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An informal, stream-of-consciousness reflection on business ideas, events and issues in modern business, modern life and with some specifics to the web-software industry by Paul Tomori, Internet Entrepreneur

Focus On One Really Good Design By Paul Tomori Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 20:19:34 (EST) I read today an opinion piece on what it means to be in the design business. Website design happens to be a division of what my company offers customers, so I read with enthusiasm. How many times has a client asked to see 3 or 4 design drafts in order to pick the best one? How many times has insecurity led to a designer preparing 3 or 4 design drafts in order to wow the customer with volume? In the first case, a client inevitably asks for the best bit or piece from each of the designs. What results is an incohesive hodgepodge layout with no structural or aesthetic integrity. What happens in the second case is the client often sees through the crap and sends the designer back to properly think things through anyway. Why not just think things through completely the first time? And why not make it clear to customers that they are hiring you for your expertise, that your design must be respected since it takes many things into consideration that they aren't even aware of. If all else fails, one can produce "superficial interpretations of potentially good ideas, or slick renderings of trite ones" (quoting Paul Rand). Blind the customer with vagueness or blind the customer with shiny packaging... if you have no self-respect. Return To Blog Index