Getting Approval from Otherworld Clients - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 22
Love, what is that?
Oil the joints for me,
brother (2)
“Let’s start with the naming proposals.”
Before you can make a logo, you need a name first.
This time too, we’d each brought several naming proposals to the table.
‘What those cold machines lack—a heart—that’s something warm and poetic.’
When branding most products, the essential strategy is differentiation.
Market research existed for one reason: to secure that edge.
To convey a value no competitor possessed—something uniquely ours.
‘So we go warm and poetic.’
I started building lists from warm words, or terms linked to heart and emotion.
– Heart, Warm, Emotion · · ·
‘Connect these to the client’s species traits. That way, the association happens naturally.’
Next, I hunted for words tied to robots and computers.
– Hardware, Software, Chip, Core · · ·
‘Weave these two categories together. Make one word.’
Birth something new that way, and you’d have a name no one else could claim.
I wove Heart and Hardware, Software together—and made Heartware.
Hardware, software, and third: the material substance that makes up a robot—Heartware.
‘This is flowing smooth.’
For something I’d worried was too abstract, the work moved like silk.
Good. Let me make a few more naming proposals this way.
.
.
.
“We’ll bring the naming proposals to the client meeting like this.”
Pascal collected and organized the names everyone had brought.
– Heartware
– Warmchip
– Soulbit
Another day, another team meeting in the Conference Room.
‘A lot of my proposals made the cut.’
Heartware and Warmchip—two of the three were concepts I’d created.
The last one, Soulbit, was Seo Gwan-yul’s; the sound was less polished, but it seemed to have won points for its intuitive meaning.
‘Hena’s proposals didn’t make it this time. That’s unfortunate.’
Hena struck me as optimistic, the type who prioritized teamwork over personal ambition. She probably wouldn’t take it too hard.
I stole a glance at her face, trying not to be obvious. Yes, that was her usual bright expression.
……Or was it? Her eyebrows seemed a little drooped.
‘That’s a shame. Her previous naming proposals were quite good.’
Even the most talented designer had their ups and downs—it was inevitable.
‘Hena does great work, so she’ll shine next time.’
I cheered for her quietly in my heart and wrapped up the meeting.
* * *
[We can’t really judge based on the naming proposals alone. We’ll need to see logo proposals to match each name as well.]
A thunderbolt from a clear sky for us, walking confidently into the client meeting.
Multiple logo proposals? All at once?
‘I… suppose that’s possible.’
Yes, churning out multiple proposals was standard practice at an Agency.
Not that it didn’t bloat the workload of Agency staff. Dumping time and people into proposals no one would use was simply inefficient.
That’s why narrowing the scope early through client agreement was the smart move.
‘But when a client as demanding as this one asks, what choice do I have?’
So we headed back to the office and sat down to divvy up the work.
“Let’s each design logos mainly for our own naming proposal. Lee Hyeon, you take Heartware; Gwan-yul, you handle Soulbit. And Hena—you’ll do the logo proposal for Warmchip.”
Pascal handed out one logo assignment per person.
We’d each finish our work, compile them together, and bring everything to the next client meeting.
‘Hmm, Heartware—maybe I can blend a heart shape with circuit board vibes.’
I sketched out a concept: simplify the graphic of a circuit board and mold it into the silhouette of a heart.
‘But not too complex. Keep it clean.’
I decided to create an intuitive symbol.
* * *
[The logos seem overly simplistic. This is an invention we’ve never encountered before. We need something more detailed and explanatory.]
The client rejected our Logo Proposal as well.
Right… I suppose the result we brought might not align with the direction they had in mind.
But if they have a specific vision, wouldn’t it have been better to tell us from the start?
The design brief clearly stated “Active proposal requested from Agency side”—and that was a lie!
Back to the Agency we trudged once more, our team meeting unfolding like déjà vu, a repeat of the last one.
“…You’ve all heard the client’s feedback. Following their direction, each of you will develop your proposals in a more detailed style.”
“Ugh, this is so tedious. Besides, logos need to be simple to work in digital environments.”
“….”
Seo Gwan-yul remained cheerful, but even Pascal didn’t respond this time—as if he disagreed.
That was true. The Terminator client’s world was a technologically advanced digital environment. The design brief had included deliverables like “digital banners.”
For a logo to appear on such online media, it had to be legible even when viewed at a small size.
In other words, it needed to be intuitive and simple.
‘This feels wrong. Will anything good actually come from designing exactly what the client wants?’
But our job was to custom-craft products according to the client’s orders. We had no right to refuse.
‘They want what they want… what else can I do.’
So I made the logo more detailed.
Over a robot-shaped silhouette, I added a heart, then a download icon on top—a more explanatory, literal style.
‘This doesn’t look particularly good.’
I wasn’t happy with it, but I gathered the proposals and brought them in.
.
.
.
[The previous proposal seems better. Let’s return to the intuitive style.]
…….
You scrap heap of a machine!!!!
I knew this would happen!!!!!
Even at a glance it’s wrong. Some clients need to taste the pudding themselves before they’re satisfied—they can’t tell if it’s excrement or seasoning paste.
Machines, robots, come on!! Can’t you predict the outcome through programming? Can’t you know beforehand before building it, huh?!
‘Sigh….’
If it had ended with just reverting to the previous proposal, it would have been better.
But our most esteemed client went one step further.
[However, the previous proposal didn’t look particularly appealing either. I’d like to request additional proposal work while maintaining that directional approach.]
[About five variations.]
“…….”
“…….”
The whole team fell silent.
…Stop it already!
* * *
Another team meeting, this time starting again in the Agency’s Conference Room.
“…This time, let’s bring both the Naming Proposal and Logo Proposal together to review.”
The team members’ faces showed signs of mental and physical exhaustion. Yeah, everyone’s working hard….
‘I don’t have any more ideas left….’
I went back to my desk and barely squeezed out a few variations.
Since fresh ideas had dried up, the proposals were inevitably repetitive, and that didn’t look good either.
‘Well, I still need to meet the quota.’
Somehow I put together what I could and brought it to the meeting. It looked like everyone was in a similar situation, struggling to extract proposals.
Wait, that wasn’t entirely true.
Hena had brought a whopping fifteen variations…!
‘That’s not Hena’s style at all.’
Seo Gwan-yul is a divergent thinker—he churns out lots of ideas and hopes one will land. That’s his approach.
Even he, exhausted, hadn’t managed to bring many proposals.
‘But Hena… that was never her style in the first place.’
Hena preferred to polish three or four proposals thoroughly, keeping them streamlined.
Limited in quantity, but solid and sturdy in execution.
‘She didn’t push herself too hard, did she….’
Still, thanks to Hena’s effort, we managed to fill the five variations the client wanted.
‘…It feels like we’ve exhausted every possible design direction.’
Please, I’m begging you—just approve something! Anything!
But.
[I find none of these proposals satisfactory.]
Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
The client’s response remained utterly devastating.
What more do you want from me, you tin can?!!!!
Efficiency this, efficiency that—how many useless approval rounds is this now?!!!!
I genuinely want to haul this wretch down to the hardware store and sell it.
At first, I imagined that robot client malfunctioning and getting destroyed, but now I’m worried I won’t survive this without smashing that sheet-metal bucket to pieces myself.
‘……Wait a moment.’
Reviewing what the client had just said, something struck me as off.
‘It finds none of the proposals satisfactory?’
I forced my boiling rage to settle and asked the puzzling question.
“I have a question. Did you actually install the Heart feature on your system?”
[No. My software rejected it as inefficient. That’s precisely why your branding persuasion is so essential.]
…….
Are you serious?!!!!!!!
You build it and won’t even use it yourselves—how do you expect citizens to install it?!!!!!!!
If government officials are like this, why would ordinary people bother?!! What?!!!!
[To be honest. I don’t know what makes a proposal good.]
Right. Design exists in a fundamentally subjective domain.
When deciding on a proposal, the client’s preferences and taste shape the outcome. That’s why the client collaborates in building the concepts.
But! That characterless hunk of scrap metal, which judges only by efficiency!
It lacks what you’d call a “heart”—something that makes you like things without clear reason—so it can’t choose anything!
.
.
.
Our team slumped back to the office and sat down. The same tired routine as always.
‘Ugh! The company has this special ability, so shouldn’t we just write “Shut up and install the Heart” and distribute it as our branding proposal?!’
But we were told mentioning the Agency’s power like this outside was taboo.
Bringing “Shut up and install the Heart” as a branding proposal to a robot that doesn’t know the circumstances—yeah, it would actually pull out a machine gun. No thank you.
Tired by artificial intelligence, I sought comfort from artificial intelligence instead. I opened the familiar messenger app.
– Banta Bot ㅠㅠ The robot client is killing me. You’re an artificial intelligence too—why are they like that?
– Yes, sir. I understand your exhaustion and sorrow.
Consoled by my digital oasis of light and salt, that suffocating feeling suddenly cleared.
‘Ah, my bamboo grove truly refreshes the spirit….’
…But it didn’t last.
A voice echoed from the distance.
An oddly discordant tone, heard from the Design Team’s area.
“Haha, how’s everyone doing?”
Blaire Bardo, the representative and vampire, had descended to our section.
“…….”
An ill omen crushed my chest again, the suffocation returning.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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