Here’s how client gifting can become a ritual that cultivates and reinforces a positive long-term relationship. 

So many materials, documents and checks change hands over the course of the design process—enough to make you worry that the sheer volume of transactions could cloud the designer-client relationship. One quick way to rise above the swirl of invoices and contracts, shipping delays and big decisions: a simple yet thoughtful present, no strings attached.

Designers who have implemented a gift-giving ritual find it a valuable tool for marketing, lead generation and client retention—and most importantly, for reinforcing the human connection at the heart of every design project. Here are five opportune moments when your presents will have the most impact.