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Raf1 · 02-21-2004, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Voodoo
Here is a process that seems to be fair, and works:

If a client wants to pay 100% up front for priority service, so be it... just make sure you trust each other. But designers should not expect 100% up front.

50% retainer up front, 50% after the project.

3 Free Reviews & Revisions
Any revision after 3 ... charge for it. (tacked onto the end price)

Do the reviews at these points:
1. When the basic Photoshop work is done. (about 1/2 way through) Review watermarked version.
2. When the project is completed locally (all graphics/animations and html). Review watermarked.

After these 2 reviews. Final payment is due. Once paid, release the full version w/o watermarks to client.

Allow them time to upload and set it up on their server, or set it up for them... give them a little time to test it themselves, and get back to you.

Once the site/project is up and tested by them... do a final review. Once they say it's good... YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY DONE. No further changes should be made w/o charging for them.

Too often, I run into clients that seem to think that a designer's time is free. That they are paying for the "end product", and not their time. Prices are determined by the time it takes to do the work. If a client wants a banner... it sounds simple enough... however if they want 1000 changes to it... It becomes a much larger project.

The key to ALL of this is communication. Designers... ASK FUCKING QUESTIONS!! Don't ASSUME that you know what they want. The more questions you ask in the beginning, and the more info you get about the project... The fewer revisions you will have to do. And clients should also ask as many questions as they can think of to the designer, about their design theories, methods, and general knowledge about design. This will also help you understand how the project is put together, to obtain the end production. Asking a lot of questions will also clue you in to any scammers. If they can't answer alot of your questions to your satisfaction, or it sounds like a bunch of bullshit... You probably have a scammer on your hands and won't be happy with the results, or worse... you might get taken.

Do as much Q&A prior to the project start as you can. Then leave the designer alone to do the work. Let them get back to you with any questions they have along the way.

That's about it. Communication is the key.

Tips for clients: Send DETAILED emails to the designer, so they have it to use as a reference sheet. Be sure to include any sales text you want to be used, concepts, a list of keywords to describe the site (for them to get a mental image of it), timeframes, deadlines, etc... After sending the email... CONFIRM that they received it. Sometimes email doesn't go through for whatever reason. Just make sure they got it. Be reasonable in your expectations. Don't expect a kick ass design in 1 day. Not many designers can do this. Good work takes time. Someone said it in the past on this board... SPEED, QUALITY, PRICE... PICK 2. This is very important that you understand this. It is nearly impossible to do all 3. Any solo designer that says they can give you a great design, with a low price, and a quick turnaround... is full of shit. A design firm can maybe do it, but, you will probably pay a little more.

Tips for designers: If you don't have a clear picture of what you want to do to create the site/project, then you don't have enough information to do it. ASK QUESTIONS! With a detailed project reference email, sit back for a little while and try to visualize the finished site before starting it. Review the details fully, then ask them any questions that you may run into as you try to visualize. Discuss your visualization with them before starting the project... Start a .txt file w/ their details. If you get more info by asking questions to them, append it to this text file, so you can go back to it later.

Anyhow, that's my rambling. Discuss...

good tips