I am a Designer… Not a Construction Worker
This week I read an excellent blog article by Sam Brown, and it really hit the nail on the head of exactly how I approach website projects. It was so good I had to blog about this. In a nutshell, the article is about how it is important to educate clients, and not simply be let yourself become their construction worker.
“Clients hire you to design the site, they have hired you hopefully based on a combination of talent and experience. You are the designer, you are not a simple construction worker piecing something together from the clients Ikea-like instruction manual – some clients need to be told this up front and be constantly reminded of it. Potential clients that already know exactly what they want and simply need a lackey to build it for them are always going to be hard work and ones I tend to avoid at all costs.” Sam Brown
My views are a lot like Sam’s, I believe any good designer will not take the easy route with any project, and will always take on the challenge of educating clients about what can be achieved with their site, and not just doing what they first ask.
“Teaching clients that the site will not look the same in every browser should be a day one task. We aren’t working in the print industry where the final product can not be altered and it’s not a DVD or Blu-Ray disc that has just gone to press – it’s a living breathing website that will continue to progress, be altered and evolve.” Sam Brown
Related articles:
- Web Inspired Typographic Poster Designs
- Trust thy Designer
- Misconceptions about Web Designers
- Web Designers who can’t code anything?
- Design should be traumatic
Totally agree too. Although sometimes in the past I have gave in. There comes a point in a project where it’s not worth the time and effort due to the budget.
If you’re lucky you can target the type of clients you like to get e.g. clients who are web savvy and trust your judgment no questions asked. I think Sam has done a good job of this (going by his portfolio anyway).
I too am guilty of just giving in! The stuff I say here in this article is more wishful thinking and my outlook and personal working philosophy. When you’re operating with the average Joe clients off the street some times you just have to do your best and form some sort of compromise… because at the end of the day, everyone needs paid!
In an ideal world it would be great to be able to pick and choose though.
This is one of those things clients fear the most. A all around web designer who knows his calling. He is here to give the design, not to be an extended extremity for a client! There is a reason they are the client, and we are the designers! Bravo for this article, I totally agree with Sam Brown!