Preserved Topic: Photoshop Contract Info Q?

So I am new here, though I have been an infrequent troll for a couple of years. I had this idea a couple of weeks ago?but before I go on I just want to say that this is a Photoshop-specific question (because what I would want to end up with is a .psd with slices), but it is also business-related--so I am not positive that this is the best forum for this posting.
This is my question: Is it viable to contract out web-GUI over the web? I think that this question has a lot of interesting facets. First of all, someone is surely doing some form of this already, but where and in what exact manner? Second, what exactly am I talking about, here? OK, hypothetical question: lets say that someone approaches me with a web site redesign project. They have a lot of content already in place, their business is well-established?they just want to look better. ( I think that is what Ozones is all about?looking better on the web. I figure the experts are here, so I ask the experts. Anyway.) So lets say that I am lazy, or that I think that someone who is much better at web-GUI design could to the job more creatively and faster, and I want to contract the job out to this person. That is the basic proposition, and it seems simple, but the logistics elude me. First, how do I advertise this opportunity to people who might be interested? Then, when I find interested people, what payment arrangement do I make (e.g. half the payment up front, and half after the job is done, or 1/3 up front, 1/3 after I see the proofs, and 1/3 after the work is done.) On what basis would pricing be founded? Would it be a simple fee in exchange for all rights, would there be rights limitations or would the fee be based on how many pages the GUI was to be used on? Of course, the big question is what would I expect for a sub-contract like that? More than $1000? Less? I am smitten with this idea because it allows people who just want to work with PS to do just that. Minor edits and other BS can be taken care of at other points in the system. I welcome any feedback.
Thanks,
Nick


ps If this is posted to the wrong forum, let me know.

first off, welcome to the Asylum. We'll be tough but true.

I have a couple of concerns about this particular idea. First off, we've already got a site out there right now (WebProsNow) that exists to do contract work over the 'Net, to make it easier to find and get clients to work on. I would suggest using their service, rather than reinventing the wheel and causing some unnecessary schisms throughout the design world.

I think what you're talking about here is a little too specific to bear. I cite a smashingly successful team, designer/coder, of Peter Fielding and Cal Henderson of Pixelflo. They've never met, but Peter does the design, and Cal does the coding, even though Cal *could* do design (not of Peter's calibur) and Peter could do the coding (though not of Cal's calibur).

So what you're looking for is to create an alliance with someone that does design...at least that is what it appears that you are looking for. Unless, of course, you're large enough to do sub-contracting, in which case you wouldn't be posting this question - it comes naturally then, because you fill out the W4s and such for the subcontractor, and take care of it legally.

I'm not sure what else you're driving at. It's somewhat difficult to read your question in that mass of broken sentences.

Perhaps I just need a little more clarification.

-edit- fixing urls


s t e p h e n

[This message has been edited by twItch^ (edited 09-14-2001).]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply. I'll play with the webprosnow site for the next project or two. Looks like they are on the ball. I think they were just what I was looking for. Sorry about the broken sentences. And of course you are right, I am small.
Pixelflo is amazing--I'd love to see their work.
Wheee!
Nick

I had an arrangement like this with a guy called "Gonzo", now one of my very best friends in the "real world". Gonzo is a whiz at administration and content massaging, and also has a knack for getting clients, certainly a good thing in a partner! I was the design whiz of the team. We would get jobs, I would design them and create the basic template structures, he would put it all together into a working website for the client, and I would add in any of the bits and pieces he needed during the course of the project. There was a time when we both had our own virtual "firms", and we would find ourselves bidding on the same projects! Whoever got the job got to be "lead", and we'd do the work the way we would have done it anyway, regardless of who signed the contract. Silly but true.

You probably would not want to be working with dozens of different contractors, more likely you'd find a few people you work well with and work with them all the time. Eventually you could start your own consultancy firm and pull even more people in, growing into an industry powerhouse with thousands of employees! Then of course, the market would crash and you'd go bankrupt, but it'd be a fun ride. (See USWeb, Razorfish, etc... for examples of same.)

<note>Sorry, I just can't *help* myself, I have to poke fun at some of those monster e-consultancy firms! Perhaps a bit of lingering bitterness on my part?</note>

Chances are you probably know the person who you might like working with in this way - try dropping them an email, good things may come of it.

Your pal, -doc-

Okay, just for reference "Peter could do the coding"

~looks around~ As nice of a lie as that is...uh...fat fucking chance
This is why Peter keeps Cal in a small pouch near his hip pocket, and only lets him out for the occasional beer.

On a serious note, the old Doc is bang on (of course). Cal and I work so well as collaborators because of mutual respect, and the understanding that the other will make us look better than we do on our own. We're always consulting on either side of the fence, with Cal gaining a great eye for design, and myself pretending that I actually know how to string together functions.

A great collab team has to grow, and the first (maybe only) necessity, is trust. If you can sort it out to work with someone who is incredible at what they do, and you trust them with everything that you put together, then you're laughing. If they trust you with the same responsibility, then you're luckier than you could know.

Sometimes I see people try and do collaborative work online, and fail miserably. It's not due to a lack of talent. On the contrary, the talent pool is amazing. It's usually due to a lack of understanding, scope, and trust. Doc's on the ball, man...find someone you already know. Someone you respect, trust, and enjoy...because if you're not having fun before it even starts..oh man are you in for a rude awakening after a couple conferences.

Now that we've pimped Flo for this month, you can all return to the useful corners of the net, again.

And put that porn away.

Peter



ICQ:# 10237808