Rule #45

The key to defending yourself against backseat designers: Back up your chair suddenly.

If there was ever a rule that inspired the monkey mascot of Big Opposable Thumb, it’s this one.

Few things are more frustrating for a designer than a client hovering over their shoulder, micromanaging every move—dictating colors, logo sizes, and placements. It reduces you to a puppet, dismissing the experience, education, and creative insights that make your work valuable. If you want to make a designer feel worthless, this is how you do it.

As a designer or marketer, sometimes you have to push back—both literally and figuratively—to establish your expertise. That doesn’t mean being combative, but it does mean advocating for space and trust. Acknowledge the client’s concerns, but request time to think through their feedback and develop a thoughtful, strategic solution—one that strengthens the brand and enhances communication instead of just reacting in the moment.