In this open discussion episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss leads a candid conversation about navigating challenging client relationships on pro bono projects!
This episode covers:
- Pro bono work requires boundaries too: Even volunteer projects need contracts, timelines, and scope definitions to prevent scope creep and maintain professional relationships
- The contract as your bouncer: Setting up agreements after a project starts is still valuable - frame it as helping everyone get organized rather than creating friction
- Design by committee challenges: When working with clients who have some technical knowledge but lack expertise, lead with questions about their goals rather than telling them what's wrong
- Time as leverage: When there's no payment involved, your availability and timeline become your primary negotiating tools for maintaining boundaries
- The 50% rule for resistance: If clients consistently push back on expert recommendations, especially on accessibility standards, you may need to accept their limitations and focus energy elsewhere
- Walking away professionally: Always have a referral ready and offer project files when exiting a difficult engagement - how you leave matters as much as how you start
- Client communication strategies: Mirror client language back to them, keep emails brief with links to detailed notes, and break feedback into specific review rounds to manage expectations
Upcoming Events:
- Next week's guest: Haley Akins from Motion Hatch!
- Garlic Phone Game Night: December 3rd
Open call for volunteers: Monday Meeting is seeking hosts and behind-the-scenes help for 2026
Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other conversations from the motion design community!
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