Topic: The Rule Book

Hi all, i have a client relating to this site... (link removed according to H][RO wishes - see later post, it was no longer functional anyhow. TP)

The site was put up for a while and now they want some changes... such as fixing the size to say 800 x 600 (you know then it centers on the page).. and making the content text alot smaller so that everything almost fits on the one window.

To me these are going against what i would consider the point of the web - i.e having a web site that expands to the point of a window, and text you can actually read.

I guess im just wondering what everyone thinks about this and how they handle it - or do you just buckle down and do what the client wants? They aren't completely set in what they want at the moment, and i have suggested against it - but i dunno... i guess my life would be easier if i just did it the way they want. ... I just like to see things done properly is all

(Edited by Tyberius Prime on 09-06-2004 10:59)

Don't ever tell the client that they are wrong, unless they are really just plain wrong, I can't even come up with an example of this, if a client wanted me to make a script that was easily hacked I would do it.

But! You need to cover your ass. If you are going to do something that might bite you later on it has to be in your contract that it is the company and not you who is liable.

As for the current situation. I would explain your ideas to them. That a liquid design would be better, you don't want your font sizes too small, the point of all this is to make sure that their site is visible to everyone and not a small subset. You then tell them that the choice is yours and that you are equally skilled at handling either situation, but it might be more benificial to use a more standards based method of designing the page.

You are working for the client, they can use your expertice or not. You get paid either way. Just make sure to do a good job to their specifications. It is always possible that they will eventually see the errors in their old ideologies and ask you back to do another redesign in the future.

Dan @ Code Town

Yeh you are right, i guess its just annoying - but i have to be able to put that aside and smile with yessirr. I guess i was wondering if im wrong also.. i mean that is MY opinion about the web, everyone has their own opinions.

Come to think of it i was watching people use the web (people that are computer literate but not much more than that) and you would be suprised... The things i considered bad design, they liked.

This site here for example http://ffour.com.au/default2.htm - when you click say on fashion - it opens a page with the details... thats fine..but

-there is no menu on the page, to go anywhere else you have to go back, then make your selection again.
-instructions like click on the coathanger to view the fashion show? there is only one coathanger...
-music plays in the background with no option to turn it off.

To me these are some pretty serious usability rules being broken... however this is a favourite site for some people... I guess it just goes to show you that often usuability rules etc mean squat for alot of people.

I guess it also comes down to the target market - some sites dont require much readable content, just pictures and other stuff.

Neh00.. i have alot to learn still.

But that site is very clean and easy to read. A flashy site will catch someones attention once. Something with good content will keep them coming back. There are three main areas of site design:

1) Content
2) Design
3) Usability

Pick two and go with them, if you suceed you are better off than a majority of the sites out there. If you can pull the third in there you have performed a feet of magesty.

It also depends upon your audience. Are you going to a quick sell? Pump them full of pretty aluring things. If you want repeat visitors you need to have some really good updating content and you need to throw in usability so they will feel comforatble coming back many times.

The overall thing here is that if you are making money doing something good for the client, you can use your other time to do some fun stuff, that fits your ideological goals. When you are well fed you normally are able to do a whole lot more creative work.

Dan @ Code Town

You really normally just pick two of them and try for that? I guess i normally *try* and go for all 3 straight up - probably why i end up tying myself in a knot half the time.. especially since you can never please everyone.

But that sounds like a good plan for me, i will give it a go.

Can someone delete the link in the first post of this thread? It says its too old for me to delete it which is annoying. The URL no longer exists however, and it is coming up in google and stuffing up my sites search engine stuff. Thanks