In his book, Now Try Something Weirder: How to Keep Having Great Ideas and Survive in the Creative Business, Michael Johnson shares 233 practical insights for navigating the creative industries. From understanding client psychology to presenting your work effectively, Johnson’s tips are indispensable for creatives aiming to turn their clients into collaborators.

Here, we explore some of the most impactful advice from Michael Johnson, filled with clever tricks and timeless strategies to win over clients and make your designs shine.

1. Use the “Blue Duck” to Gain Approval

The blue duck is a clever decoy, a playful, intentionally unnecessary element added to your design to invite feedback. Clients often feel compelled to make changes to leave their mark, and the blue duck provides a harmless target. Once they suggest removing it, they feel they've contributed, while the rest of your design remains exactly as planned.