God I feel so bad for you. I did some designing for a website for a friend of my mother, and I had this beautiful site with the right proportions, color scheme and all that sorted out. But they didn't like this one shade of blue, and wanted it purple to match the competitor's site, which was this horrible GIF-filled website. Every time I fixed it, some minor detail 'didn't feel right' and had to be fixed. The end result was repulsive. They asked if I wanted to be mentioned on the site for making it, but I politely declined.
I feel your pain. I've read so many things about how to mitigate the overzealous "designer" client and none seem to work in practice. If they want to make decisions, they will, and they will destroy your hard work in one overreaching "I WANT PURPLE" swoop. Similarly, people who spend all their time on competitor sites are the bane of my existence (right after ie6-7 users.) I want to scream at them, "You compete with them. DON'T DO THE SAME DAMN THING!" We started an AdWords campaign at work and are spending a good chunk of money per month to pop up whenever someone searches a competitors company name. While that may have some luck in a consumer market - hey badass shoes are badass shoes -they don't work where a single deal takes 3-12 months, 1m+, and a countless hours from the sales reps. We don't EVER get leads from our website and doubt we ever will. We are selling a product that no one truly wants, and the only way to get people to spend a 110% of what is left of their print budget on us is to schmooze and sell and get on your knees and suck your little brains out. :P How long have you been designing for? Do you often do projects for family/friends? I
It must be draining to see potential go to waste like that. The only thing you can do to save your work is to explain to them why you chose to do it that way, but that requires time and attention from both sides, usually resources not available. Ever considered working for yourself? ;) I am a student with a large friend circle so it is known that I'm 'good with photoshop', usually making stuff for friends for free. I could charge money but I don't see myself as good enough for that and it is less pressure, so it still feels like a fun hobby and not like a second job. Just a couple of hours ago a friend asked me to make a logo for his tutor startup. He gave me just the name and what he'll do, but I asked him to make a concept or an idea for a logo himself, so I don't have to radically change stuff later.