In every single one of the jobs I have done I have acted in accordance to my client’s wishes when it came to designing their site. In only one or 2 jobs have I been given carte blanche to do as I pleased. I can work either way. Clients of mine are free to tell me they want something done this or that way or to have an aspect changed,whatever. It’s their site,you know.
Sometimes I’ve been asked to do something that went against my personal checklist of suckage such as a splash page or background music. Again,their site. The best you can do is tell them why it’s bad. I always say: you want people to want to be there,right? And then I go on to suggest why this or that is a bad idea. Usually they get it. That’s all you have to do. Tell them why it’s a bad idea to have a splash page or background music and hope they will at least consider your points.
Chris Heilmann, who I think is a great guy and probably a genius, told me a funny thing about splash pages. He said
” it’s like you receive a flier on which is printed welcome to my pizza menu, please read my pizza menu.
Then you get to read the pizza menu. “
I thought that was a hilarious visual image. And so true!
Ok, but so what if you think you know better than your client? Want to alienate them? Want to make them feel stupid? Not a good idea. Take it from me. Do it right and they will think you have the best approach. Do it wrong and they will think you are a bossy jerk.
Everyone has different sensibility when it comes to design. Sometimes, you the designer (Mom), says “but vitamins are good for you honey” and the client says “I like shiny things”.
In other words if they want a splash page and you can’t talk them out of it then they get a splash page.
Good post. Ugh, background music. I had a former client call me up and ask about my thoughts on background music… for an ecommerce site of all things.
I’ve learned to never force talk them out of anything but give them a list of the positives and negatives. Generally, if the negatives out-weight the positives (and they usually do) the client will opt to drop the idea.
I’ve read many pages that say just that, in words. “Welcome to the about us page.” It just doesn’t work.
You make a good point about not making them feel stupid, though. Clients don’t want to give money to someone who’s arrogant.
I was able to at least combine the background music and splash page… 2 great evils together at once…not so great. It was what they wanted.
I wasn’t able to talk them into stopping using the font-face papyrus. They wanted me to do some graphic design but I refused to use papyrus so they thought I wasn’t good at it.