Thoughts on the battlefield: Its Designers vs clients

7 Aug 2011 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog

Establishing the look and feel of a site can be a point of contention. Designers often become frustrated because they feel there’s a lack of respect for their expertise. Meanwhile, clients grow annoyed when their designer seemingly fails to listen to them.

This confrontation inevitably leads to a loggerhead. On one hand we have a designer with years of design knowledge and experience; on the other, a client who knows his audience and business objectives. In this stare-off, sooner or later, somebody has to blink. Either the client will end up with a design that he is unhappy with that fails to meet his objectives, or the web designer will give in and produce a design that she believes to be less than optimal.

The problem with this confrontational approach is that it ignores the fact that design is a collaborative process.

Don’t Worry: Revisions are OK!

If your client asked you for revisions, don’t be such a sour puss. Too many designers tend to complain and sulk if their design don’t get approved. The creative set are known to be too proud to accept the fact that their design needs a little tweaking. Accept it, be happy to have given feedback, and do your job. Revisions can be tiring, but it is another way to learn and add experience. Moreover, strive to prevent further unnecessary revisions by listening to your client carefully.

Fortunately, there’s no need for it to be like this. In my experience it truly is possible to work in partnership with your client. Doing so allows you to explain your design decisions and to better understand your client’s business and user objectives. The ideal relationship is about collaboration rather than confrontation.