How to (and not to) work with a Designer Part 00

As beginner Web-Developer I tried to take an overview of this branch in IT, as a developer may I not concentrate my efforts to enhance style or aspect as code strength ( secure, speed,scalability ...etc ) my first post about this subject I decide to be about the designer because I have a bad experience recently to find a good designer, BTW, every thing going well now (at least I hope that ) .

A good Developer without Expert Designer or a good skills may equal nothing since "No one can lives for ever" to get every knowledge and the rapid evolution of thechnology make the developer usually keep running to keep in touch, as they said "Change is the only constant in this life" if he was really GOOD, BTW, I wont talk about design appearance here ( may later) but always remeber that first impression is last .
I think when I wrote about this subject that I affected by Leadership, Management, ... courses and workshops I took , So, if you felt something like that please never mind :)

Imagine that you’re Christopher Columbus.

You arrive in the New World and are so disappointed there are none of the oriental silks and spices you came looking for then you turn around and go home, missing all the wonders of the New World .
That’s what happens when you have preconceived notions about design ( this point teach it usually in negotiation issues to not get the result before start), you shouldnt have a result before start. You can end up with something that’s better, but NOT SEE or APPRECIATE IT because you’re only focusing on the fact that it’s not what you had in mind . Preconceived notions are just one of the mistakes people make when they work with a designer (or even with other people ). A good designer’s work will make something:

• Work better.
• Sell better.
• Shed new light on old subjects.
• Look better.
  
  
  

The trouble is, a lot of people hire designers because they want their site, work, or their marketing plans to “look good.” But that’s just scratching the surface of what a designer can and should do ( typical ",). So they don’t know what’s possible, so they don’t get the most bang for their buck. :) The Idea that writers are not just people who can type, designers are not just people who can use graphics programs because any body can do that (Designers need " Fan-A5l2-Zo2 " :S ). Good Design is more than skin deep ( A good designer is never without a pencil ). The way to inspire a designer is to give them the message and mterial or data and feeling you want to convey, and the freedom to convey it in a fresh, new way. So how do you work with a designer to get their best work?


Here are some suggestions (IMHO) if you have more you can kindly add it here please:

1. Choose your designer carefully. Look at their previous work. The best designers don’t have a “signature look. or ISO standards” Their sites and works look as different as their clients do. Awards and Certificates don’t necessarily mean the design worked good for the client. If you’re not sure about a design, go to sites they designed and ask their clients as last resort.


2. Leave your preconceived notions at the door. Don’t ask for a site like someone else’s but in a different color. Be open to new (Be You) :p , unexpected ideas. Don’t be afraid of something different. Let new ideas sink in.


3. Tell your designer what you want to say rather than how you want it to look. Don’t ask for a color, shape, or style -- ask for meaning or emotion.
   


4. Be clear about specific features you need. You want your designer to create a design specific to your needs. If you try to add features as you go along, the design won’t fit as well.


5. Do your research and be specific about your needs. “I need to sell meeting planners on the idea of hiring me to plan entertainment for their events.” That’s clear and specific about both the product and the audience. (remeber that every thing is written) The more detailed and specific you are at the start, the better the designer can tailor the site or the work to your needs. If you add requirements later on, the designer will probably just have to shoe-horn them in, which may won’t give you the best results.


6. Make sure your message and content are clear. The more of your content you have complete, the better the designer can build your work around it. A good designer may make suggestions to refine your content to get your message across faster or more clearly, but the more content you have complete, the more the designer will have to work with.
   
   
7. Design for your customers, not yourself, your friends or your colleagues. Be specific so your. designer knows who your customers are and what they want. It’s more important that they like your site than that you like it. Always remember, “What’s in it for them.”

to Be Continued [...]