Hi all
I thought I would put this out there. I have a new client that as expected doesn't have a deep knowledge of web design.
Anyhow to cut a long story short as part of the project they asked some other designers to have a tilt at the design along with us. No problem there as we are alway happy to work with good designers no matter where they come from.
The client is looking for the wow factor in the design (I should mention that its my clients client that work if for)
But here is the rub the design the client has chosen is just amateurish to say the least and we are expected the make a purse out of this sows ear.
My conundrum is what to do as I don't really want to be associated with this design, I couldn't show the work to any potential clients.
So my question is:
- would you do the job for the money
- Decline the job
- try to make a compromise with the design
- other
thanks
Marcel
Comments
Be honest
If you are willing to give up the project/money, I would explain your position to the client(s). Also, try to consider whether your position is just that you don't agree with the client's tastes or if it is poor design. There is such as thing as good design but poor taste ;-)
Another option you can consider (though might be late at this point in the project) is to charge more for it. Since you won't be able to use the site to show clients, you are arguably taking a financial hit on that end.
--Ryan
Ryan Cross
Drupal Development Services
ProjectPier project management and collaboration software
So I thought about it, and we definitely want to switch the font
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell >> "So I thought about it, and we definitely want to switch the font back to Comic Sans"
Sorry, couldn't help but ...
LMFAO
OMG... you have one nasty sense of humour... I love it.. You spend more time making a cartoon than I make a website look crap.. Nice work.. :)
Design Comic
Theneeies
That's great. not wanting to add more to your nightmare it would be hysterical if the design ended up as the original.
thanks.
Marcel
EDMEDiA Australia
Actually better idea yet..
Place that as the footer on his invoice... See if he pays top dollar then.
This is something I talk
This is something I have been talking about a lot recently with my designer as we've dealt with one or two particularly opinionated clients.
Often it depends on how busy you are and how much you need the work.
We provide designs as part of the service most of the time but some clients still BYO a designer or even just bring some funny ideas to the table in the design phase.
I usually give the clients advice about what is good and bad design and why we do things certain ways. If you can back up your advice with 'reasons why' then reasonable clients are willing to listen as they understand that what we're talking about will help their website perform better for their needs even if it doesn't match their original idea.
But some clients still just won't listen, or they have a brother who designs websites in his spare time who thinks he knows better. Or whatever.
In these cases I will usually charge a bit more, for the reason that working with someone else's design, especially if they're not proper web designers, takes more time. (And it always does.) If the client is will to pay the 'bit more' then I take the job.
But it's different for me to many others. I run a small business and have to pay staff, rent etc - if we've got a couple of large jobs on then all good but at least half of the year I can't say no to paid work just because it's annoying. Bottom line - feed your family and your employee's families first, then once you're busy enough you can start picking and choosing your clients.
Look at it from their POV.
Do the work and don't put it in your portfolio. Your client has probably already been charged for the design, so you'd only be wasting their time if you turned around and refused to implement the design.
If you talk too much smack about the design they'll just assume you're trying to downplay your competitor to convince them to pay for you to design the site instead. They would be much happier with your service if you polished the design a bit and just gave em a functional website.
That said, if you can afford to not take the job (from the sounds of it they seem like a very small client) then don't. How much is your ego worth? :P
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