S
Squiddy
Guest
I've known for a while now that there is an inherent notion of ad hoc design processes. This is a relatively young industry and as such there are few standardised processes, specific to web design, to guide a project from start to finish. I have been watching a number of presentations on the relationship between web developer/designer and the client and most, if not all, seem to bring up the same points over and over again.
The points usually being that in fact, the clients aren't stupid, there are trust issues, there is a negative attitude between designers and clients (in terms of changes/alterations to work) and often there is an element of expected professional status from the designer without giving the client much of a reason to assign such a status to the developer/designer.
It is suggested that in fact many of these issues are a result of how the relationship is first initiated, the impressions, boundaries and processes that the client is presented with dramatically affects the project in the ways mentioned above. Furthermore there appears to be a common issue of communication failure between the two (due to a poor or lack of methodology)
So to this effect I am now researching different methodologies of web design; the process you take your client through in order to develop an effective, professional website that both parties are proud of.
I have given up on clients before and simply told myself that I don't care, that they can make whatever changes they want because I'm sick of having to explain to them why they can't have a bright green box in the middle of the website, I've thought of clients as stupid and moronic and I've been negative and said no to most of their (ludicrous) suggestions. I had a sneaking suspicion that I could be going about things in a better way and my research has confirmed that these issues are in fact my own fault.
So, what processes do you have in place to establish trust with the client and to show them how the whole process is going to play out and arrive at giving them the website they need. Do you still have any of the problems mentioned above?
Let's have a discussion.
The points usually being that in fact, the clients aren't stupid, there are trust issues, there is a negative attitude between designers and clients (in terms of changes/alterations to work) and often there is an element of expected professional status from the designer without giving the client much of a reason to assign such a status to the developer/designer.
It is suggested that in fact many of these issues are a result of how the relationship is first initiated, the impressions, boundaries and processes that the client is presented with dramatically affects the project in the ways mentioned above. Furthermore there appears to be a common issue of communication failure between the two (due to a poor or lack of methodology)
So to this effect I am now researching different methodologies of web design; the process you take your client through in order to develop an effective, professional website that both parties are proud of.
I have given up on clients before and simply told myself that I don't care, that they can make whatever changes they want because I'm sick of having to explain to them why they can't have a bright green box in the middle of the website, I've thought of clients as stupid and moronic and I've been negative and said no to most of their (ludicrous) suggestions. I had a sneaking suspicion that I could be going about things in a better way and my research has confirmed that these issues are in fact my own fault.
So, what processes do you have in place to establish trust with the client and to show them how the whole process is going to play out and arrive at giving them the website they need. Do you still have any of the problems mentioned above?
Let's have a discussion.