The process of working with designers...
 

Alright, I took my sig out, because I don't want this to look spammy.

I'm curious and would like all kinds of different opinions or thoughts. I have three questions....


1. When you approach a designer and decide to use them, what process would you enjoy following to get your ideas across to the designer. (I.E. Answering a premade questions sheet, just simple emails back and forth, by phone, maybe some other system you like?)


2. What are some things you could suggest, that designers could do included into your designs and pages that would make them give that extra step of quality. For example, putting custom html in your pages unrelated to the design or cropping and putting ina set of pics in a gallery...etc..


3. What makes you choose one designer over another? Portfolio? The way you get along with the designer? Word of mouth? Etc..



These questions may seem quite simple and stupid too you, however, I'd like to see the point of view of the client and how you'd best like to approach the process of having your design project completed in a timely and high quality manner.



I appreciate all replys. :glugglug



Other designers, feel free to post your process with clients and thoughts on things as well, just try to keep the spammy shit to a minimum. ;-) This thread may give fellow designers some good ideas as well to improve dealing with good clients in the industry.

Its very hard. Designers have big egos. I love designing stuff myself so I know. And if you say one thing you don't like they can get real sensitive.

I hear that, I have a huge ego about things, but this is something I learned to control early on when designing. Nice tip though, even if you didn't mean to give a tip. For new designers, really listen to people's trash talk they give about your design, you'll learn way more and be able to design way better by improving. If we all only listened to the compliments, we'd never have the drive to get better.

Yeah, I'm like a rape victim now whenever I deal with designers all because of the ego of the very first designer I worked with. I won't name names, but I would'nt recommend him to anyone and he is very popular.

The one I have now is great, though. :thumbsup

i noticed that alot of designers are overhyped on the board. i'm far from being a good designer, but i can't stand it when people reccomend certain designers to me and when i check their portfolio its not that good.


i like emailing back and forth, and negotiating prices too:thumbsup

I love when I can give a designer a basic concept of what I want and where I'm trying to go with it, then they turn around and run with the idea. They come back with something that just plain kicks ass and turns my idea/concept into a real working piece of art.

That's how I like my designers.

Oh, and about prices... I'm not much for haggling, so I usually don't care what they charge. In fact, I hardly ever ask prices. Give me results that I like and you'll get repeat business.

From a designers perspective ..

The main aim is put into pictures and form what the client really wants, extracting that information can be a daunting task on first encounter, but it is a necessary process to define the scope, timeframes and definitions of any project.

If your ego is too large you can potentially ward off any clients, as you won't accept constructive criticism, and thus deny yourself and the client any means of negotiation. From a client's perspective that can be extremely off-putting and unsatisfactory, as well as giving yourself a rather over-inflated view of your net worth, and be known as a designer/company not easily given to communication.

Interaction and communication is key, if the client is not happy with the work carried out then he will inform us in no uncertain terms and it our role to find out where the communication broke down and to revisit the design and the client, to find out the issues with the design and how to improve upon them for his specific needs, without an ego.

Personally, if a client is not happy with the design then they don't pay, simple as that, I haven't done my job to their satisfaction and therefore do not expect payment for a project I have not completed.

Client expectations, gratitude and the love of designing are what drive designers to constantly strive and revist their work to help set standards and to constantly improve on them.

At the end of the day the customer is king, he will only return if he is happy with the quality of work provided and the service levels you provide.

just my :2 cents:

designers usually too busy working with thier clients to read long threads :glugglug