3 rules to bridge the "Designer/Client" gap... - GoFuckYourself.com

NickPapageorgio · 07-10-2004, 10:04 PM

Clients:

Rule #1: Know what you want before you contact the designer. You don't need to know the entire layout or exactly what graphics you want but atleast have a fucking clue on colors and feel.

Rule #2: Don't contact your designer when you needed the job done yesterday and then bitch when your project is behind schedule. Poor planning and project execution is not the designers fault. Look inward before blaming outward.

Rule #3: Good design isn't cheap and cheap design isn't good.

Designers:

Rule #1: Don't promise what you cannot deliver. There are plenty of design jobs in the sea, if you don't have time for one then let the client know asap so they can get another designer on the project.

Rule #2: Please and Thank You go a long way. Treat the client with respect and LISTEN to what they are telling you about the design they want.

Rule #3: When in doubt, contact the client. Ask questions. It is going to save you time in the long run. I prefer to work alongside the clients I work for. It makes it easier on me to show them an example early on in the project before I have spent hours on something. If you are designing a page with a header logo, it is much easier to make the logo and show the client the design right away. This way if there are any color issues or style problems they can be dealt with before tackling the rest of the page.

Finally, the golden rule:

When you owe someone money, pay them. You know who you are and you know what I mean. Pay me my fucking money or take down the design. You have had 3 days and I am over waiting on you. Pay me now or your name goes out.

Oldy · 07-10-2004, 10:08 PM

good points nick, lots of people have misconecptions and wrong estimations which results in unhappy clients and designers

will be contacting you for some design work soon

Joesho · 07-10-2004, 10:29 PM

Becarful nickpappageorgio, you might make some of the Prima donna designers have to work to keep up with you....

graphicsbytia · 07-10-2004, 11:08 PM

good post nick,

We've developed something that's helped tremendously on both sides.

It's a form for them to fill out asking questions about design concepts, and expectations. This has helped us avoid a lot of back and forthing between us and the clients and made things a lot more clear to both parties. It also helps when the client doesn't know exactly what they want

Mike AI · 07-10-2004, 11:13 PM

Pearl of a post!

keyboard warrior · 07-10-2004, 11:18 PM

even the best designers dont know what you really want.

so you have to be a designer to show the better designer what you really want - this is what i have done.

works reall well, just post the designer you ideas even if they suck to look at but the new guy has teh vison to make it better!

so in short it is easyer to revamp a shit design then starting from scratch.

digifan · 07-10-2004, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by keyboard warrior
even the best designers dont know what you really want.

so you have to be a designer to show the better designer what you really want - this is what i have done.

works reall well, just post the designer you ideas even if they suck to look at but the new guy has teh vison to make it better!

so in short it is easyer to revamp a shit design then starting from scratch.

You sound like the designers' dream

Mishi · 07-11-2004, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NickPapageorgio
Clients:

Rule #1: Know what you want before you contact the designer. You don't need to know the entire layout or exactly what graphics you want but atleast have a fucking clue on colors and feel.

Rule #2: Don't contact your designer when you needed the job done yesterday and then bitch when your project is behind schedule. Poor planning and project execution is not the designers fault. Look inward before blaming outward.

Rule #3: Good design isn't cheap and cheap design isn't good.

*Applause*

mcmc · 07-11-2004, 02:09 AM

so true

fr8 · 07-11-2004, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NickPapageorgio

Finally, the golden rule:

When you owe someone money, pay them.

Possibly the best rule.

venturi · 07-11-2004, 02:10 AM

Nick, will you marry me?

Actually, Mishi probably wouldn't much like sharing the bed with both of us...

I'm not a designer, but the same kind of stuff crops up in the programming world as well. Good post.

sean416 · 07-11-2004, 02:21 AM

I hate designers! Except you, you seem cool.

abyss_al · 07-11-2004, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NickPapageorgio
Clients:

Rule #3: Good design isn't cheap and cheap design isn't good.

V_RocKs · 07-11-2004, 02:48 AM

Something wrong Nick?

NickPapageorgio · 07-11-2004, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by V_RocKs
Something wrong Nick?

Not that I know of.

Lunae · 07-11-2004, 11:20 AM

Reak · 07-11-2004, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NickPapageorgio

Finally, the golden rule:

When you owe someone money, pay them. You know who you are and you know what I mean. Pay me my fucking money or take down the design. You have had 3 days and I am over waiting on you. Pay me now or your name goes out.

Just to make sure the guy will read it.

Great post Lee, always a pleasure doing business with you.

girl_next_door · 07-11-2004, 10:02 PM

i believe so! thanks for sharing NickPapageorgio

07-10-2004, 11:13 PM	#5
Mike AI Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Elysian Fields Posts: 3,624	Pearl of a post! __________________ Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!

07-10-2004, 11:18 PM	#6
keyboard warrior Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,435	even the best designers dont know what you really want. so you have to be a designer to show the better designer what you really want - this is what i have done. works reall well, just post the designer you ideas even if they suck to look at but the new guy has teh vison to make it better! so in short it is easyer to revamp a shit design then starting from scratch. __________________ - nothing here -

07-11-2004, 02:09 AM	#9
mcmc Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 1,705	so true __________________ http://www.AdultDVDdb.com Conversion: 1:149 (so far this year with more than 650 000 unique hits) @ http://www.pimproll.com

07-11-2004, 02:10 AM	#11
venturi Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: An Oasis atop a High Desert Mesa Posts: 386	Nick, will you marry me? Actually, Mishi probably wouldn't much like sharing the bed with both of us... I'm not a designer, but the same kind of stuff crops up in the programming world as well. Good post. __________________ I'm not a porn monger. I'm a porn ... STYLIST! Buildit Cheap, build it Fast, Build it Right. - Pick Two.

07-11-2004, 02:21 AM	#12
sean416 Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,633	I hate designers! Except you, you seem cool. __________________ ServerProvider.com

07-10-2004, 10:04 PM	#1
NickPapageorgio Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NC Posts: 8,323	3 rules to bridge the "Designer/Client" gap... Clients: Rule #1: Know what you want before you contact the designer. You don't need to know the entire layout or exactly what graphics you want but atleast have a fucking clue on colors and feel. Rule #2: Don't contact your designer when you needed the job done yesterday and then bitch when your project is behind schedule. Poor planning and project execution is not the designers fault. Look inward before blaming outward. Rule #3: Good design isn't cheap and cheap design isn't good. Designers: Rule #1: Don't promise what you cannot deliver. There are plenty of design jobs in the sea, if you don't have time for one then let the client know asap so they can get another designer on the project. Rule #2: Please and Thank You go a long way. Treat the client with respect and LISTEN to what they are telling you about the design they want. Rule #3: When in doubt, contact the client. Ask questions. It is going to save you time in the long run. I prefer to work alongside the clients I work for. It makes it easier on me to show them an example early on in the project before I have spent hours on something. If you are designing a page with a header logo, it is much easier to make the logo and show the client the design right away. This way if there are any color issues or style problems they can be dealt with before tackling the rest of the page. Finally, the golden rule: When you owe someone money, pay them. You know who you are and you know what I mean. Pay me my fucking money or take down the design. You have had 3 days and I am over waiting on you. Pay me now or your name goes out. __________________

07-10-2004, 10:08 PM	#2
Oldy Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 348	good points nick, lots of people have misconecptions and wrong estimations which results in unhappy clients and designers will be contacting you for some design work soon

07-10-2004, 10:29 PM	#3
Joesho want to get in shape Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: on the lake Posts: 12,329	Becarful nickpappageorgio, you might make some of the Prima donna designers have to work to keep up with you.... __________________ Got any domains to sell? I proudly host all my stuff at www.rackco.com

07-10-2004, 11:08 PM	#4
graphicsbytia Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,618	good post nick, We've developed something that's helped tremendously on both sides. It's a form for them to fill out asking questions about design concepts, and expectations. This has helped us avoid a lot of back and forthing between us and the clients and made things a lot more clear to both parties. It also helps when the client doesn't know exactly what they want

07-11-2004, 02:48 AM	#14
V_RocKs Damn Right I Kiss Ass! Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cowtown, USA Posts: 32,409	Something wrong Nick?

07-11-2004, 11:20 AM	#16
Lunae Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Barcelona Posts: 47	__________________ AliencatStudio v.2 coming soon! meanwhile check out http://www.aliencatstudio.com/works.html

07-11-2004, 10:02 PM	#18
girl_next_door Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: somewhere i belong Posts: 302	i believe so! thanks for sharing NickPapageorgio __________________ SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60. Let me repeat... A 120 x 60 button and no more that 3 lines of DEFAULT SIZE AND COLOR text.