Where does it all go wrong in the feedback process... ..avoiding "McGraphics".

Something that we hear a lot from fellow designers is that they have lost control of their client, in so far as feedback just keeps coming, sometimes from multiple people, and the designer feels that they are losing money and that the project has gone way off scope.

We used to get this, but over the last couple of years have made changes to avoid it (more on that another time... I thought we had it sussed but Paul Boag gave me a bit of advice which has caused me to try another approach - Rick).




We call this issue, "McGraphics"... McGraphics is where your client becomes )or believes they become) the 'design expert' and begins prescribing how and what you should be doing with the design. They might say, "can we have this part blue, that bit red and make that part circular, please". When this starts to happen, the minute you say "yes, ok no problem", you start to lose control and take a submissive role in the relationship.

The way to retain control of the feedback process is to position yourself as the expert RIGHT AT THE START... remain positive but establish the fact that you are a design expert and explain to the client HOW to provide feedback. It's important that (ideally at the kick-off meeting) you ask the client to focus on the objectives of the project, and leave the design solutions for meeting those objectives, to you.


If you get this wrong, or fall into a submissive role, this is what you get:



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Our approach to Web Accessibility, and a dash of common sense

Lead Developer at looktouchfeel, Simon McFarlane, explains our "everyday approach" to Web Accessibility.

"We're often asked by clients what we do to ensure Accessibility. Whilst we realise that this is often just to enable a stakeholder to put a tick in a box, it's actually more important than many clients realise. BUT! Let's not get obsessive about it...it's about common sense as much as anything else.

The most important element required to make your site accessible is the use of well structured pages created using XHTML and CSS - the building blocks of your site.

Web users have many specific requirements... almost too many to list. Trying to second guess users wants and needs is very hard, and a bit of a red herring too.

What we typically do is completely separate the style from the content of the site using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). By using CSS the web user can customise their browser in anyway they wish. For example they can remove all the style, change font size, background colour... all with relative ease.

We ensure the content of the site is well structured using headings, paragraphs and lists... all images have an alternative text description for screen readers. We try where possible to keep the contrast high on text and if it doesn't affect the integrity of the design, we'll use underlines to signify links in the main body text.

Because of the well structured content; screen readers wouldn't have a problem with our sites. Most screen readers are separate programs which you install on your computer. Due to this there isn't much you can do apart from make your site reader friendly - which we have done.

We hide at the top of the screen 'skip to navigation' / 'skip to content' links which are specifically for screen readers to speed up the use of the site.

Internet Explorer 7 / 8, Firefox, Chrome and Opera all allow 'zooming' of site rather than just increasing the font size (Try holding down Ctrl and pressing +). This means everything gets bigger - in many ways this is more useful than simply increasing the font size...

Often we'll add an accessibility page to the site explaining what has been done and a link to the BBC accessibility site... this has lots of information, options and instructions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/

For example, all the methods on this page will work with the majority of sites we build: http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/win/sub_root.shtml.

If you'd like to know more about Web Accessibility or our methods for designing and developing websites, just drop us an email (us@looktouchfeel.co.uk) or give us a call (01327 828 443)"

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Should brand/web designers do "Spec work"?

In a word, No*.

In a few more words...

We're with Paul Boag on this one (and many others) when we firmly throw our hat into the "no spec work" ring. We get asked a lot (usually on web design projects or for tenders) whether we will create some designs free of charge, in order to impress the client and MAYBE get the job.



This request is a silly one for several reasons:

1 - We don't know enough about the project, not having had any time to discuss the brief with you or fact-find about the users or target audiences - so our design will purely be there to make you go "wow", but will be completely useless and get binned the minute you engage us for the project proper. This is a waste of our time (time=money) and your money.

2 - We've been in this game since 1999 - that's a bloody long time and we've learnt a hell of a lot. This is what you, the client, pays us for - our experience and expertise - NOT our ability to use Adobe Illustrator.

3 - Design is a PROCESS - not something you pull out of a hat and go "TA DA!". With Spec Work, there is no process - only razzle dazzle.

4 - We've got other work on, which is signed/paid work - we can't jeopardize that to spend time on design work for nothing, now can we?

5 - We agree strongly with many other PROFESSIONAL designers that Spec Work, and those that agree to it, undermines and undervalues our profession. Positioning design as a commodity, rather than a craft.

So... please don't embarrass both of us by asking us to do Speculative Design work - because, we don't do that. Sorry.

Most people that do ask will usually understand once you explain these reasons, and most will agree to pay for a day or so's consultancy to create a piece of useful design work that they can take forwards.




*OK, OK, OK - if we're talking £50k+ projects, we might consider it, but even then we would strongly suggest that the client simply pays us a few days consultancy so we can carry out a mini design process and create something that will be USEFUL in the subsequent project.

Graphic and Web Design in Daventry and Northampton from Look, Touch & Feel Design

Launching the new Aspire website...

As part of a wider re-branding project, LTF carried out a total re-design and re-build of the aspirecompanies.com website. A global site, substantial in size, content and technical features – this was a great project that involved branding, design, photography, copy writing and development.



Graphic and Web Design in Daventry and Northampton from Look, Touch & Feel Design

Celebratng the Bar Code

It's the Bar Code's 57th Anniversary today... find out all about it's history, here.

In celebration of this landmark occasion, we have created a "looktouchfeel" barcode:



(You can create your own here - http://www.morovia.com/free-online-barcode-generator/)

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Welcome to looktouchfeel...

Graphic and Web Design in Daventry and Northampton from Look, Touch & Feel Design