disaster-master — Fri, 28 Sep 2001 02:43:57 +0000

One of the biggest problems that I have come across is most of my clients want bells and whistles. They just can't seem to understand that large gaudy graphics do not look good, things that move are tacky, and they have no sense of colors or what long load times are. And they think you can do a 20 page site in a week from scratch. Maybe some of you can but not me....yet. I am learning usability and how to deal with clients wishes but it is hard to combine the two.

This is why I voted "eh, I do the best I can."

I think it was Keegan who told me something to this effect....

"Do what the clients wants if you can't change their mind. Then charge them when they want to change it to what you suggested in the first place.(because they eventually will)"
I thought that was some good advise.

As for testing, I use mom, aunts, cousins and thank goodness for this forum.

Megan — Thu, 27 Sep 2001 22:59:35 +0000

Yeah, my mom never has anything bad to say about my sites, but I think she'd tell me if something wasn't working for her. She's very helpful with design idea - she really helped me out with one of my recent designs. She likes to get out MS paint and show me what I should do, it's cute I should set her up with a better graphics program.

mairving — Thu, 27 Sep 2001 21:44:18 +0000

You know I think it is good sometimes to have people from another generation test the site. The only problem that crops up some is that often times these people are not very Internet savvy. Ideally you should have a teenager, a parent and someone in between test your site. Don't use your mom since they are often not objective.

Jack Michaelson — Thu, 27 Sep 2001 20:17:07 +0000

I voted top priority, although the customer has the final word I guess.

Quote:
...and get Mum to test it...

I always ask my Dad

mairving — Thu, 27 Sep 2001 20:15:09 +0000

Quote: Originally posted by Vincent Puglia
If it's a paying customer site, whatever s/he/they say; I won't argue unless if it's totally detrimental or overkill.

Yeah, the customer that pays good money on time is always right. I built an e-commerce site for a guy. First he decided that he didn't want to do CC verifications online. Okay, no problem for me. Then he decides that he wants to take off all shipping charges and that he will email the customer the freight charge after he weighs the item. I tried to convince him to just average the weight. I tried to tell him that it costs much more to do it this way, laborwise. I also told him that it was worthless to have a site if you work like this. Well he couldn't be talked out of it. So I did it and you know what, he still pays me the same.

As far as usablity, it is definitely a good idea to get a second and third opinion. It's funny how making a color change on your navbar sometimes can make all the difference in the world.

Vincent Puglia — Thu, 27 Sep 2001 19:48:39 +0000

Hi,

If it's a paying customer site, whatever s/he/they say; I won't argue unless if it's totally detrimental or overkill.

My site: I attempt to script for the least common denominator -- ver 4. That means selection lists, buttons, and links rather than dHTML menus. Content is my primary priority.

Forum answers: generally I stay out of the design forums, but when I do wander in, I push for minimalism and restraint in all: color, number and type of menus, and 'tricks'.

Vinny

The Webmistress — Wed, 26 Sep 2001 20:08:41 +0000

I'd say pretty much the same. Common sense, logical navigation and get Mum to test it, oh & the client - if they can use it generally anyone could!!