somebody else who could do the job. But, she claimed that she didn't have anybody else - and under the circumstances I don't know what to believe.
Part of me wants to figure this out - demand to know. But when I start feeling like that I realize I don't care enough about this project. It's just that it was a friend who fired me while they thought I was still technically on vacation - without explanation - isn't that super cold?
i think it's much easier to deal with that way.
i totally feel the 'wanting the truth to out', though. shit-talkers are the worst.
for others, i've certainly made it clear that product/company names shouldn't have numbers in them (jesus...)
i think i feel a bit better today. she's just another asshole. i have plenty of work at the moment anyways...nicer work!
it is nice to be involved from such an early stage of the product development cycle, though. also, i'm in-house where *most* of these namings have occurred, so definitely not the same scenario as you are talking about there.
when you are a freelancer living in a place like this though...you get what you get. which isn't much.
i also agree with getting what you can get when you freelance. sucks to not be at the point to be able to pick and choose your work. you're always going to run into clunts (client +cunt = clunt. got that from here but can't remember who to credit). most of the time they are family or friends. they always seem to be the hardest to deal with as they want everything under the sun for nothing. i sure as hell don't call up my lawyer buddies and ask for free legal work (or next to nothing pay) so why the hell do people think designers are any different?
anyway, good luck vask. hope this wasn't that great of a friend or in the very least you can patch things up and still remain civil in the same social circles.