This article is not really a survival guide, it's titled that way to get some coolness on it. So, please don't go too carried away by that.
WARNING: This guide is personally based on my several years of professional website designer experience. It's never been tested or surveyed on wide individual. So the result may vary. If you dare to take the risk, here you go:
Guide #1: Client is also your "team"
We all want to surprise our client and make them go wow'ed. So we work within the timeframe to perfecting things, do endless discussion with partners, and whatever. Then the deadline comes and we confidently show the result to our client. We hope they'll love it! But what if they don't? You have to invest more time to do re-exploration, reschedule the timeframe, and the worst is losing your confidence and spirit of the project. Same thing happened to your client, if this is the first time you work together, they can be very disappointed and risking the trust you've built.
So, please don't over work or wait till everything is perfect. Client loves progress! Show them earlier, and have a very nice discussion about what's wrong and what's not, go left or right, etc. Direction! That way, the final result can't be too far from their expectation. And it can saves both arses.
Don't go: "Good artist never show unfinished work"! It can surprisingly ruins everything, and the advantage (wow'ed client) is not that great if compared to the risks.
Guide #2: Don't skip / left things unsure
My steps on doing website are usually:
- Client hands me down the project Creative Brief (CB).
- I make the Mind Map (MM) that contains CB + Sitemap, ideas.
- Make the Wireframe (WF).
- Discussing MM & WF with the client.
- Design mockup.
- HTML version.
- Pre-production test-out.
- Final result.
Usually designers tended to skip step number 2, 3, 4. And if they're lucky, the "always say OK" client will simply love the mockup.
What if they don't? So don't skip things, because the most important is actually step number 2 (MM). It "forces" you to understand the whole idea & purpose of the project. And it's easier to understand, faster to look-up.
I use XMind for this purpose. What an amazing software.
Guide #3: Always be inspired
Keep your eyes close to those inspirational web galleries and screenshot the entries that you like. Keep it in safe and easy-to-access folder. They can help you when that crazy no-inspiration day strikes. But simply DO NOT rip-off other people's creative work. That's a big sin and could potentialy damaged your whole business.
Guide #4: Have / update your online portfolio
You should have your very own online portfolio and keep it updated! Your potential clients likes to see what's "inside" before they buy the box. It really helps them decide. So don't be lazy! Show them all!
Guide #5: Professional always back-up
That's right. We're not robot, sometimes we can do stupid mistakes like accidently delete important files, forgot where it saved, etc. This is normal and that's very human. And if you are already "almost robot" who doesn't feel (or confident enough) to make mistakes, your hard disk can sometimes go crazy and those files ain't coming back to you, ever.
So please back things up periodically. I have my trusty WDC attached for most of the time, and use Apple Time Machine to do the automatic back-up. Piece of mind!
Guide #6: Have your very own office
Lots of freelancers don't realize that they can significantly boost up work performance by having their own office. It doesn't have to be rented building or fancy expensive work space. You can have it in the garage or unused room in the house. So you're mentally going to office everyday. No more go work with no bath, unbrushed teeth, smelly body, just-hit-by-bus face, lazy attitude, "I lay back on bed first before I work on that", and etc. Now that's some discipline!
PS. Make sure you have wide table so you can put all your work stuffs there.
I think that's it!
Congratulations, you're 90% survived now.
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Some very good points here. As a web designer myself I can understand many of the issues you have highlighted although i must admit sometimes it is easy to get sloppy and rush to compelte a clients site esecially when in my case most of my clients sites are low budget and so keeping cost down is very important.
A mock up stage can really help to reduce problems when the client sees the final result.
Great Tips!
Matt
http://www.101PoundWebsite.com
Matthew, you are right. In budget situation, I think it's better to skip less-important things.
Good luck with those :)
what a guide! those lists are sure very helpful to others newcomer developers.
the number 6 looks not so important but it's the most important point for developers to not getting mixed up in both world (works and recess hour) so they can put everything up their limits when they're in their so called office.
I myself as a graphic designer for garments never work at home. i always do the designs in the office. doing some designs when there are bed, video games and such things make me not doing a 100% energy to do the design. they are all some kind of mind and visual distractions.
That's rite Aleni, numero sixo looked less important and it's really an awesome secret to be better & productive.
Awesome points, moki! You look so much different recently. Great job! Keep good things coming, I'll read them all :)
Thanks Toni! What's with the "You look so much different recently"? :p
Don't worry, when I'm in the right mood, I'll post another good things. Glad you like it pal!
Aha! Good job! I do need my own space/office, which I will get in a month. Horee!
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