I became a web designer many years ago because I thought the web designer my company was using was ripping us off. He/they never seemed to make any progress and always had excuses. And we kept getting billed for work we couldn't see...
One day I walked into the president's office and told him I wanted to learn to do web design so I could create and manage our site in house. He just stared at me...haha My plan was to take a couple months and learn html while my admin/graphics person learned more handling the graphics we would need. I'm happy to say - after the president gathered his composure - and a couple months trial and error - it was a great success!!
Since then - I occasionally run across one of those web designers who remind me of that time. I recently ran across one this week.
I friend was telling me she doesn't like her website - which is 3 years old with the exact same look and content - and she can't get the "guy who works on it" to make changes. She got my attention! I asked her to show me what she had and tell me what was happening.
The guy who built and maintains her site apparently doesn't consider her (or her business) worthy of his time. He tells her he can't make the changes she wants because they don't fit within the exisiting margins on the web pages. What?? Are you kidding me??
Wonder why she's having a hard time understanding why she can't get a web site that is what she wants and that she can use to actually promote her business. Amazing she would want to - isn't it!!
So of course, I offered to take over the site. I'm going to redesign it to what she wants and give her a content management system so she can make some photo and text changes when she wants. Then I'll just be backup for design updates and changes she can't make. (saving her money)
Now this is the truely amazing piece - His response to the news that someone is going to redesign her site for her... "Tell her, I'll give you the login info if she'll only use html files and only use Dreamweaver"... because... "when it doesn't work, it'll be eaiser for me to go back in and fix it"...
OMG!!!
Call to action! People - take control! If you own the site don't allow a web designer to make your decisions for you...A good designer will work with you and help you understand how what you want may or may not work on your site - but they should never just make your decisions for you - or dictate your web identity!
You dictate the look and content of your own site. And if your current designer can't work with you - find another one! Your web designer should be a partner with your company!
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2 comments:
I disagree with you Jenny on this post. There is a great difference between a web coder and a web designer. Coders just code, designers think in grand terms of marketing.
I have had many instances where people do not understand the limitations of either web design or their budget. Or, they simply have bad taste in design, which of course is subjective. Isn't it our jobs as designers and internet professionals to help people understand and guide them towards the best final product as possible? And sometimes that means disagreeing with them for the sake of the good of their final product.
Professional web designers understand that they should take the information from the client, understand their objectives, and then help meet the clients goals. However, who exactly are we building the site for ultimately, the client's tastes or that of their visitors? Shouldn't the site appeal to the masses as opposed to 1-2 people. Most non-marketing people hire a design firm to help them reach their goals. If they begin to tell us how to do it, because of their limited knowledge of web design or marketing, it usually becomes a mess.
If they want something specific, then they should meet with the designer and explain their reasoning. If the designer can make it happen and make it work in a positive direction, I'm sure they will. But if it doesn't work because the layout will require re-formatting or it simply will not render properly, then the designer should say something. if the client wants to disregard that, then why did they hire the pro in the first place?
Think of it like this: I hire a contractor to build an addition. I know what I want, so I work with him to share my vision and goals. I hire him because he is the professional and I know very little about building. if he tells me that you cannot or should not use 2 x 4's like that, then Im listen to him. If I disregard his assessment and tell him use the 2 x 4's against his wishes, then chances are I will have a problem with the result.
My thought is this: if you want to build your own web site, don't hire a professional. Instead hire a coder or your cousin Jim, the plumber, who just bought Dreamweaver and did a site about for his dog Freckles. But if you want to have a great we site that will appeal to your targeted demographics AND behave properly across all browsing platforms, including mobile apps, then by all means give a pro a call. :-)
Wow - good response! Thanks.
I do agree with you that the designer should do what they are trained to do and what they were hired to do. And I do agree that the client should be willing to give their information and vision and try to stay out of the 'way'...haha
However, My personal work model is to become a part of my clients' marketing staff. I want to be involved in helping them understand what their websites are supposed to do and how they should fit into the company's existing marketing plan - along with the actual design/functionality elements behind the site.
By helping them along, I don't have to deal with a client "telling" me how to do what I was hired for and then not understanding why it shouldn't or can't be done.
My favorite part of any design project is getting involved and helping that client learn about their options, grow their web identities and see their own vision in the website. While the 'professional' designer part of me is then behind the scenes doing what needs to be done to match what the client wants with what can/should be done.
I do think we, as designers, can design to make the client happy (with their own vision) as well as appeal to the target audience.
Now, having said that...in this particular case I honestly think my friend's current designer is just not doing his job - at all - especially on a maintenance agreement.
When a client asks [you] to replace one photo with a newer one... the response that it "won't fit inside the margins" and then to just not do anything with the new photo is ridiculous.
So - though I love your design work, and greatly value your opinions/thoughts - this time we'll just have to disagree a little... K? :-)
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