It's a common belief that in order to be successful in any
field, one must strive for perfection. Although this is a noble
intention we must be wary of the fact that the pursuit of
perfection in design can, in come cases, cause more harm than
good. When working with a designer on a project, it's important
not to let the pursuit of perfection disrupt a deadline or push
you over budget. How can you avoid the perfection trap and still
achieve the design you're looking for? Simple...
1) Be Realistic. It's important to be realistic with the
expectations
of the final design. There are many factors that your designer
must consider when working on your project including time and
budget. Because of these factors, we must decipher what is
essential and what is excess. Avoid obsessing over the minor
details, which often have little or no relevance on the overall
impact of your web site. An example of obsessing is asking your
designer to change the colour of your site several times over
and ending up with the original colour scheme. Changing the
overall colour scheme of a site takes a considerable amount of
time and the designer may impose an additional charge for going
above and beyond the time allotted for the project. If you are
unsure if your expectations are realistic, ask your designer.
2) Communicate with your designer.
Communication between a designer and his/her client is crucial
when attempting to achieve the goals set for a project. We must
understand that designers are not psychics and are unable to
accommodate your design preferences if they are unaware of their
existence. Here are some suggestions that will help you
communicate with your designer more effectively.
-Ensure that your initial instructions encompass all of your
personal preferences. These preferences may include colour,
layout or the URLs of other sites that have elements you wish to
incorporate in your site.
-If you have questions or concerns during the project, make sure
to address them with your designer ASAP.
-When providing edits, make sure they are clear and thorough.
The more clear and precise your instructions, the easier it is
for the designer to address and complete them.
3) Trust your designer.
One of the main reasons we hire designers is for their
expertise. Through them, our ideas become reality. With this in
mind, we must trust the designer's ability and expertise. Once
your designer has interpreted your preferences for the project,
he or she may have suggestions intended to improve the
effectiveness of the final product. This is one of many
overlooked services provided by designers. It's in your best
interest to carefully consider these suggestions rather than
dismiss them quickly because they differ from your original
expectations. For example, although you have your heart set on
one type of layout your designer may suggest a more effective
way of presenting your information.
As a final note, it must be understood that perfection in design
is relative. The designer and client are two different
individuals and the end result of any project will most likely
differ from what was originally envisioned. Although the result
may be different, it does not mean that perfection was not
achieved, rather the combination of your expectations and the
designer's expertise has produced a unique design solution for
your project.
About the author:
Colin Eyo is a member of the Worldprofit Design Team. Let our
expert design marketers work for you! Contact
mailto:customerservice@worldprofit.com
