Perfection and Practicality. Get The Site You Want Without Going Overboard

It's a common belief that in order to be successful in any field,
one must strive for perfection. Although this is a noble
intention we must be wary of the fact that the pursuit of
perfection in design can, in come cases, cause more harm than
good. When working with a designer on a project, it's important
not to let the pursuit of perfection disrupt a deadline or push
you over budget. How can you avoid the perfection trap and
still achieve the design you're looking for? Simple...

1) Be Realistic. It's important to be realistic with the expectations

of the final design. There are many factors that your designer must
consider when working on your project including time and budget.
Because of these factors, we must decipher what is essential and
what is excess. Avoid obsessing over the minor details, which often
have little or no relevance on the overall impact of your web site.
An example of obsessing is asking your designer to change the colour
of your site several times over and ending up with the original colour
scheme. Changing the overall colour scheme of a site takes a considerable
amount of time and the designer may impose an additional charge for going
above and beyond the time allotted for the project. If you are unsure if
your expectations are realistic, ask your designer.

2) Communicate with your designer.

Communication between a designer and his/her client is crucial
when attempting to achieve the goals set for a project.
We must understand that designers are not psychics
and are unable to accommodate your design preferences if they are unaware
of their existence. Here are some suggestions that will help you communicate
with your designer more effectively.

-Ensure that your initial instructions encompass all of your personal
preferences. These preferences may include colour, layout or the URLs
of other sites that have elements you wish to incorporate in your site.

-If you have questions or concerns during the project, make sure to address
them with your designer ASAP.

-When providing edits, make sure they are clear and thorough. The more
clear and precise your instructions, the easier it is for the designer
to address and complete them.

3) Trust your designer.

One of the main reasons we hire designers is for their expertise. Through them,
our ideas become reality. With this in mind, we must trust the designer's ability
and expertise. Once your designer has interpreted your preferences for the project,
he or she may have suggestions intended to improve the effectiveness of the final
product. This is one of many overlooked services provided by designers. It's
in your best interest to carefully consider these suggestions rather than dismiss
them quickly because they differ from your original expectations. For example,
although you have your heart set on one type of layout your designer may
suggest a more effective way of presenting your information.

As a final note, it must be understood that perfection in design is relative.
The designer and client are two different individuals and the end result of any
project will most likely differ from what was originally envisioned. Although
the result may be different, it does not mean that perfection was not achieved,
rather the combination of your expectations and the designer's expertise has
produced a unique design solution for your project.