I recently read an article by Andy Rutledge called “It’s Not About the Website” that got me thinking about the creative process of web design and the struggles that come with it.
Designers often become frustrated because they feel a lack of respect for their expertise. And, clients grow impatient when their design team fails to follow their wishes. This confrontation can inevitably lead to unnecessary rounds of revisions and a website that doesn’t meet the user’s or client’s needs.
So, what do we do?
- Communicate.
As an agency, we arm ourselves with complete knowledge of our client’s business, their industry and the market. We don’t just deliver a pretty design, but a website that becomes our client’s business and marketing solution. - Study the target audience.
It’s easy for an agency and a client to get caught up in their visions of how the website should be. But, in the end, the final design needs to benefit the end user and, it’s the designer’s responsibility to research and keep the end user in mind. - Develop trust.
I believe that the designer needs to keep the client in the loop. Designers like to be perfectionists, so showing an “unfinished” layout is undesirable, but this could lead to wasted time in the end if the design is rejected by the client.
Have you visited any great websites lately? Do you have any tips to add to this list?
