This is mostly for me as well as it is for anyone who reads this. I mainly want to see how my design process changes over the years. This is going to be a many part series, don’t know how many yet. So here goes!

Step 1: So I’ve got the clients interest, now what?

I send out a routine email asking a few questions that help me understand more about the client and what they want and need.

What do you want your website to do for you?

This question is useful for the client as well as myself. It allows them to think about what there website is actually for, believe it or not a lot of people can’t answer this question very well, they just have a mishmash of content on there website not really having a clear focus. It helps to figure out which content needs to go and which content needs to stay.

What is your target audience? (age/level of internet experience)

This helps determine the overall design and look of the website. If it’s geared towards the pre-web generation than easy navigation and simple layout is in need. If it’s geared towards the younger generation that’s grown up with the internet and knows the ins and outs a lot more advanced things can be done with it.

What image do you want to portray?

This is the big one. Make sure the client elaborates on this one, the more information the better. After all as a web designer what were you hired for if not to portray their image on the web?

What do you absolutely definitely want on your website?

If you’re redesigning a website, this is helpful in deciding if they want brand new content (writing, images, colors) or maybe they want to keep some. If creating a website from scratch this is important in deciding what exactly they want on there website. This question is also helpful in breaking down the cost. If they want a basic 10 page website, you charge them your basic rate, if they want to add some flash or a Wordpress blog, you charge them extra. Simple as that!

Can you list some websites that you like/like aspects of and why?

This one is really helpful for me. It lets me get inside the clients head for a bit. It tells me what they think looks good as a website. It also gives me some inspiration as to how to design there website.

Whatever you do asking questions like these at the beginning of the process is very important and starts the client/webdesigner communication off very well and very informed.

Step 2: Set price and deadlines

Communication is key. Let your clients know your set price. Send them an invoice whatever you do to let them know the deal.

Set your deadlines. You know yourself and what you can do and how fast you can do it. Set a reasonable deadline that you know you can reach and then add some, you never know what could happen to slow you down.

That’s it for Part 1 want to read more? Go to Part 2.

Filed under: Web Design by Afarr