My way or the highway?

[JimmiJames]

A newly created company as ask our help to build a website(they have very little content, no identity and don't have a clue about web design). They are asking for a unique design which they, themselfs thought about but after showing poorly drawn...drawings, their design is ridiculously stupid.

At the second meeting I showed them a sketch of a possible design...they laugh about it... and told me "I'm the customer you do what I want". :nono:

For all my previous clients, I usually do 3 or 4 designs, they choose which they like best and then we build from there. So I told my boss that I'll do 3 more designs and if they don't like it they can shove it.

The client can give all the input he wants but in the end I'm the designer, am I not?

[mike]

You are the designer, but they are paying you to design what they want. If the client gives you 'all the input they want' and you disregard it for what you feel like is a 'better' design... you probably won't have that client for very long.

[dharrison]

It is frustrating when you get the know-it-all (or the one whos brother's uncle's kid did their site in 3 days for a pack of fags) and it sounds a bit unprofessional of them to laugh - not quite sure how I would handle that one if it was me.

However, you have to work together. The workaround I find myself in the most at a meeting, is they say what they want and you tell them if its a good idea or not and if why - why not?

Another good tip is to get them to look at a few of their competitors websites or ones they like: What did they like, what didn't they like.

HTH

[weslinda]

Open and honest communication is the key here. You have to be honest and let them know that they hired you because you know what you are doing. While you are perfectly willing to build what they want, show them why it's not the option. Use facts and examples all that you can.

Sometimes you don't get to vote who you work with, and you simply have to suck it up and design what they want. In the end, it is their money and their desires and you really don't have much you can do about it.

[JimmiJames]

Originally Posted by mike

You are the designer, but they are paying you to design what they want. If the client gives you 'all the input they want' and you disregard it for what you feel like is a 'better' design... you probably won't have that client for very long.

In reality, it's my boss that's paying me to design and this is one of those projects where the development cost will be higher than whatever the client pays. Our views of the project are so far apart that I feel I have no choice but to disregard whatever they have to say. I think losing a client from the get go is cheaper than building a website that will end up a miserable failure.

Originally Posted by dharrison

It is frustrating when you get the know-it-all (or the one whos brother's uncle's kid did their site in 3 days for a pack of fags)

That's exactly the type, he has recently taken a course on whatever and has suddenly seen the "light".

[Narasinha]

Originally Posted by JimmiJames

In reality, it's my boss that's paying me to design and this is one of those projects where the development cost will be higher than whatever the client pays. Our views of the project are so far apart that I feel I have no choice but to disregard whatever they have to say. I think losing a client from the get go is cheaper than building a website that will end up a miserable failure.

Remember that old phrase, "The customer is always right."?? Guess what... Whoever said that is wrong, wrong, wrong. There are customers who can cost you much more than they are worth to you. Present your design ideas to them, listen to their design ideas, then kindly let them know that although you would love to work with them, their design ideas simply don't fit in with the type of work you do, and wish them a good life.