3 Questions to Ask Before you Design
A web designer’s artistic vision is guided (and can sometimes be clouded) by the requirements of the client’s business or organization, the goals and the attitude they have for their company and the client’s personal preferences too.
Web designing should be a personal journey for both the designer and the client. They should inspire each other to create a vision that captures the essential spirit of the client’s business and personal goals for the business.
So before you even open up your favorite designing tools or go hunting for the perfect image to put on the banner, there are at least three things you should already have answered with the help of your client to guide you in your design.
Some designers already do this sort of interview while some, like true artists, just bypass this process and rely on inspiration. But the well of inspiration can run dry sometimes. So to be on the safe side, and to clear your mind of any worries that your design might be going the wrong path, as well as to save time, you should ask these questions and make sure you get answers.
1. What does your client want?
Yes, you should ask this question first. No matter what the client’s business, they will have some idea of how they want their business to be represented to potential customers. Some of the time, this concept stems from their personal experiences and philosophy in life. Sometimes, a client who is new to the business or just starting out may have little or no idea on how to “go about the business” of presenting their company. In this case, knowing about the client’s personality and personal goals for the company will be a great help in providing you with ideas. Once you have formed some rough draft of what they might want, make the suggestion and get some kind of response. Work your way to a general vision that is agreeable to both of you.
2. What does your client’s business need?
Some client’s may already know what they want for their business and will tell you right off. In this case, listen carefully and take down notes, if possible. If you do spot some inconsistencies in the client’s vision and their business requirements, be sure to clarify these facts right away and have the client make an instant decision. If the client has little or no idea how to present his/her business to potential customers and wants you to make your suggestions go ahead. But make sure you’ve asked the third question before you give your answer.
3. What does your client’s customer want?
If the client truly knows what his/her business is all about, they would have already answered this question when they describe their business goals. But this is an important question if you encounter business people who are just starting out and do not yet have a good grasp of their market or just starting out to know their market. In this case, both you and your client should be at your most imaginative and do some role playing. If you were the customer, what would you want from the business and as the business, how can they provide it? This should help both of you gain a clearer understanding of how to project this business to its customers and what the business needs to accomplish its goals.
When you’ve asked these basic questions and the follow-up questions that will inevitably come after them, then you are ready to get down to your part of the business. This is the time to let your creative juices flow. This is a part of the designer’s journey that you will trek on your own. How you will start going about this step exactly, is another story.
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