How do you select a designer?

[emstro]

What's the number one quality you seek in a designer?

[Mark]

For me, it wouldn't be any particualr quality. I would base my judgement on their portfolio and recommendation by others.

[tranz]

Alan,

I have seen your work and am friends with Craig. To me as a fellow designer there isnt one thing that sticks out. Of course the first thing you look at is quality. You can tell by the detail or in some cases the lack of detail in the work that the designer has been doing this for sometime. I find it funny when people go to design sites, learn a few tutorials and then call themselves a designer.

Your work does speak of your professionalism and that you have taken the time and the creativity learn the tools and the trade.

What I do find a great deal of is that most designer can not tell the business owner how their design is going to impact the overall business. This is a huge part when you are trying to talk to someone that doesnt understand what you do.

A designer should be able to explain WHY everylittle thing is there and what impact it will have on the business and, or the end user.

Sites like Hostrocket as an example look nice but from a functional standpoint lack in many areas.

A designer should understand how their sites are used by an end user. So many designers design for themselves but to end end user they get lost.

When I select a designer for a project that I dont have time to do I look for a well rounded person that understands business, design, end user centric design and how it will all come together.

In thos regards contact me, I may have some work for you.

[TimothyD]

Originally posted by tranz:
Sites like Hostrocket as an example look nice but from a functional standpoint lack in many areas.



In what ways do you think we could improve our site?

[tranz]

Tim,

There are a few areas. The site has a great deal of eye candy for example. Most end users wants the information they were seeking and they want it fast. They do not want to hunt around for it.

With a 12+ year history in human interface engineering, user interface design and user worlflow I could go through the site and give you a detailed report page by page. I charge most people for my time though.

Plese dont take this as being cocky. I have just been doing this kind of thing far to long to just give it away.

[TimothyD]

Originally posted by tranz:

Tim,

There are a few areas. The site has a great deal of eye candy for example. Most end users wants the information they were seeking and they want it fast. They do not want to hunt around for it.

With a 12+ year history in human interface engineering, user interface design and user worlflow I could go through the site and give you a detailed report page by page. I charge most people for my time though.

Plese dont take this as being cocky. I have just been doing this kind of thing far to long to just give it away.

No problem at all. :)

[EasyNetwork]

HR website is perfect

[tranz]

Originally posted by EasyNetwork:

HR website is perfect

Not totaly, By saying this means there is no room for improvment and there is always room to improve.

[EasyNetwork]

They dont need to improve anything, they already have better website then 99.9 web hosts out there.

[TimothyD]

I bet someday in the VERY near future (like maybe next month), someone will locate an even better site.....


Originally posted by EasyNetwork:

They dont need to improve anything, they already have better website then 99.9 web hosts out there.

[EasyNetwork]

Wow talk about bringing 1 year old threads back, webhosting is huge business 1% represents well over 1 company

[TimothyD]

Originally posted by EasyNetwork:

Wow talk about bringing 1 year old threads back, webhosting is huge business 1% represents well over 1 company

First of all, this thread wasn't nearly a year old. It wasn't even a month old......

And 99.9% plus 1% doesn't equal 100%, you'd be looking for 0.1%. ;)

[EasyNetwork]

im just tired :\

[TimothyD]

Originally posted by EasyNetwork:

im just tired :\

LOL It's OK. :D

[proxy]

Go by ..

1. Experience
2. Qualifications
3. Previous work

[FindSP.com]

I do all the designs myself but if I should have chose one only by portfolio and recommendation..

[jvn]

Choices are by a combination of factors:

1) client expectations & budget
2) designer portfolio, ability & budget
3) timeframe of all concerned
4) working relationship

Blending all aspects together for the proper mix is a service that may sometimes be overlooked. A client with a small info site may be quite satisfied with a new or inexperienced designer. The new person ads to their portfolio and the client gets a bargain.

A more advanced site or site being upgraded requires a different skill set. This may be a chance for a designer to advance by working with someone else, or recognize their limits and simply refer the work out.

Personally I enjoy working with the "beginners" : both clients and designers. I have no problem referring a more advanced project to someone else.

[alchiba]

5.) Communication. As in, don't go off to France for two weeks in the middle of a project and not tell the client. (Personal experience there.) Talk, talk talk to your customer.