New Web site Design

[wfcentral]

Gary or others,

I also do webdesign. I have a question for Gary. Considering the time it takes to make up 10 mock-ups...do you charge your clients for that time?

I usually work up bits and pieces of a site or I'll show them a xara snapshot of what the site will look like. It looks like you've done a lot more - I never know how much or if I should charge for these initial mock-ups.

I'm not asking for $ amounts as I know that is not appropriate for forums. My question is "do you always do this much work prior to starting a project and do you charge them for every minute of that time..."

Robert

[gwpriester]

Ivan - The font in design 8 is called CroAloha. I found it on MyFonts.com. The font had a playfull quality and also repeated some of the jewelry designs.

Robert - Some designers charge by the hour and some charge by the job. I generally charge by the job with additional charges for revisions.

I spent Friday through Monday generating ideas. I don't like to limit myself and try to do as many initial explorations as time allows. One design generally suggests another and I like to go with the flow of energy until I feel I have covered the possibilities. There is a point at which one needs to say, OK I think I have enough to present.

Klaus on the other hand likes to present his best design and say, here it is, this is the one. And that is fine for him.

I like to feel my clients are getting their money's worth and are part of the design selection process.

Hope this gives you some direction.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person

<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


XaraXone

[ivan louette]

Thanks for the font source, Gary !

Friendly,
ivan

[Ross Macintosh]

I have been a student of web design for some years now. I like to keep my eyes open to how designers sell their services. One idea I've seen could work well for you and the way you like to work. It relates to what to do with all the rejected but still interesting designs. They don't have to be filed away - instead offer them via your website as relatively low cost 'templates'. I've seen this done where the designer has two prices. One to buy the rights to a 'limited edition' where the same design can be sold to a limited number of people. The other more expensive price is to buy exclusive rights to the design. The offer usually includes a limited amount of customization. I'd suggest many purchasers end up also paying for additional services so a low price up front can get the designer to the table. The approach also has the benefit of rounding out the designers online portfolio - showing both how good you are and perhaps highlighting the kinds of designs you most like to do. It can help your other clients communicate what they like based on your own work instead of telling you they want it to look just like some other designers work.

The end result of such a marketing approach is that all your designs can end up having a life on the internet. You have the potential to be paid for all designs you do.

Regards, Ross

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[gwpriester]

Daniel Will Harris, the NetObjects Guru (who liked #8 for all the right reasons) offers his non-used logo designs at a deep discount.

Daniel is also the editor of The Schmoozeletter which is a delightful list to be on. Daniel is one of the best students of human nature and his twice monthly newsletter starts off with the most hilarious essays. One of my favorites is In the Altogether.

Thanks for the suggestion Ross. Anybody interested in any of the Jewelry designs? I can make you a very good deal [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person

<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


XaraXone

[Mickie]

I would like #1 the best if it had a piece of jewelry draped near the bottom of the oval.

Mickie

[Crow Haven]

I've never laughed harder [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] ! Truly delightful stuff! I bookmarked it!

---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya

[dalel]

I have just started out in web design, have designed 3 sites, and am working on a couple more.

Seeing how you go about designing the graphic look of a site has really opened my eyes to a faster and better approach to design. I have been designing my different layouts completely in HTML form, not even realizing that I could do the layouts in Xara X or Photoshop, and then do the final accepted design in HTML. It amazes me that this approach had never occured to me before! (of course it's good practice to do these in HTML form, too)

I am programmer trained, and have been struggling with the graphics side of the business. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] I feel like such a rookie graphics-wise most of the time. This forum has been a great advantage in helping me to get my feet going in the right direction.

So, thanks to you and the forum members! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I am SO glad I found this forum! You people are so great, I feel I've come home. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I hope to be posting some examples of a couple of sites I am working on, to get some opinions and advice. Just don't expect too much! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Dale

Why, I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir, because I’m not myself, you know...
- Lewis Carroll

[webitect]

you are living my same life in a different state! I too have started web designing about 5 months ago. On my fifth site now, and the graphics are just starting to look like they should. I have to fully agree that if it weren't for everyone in these forums, I would still be telling people that beveled text is a really cool graphic to have(For lack of better ideas)! Keep with it, like they say, the first year is the hardest!

Chris [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[gwpriester]

If you really want to make your life easy, look into NetObjects Fusion MX It is what I use for all the XaraXone sites and every other site I design.

It could not be more intuitive. You put your objects onto the page in the position you want them and MX creates an invisible table to execute your layout.

It is a great web building application.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person

<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>


XaraXone