Clients' design awareness

This week in our newsletter, the ELATED Extra, I was telling the story of how one of my clients was making some truly dreadful design decisions recently. My response has been to think about ways to re-educate them a little, so that they can make better decisions in the future.

Does anyone else have any good stories about terrible decisions by clients, or indeed any great insights into how to handle them? Sound off below!

Simon

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ELATED : )
http://www.PageKits.com
Professional Website Templates

Hi Simon,

I've just enjoyed reading your newsletter. I beleive the best way to approach this is right from the very first meeting with a potential client.

It's good to let them know that you'd like to provide them something unique and that stands out from their competitors. Listen to their own ideas and then try to come to a compromise and this should be really be done 'softly-softly'!

Ultimately, since its the client that should have the final say, since they are paying for the project.

Mauco

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http://www.mauconline.net

@Simon: It does seem strange that the client is choosing design elements, rather than you (as the designer). IMO they need to appreciate that they hired you to do the design work, so they should let you get on with it. Of course, this is easier said than done...

I note that the stock photo they selected has a five-star rating:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/business/business-people/3784355-interesting-discussion.php?id=3784355

The photo itself is nice enough I guess, but it looks like it belongs in a corporate website template, rather than a corporate website.

@Mauco: Good suggestions. It's definitely good to be up-front about this kind of thing if at all possible.

And you're right that the client has the final say on the project, but then again if I was a sensible client I'd listen to my designer. To use an analogy - if I was getting a builder to build a house and they said the front door needed a concrete lintel, I wouldn't argue with them.

Matt

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Matt Doyle, Elated
3rd Edition of my jQuery Mobile book out now! Learn to build mobile web apps. Free sample chapter: http://store.elated.com/

Mauco. Good suggestions. We're currently suffering from a new body at the client who wants very much to do it their way. We used to have a pretty good working design relationship!

Matt. The client knows what they want (which is often actually a good thing - stuff gets done). I genuinely haven't had a single say in the design though - I'm just polishing powerpoint slides!

The photo has five stars - it's used everywhere. Therefore a big-ish brand-aware company shouldn't be using it, even discounting the classiness issue. As you say, it belongs in a web template. And frankly, even web template providers have more taste these days. I would add that we've *never* used rubbish like this!

Simon







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ELATED : )
http://www.PageKits.com
Professional Website Templates

Matt. Thanks for the analogy. I plan to use same when next I'm discussing with a client. You've also helped me put into perspective the kind of images that belong in a web template and those that belong in live website.

Simon. Previously I used to believe that photos that are popular on such sites means that they are worth using! Thanks for helping me see reasons why not to use same.

Mauco



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http://www.mauconline.net

Hi Mauco,

Well, I confess I do sometimes use the popular ones - it all depends on the context in which the image sits.

Simon

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ELATED : )
http://www.PageKits.com
Professional Website Templates