One of the biggest problems that I have come across is most of my clients want bells and whistles. They just can't seem to understand that large gaudy graphics do not look good, things that move are tacky, and they have no sense of colors or what long load times are. And they think you can do a 20 page site in a week from scratch. Maybe some of you can but not me....yet. I am learning usability and how to deal with clients wishes but it is hard to combine the two.
This is why I voted "eh, I do the best I can."
I think it was Keegan who told me something to this effect....
"Do what the clients wants if you can't change their mind. Then charge them when they want to change it to what you suggested in the first place.(because they eventually will)"
I thought that was some good advise.
As for testing, I use mom, aunts, cousins and thank goodness for this forum.
Yeah, my mom never has anything bad to say about my sites, but I think she'd tell me if something wasn't working for her. She's very helpful with design idea - she really helped me out with one of my recent designs. She likes to get out MS paint and show me what I should do, it's cute I should set her up with a better graphics program.
You know I think it is good sometimes to have people from another generation test the site. The only problem that crops up some is that often times these people are not very Internet savvy. Ideally you should have a teenager, a parent and someone in between test your site. Don't use your mom since they are often not objective.
Mark Irving I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Jack Michaelson posted this at 20:17 — 27th September 2001.
Quote: Originally posted by Vincent Puglia If it's a paying customer site, whatever s/he/they say; I won't argue unless if it's totally detrimental or overkill.
Yeah, the customer that pays good money on time is always right. I built an e-commerce site for a guy. First he decided that he didn't want to do CC verifications online. Okay, no problem for me. Then he decides that he wants to take off all shipping charges and that he will email the customer the freight charge after he weighs the item. I tried to convince him to just average the weight. I tried to tell him that it costs much more to do it this way, laborwise. I also told him that it was worthless to have a site if you work like this. Well he couldn't be talked out of it. So I did it and you know what, he still pays me the same.
As far as usablity, it is definitely a good idea to get a second and third opinion. It's funny how making a color change on your navbar sometimes can make all the difference in the world.
Mark Irving I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Vincent Puglia posted this at 19:48 — 27th September 2001.
If it's a paying customer site, whatever s/he/they say; I won't argue unless if it's totally detrimental or overkill.
My site: I attempt to script for the least common denominator -- ver 4. That means selection lists, buttons, and links rather than dHTML menus. Content is my primary priority.
Forum answers: generally I stay out of the design forums, but when I do wander in, I push for minimalism and restraint in all: color, number and type of menus, and 'tricks'.
Vinny
Where the world once stood
the blades of grass cut me still
The Webmistress posted this at 20:08 — 26th September 2001.
I'd say pretty much the same. Common sense, logical navigation and get Mum to test it, oh & the client - if they can use it generally anyone could!!
Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....
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disaster-master posted this at 02:43 — 28th September 2001.
She has: 2,154 posts
Joined: May 2001
One of the biggest problems that I have come across is most of my clients want bells and whistles. They just can't seem to understand that large gaudy graphics do not look good, things that move are tacky, and they have no sense of colors or what long load times are. And they think you can do a 20 page site in a week from scratch. Maybe some of you can but not me....yet. I am learning usability and how to deal with clients wishes but it is hard to combine the two.
This is why I voted "eh, I do the best I can."
I think it was Keegan who told me something to this effect....
"Do what the clients wants if you can't change their mind. Then charge them when they want to change it to what you suggested in the first place.(because they eventually will)"
I thought that was some good advise.
As for testing, I use mom, aunts, cousins and thank goodness for this forum.
Megan posted this at 22:59 — 27th September 2001.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Yeah, my mom never has anything bad to say about my sites, but I think she'd tell me if something wasn't working for her. She's very helpful with design idea - she really helped me out with one of my recent designs. She likes to get out MS paint and show me what I should do, it's cute
I should set her up with a better graphics program.
Megan
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mairving posted this at 21:44 — 27th September 2001.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
You know I think it is good sometimes to have people from another generation test the site. The only problem that crops up some is that often times these people are not very Internet savvy. Ideally you should have a teenager, a parent and someone in between test your site. Don't use your mom since they are often not objective.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Jack Michaelson posted this at 20:17 — 27th September 2001.
He has: 1,733 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
I voted top priority, although the customer has the final word I guess.
I always ask my Dad
mairving posted this at 20:15 — 27th September 2001.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Yeah, the customer that pays good money on time is always right. I built an e-commerce site for a guy. First he decided that he didn't want to do CC verifications online. Okay, no problem for me. Then he decides that he wants to take off all shipping charges and that he will email the customer the freight charge after he weighs the item. I tried to convince him to just average the weight. I tried to tell him that it costs much more to do it this way, laborwise. I also told him that it was worthless to have a site if you work like this. Well he couldn't be talked out of it. So I did it and you know what, he still pays me the same.
As far as usablity, it is definitely a good idea to get a second and third opinion. It's funny how making a color change on your navbar sometimes can make all the difference in the world.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Vincent Puglia posted this at 19:48 — 27th September 2001.
They have: 634 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
Hi,
If it's a paying customer site, whatever s/he/they say; I won't argue unless if it's totally detrimental or overkill.
My site: I attempt to script for the least common denominator -- ver 4. That means selection lists, buttons, and links rather than dHTML menus. Content is my primary priority.
Forum answers: generally I stay out of the design forums, but when I do wander in, I push for minimalism and restraint in all: color, number and type of menus, and 'tricks'.
Vinny
Where the world once stood
the blades of grass cut me still
The Webmistress posted this at 20:08 — 26th September 2001.
She has: 5,586 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I'd say pretty much the same. Common sense, logical navigation and get Mum to test it, oh & the client - if they can use it generally anyone could!!
Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....
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