I believe…
Great design is rarely created alone.
Effective designers need a talented team of creative directors, project managers, copywriters, salespeople, and developers to design and implememt the best solutions for their clients.
Like a group of instrumentalists converging into an orchestra, great websites come from the combination of many different talented specialists. When creative copywriters join passionate photographers, and able art directors work with distinctive designers the results are far greater than the individual skills of each team member.
A well-defined process is crucial to a successful project.
It’s very hard to achieve planned results without an effective plan.
Whenever possible content should precede design.
To quote one of my web design and development idols, Jeffrey Zeldman:
“Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it’s decoration.”
I believe a designers job is to tell the story of the content they are presenting. With a content-first mindset, you’ll ensure that the user interface evolves to support what’s inside it. The more you know about
Effective designers adapt their design-style to suit virtually any brand.
While having a set design style is important for building a personal brand and attracting the right kinds of clients, it’s important to be open-minded and flexible. The goal is always to serve your clients needs. A designer will often need to step outside of their own personal style and develop impactful solutions for diverse audiences.
Project managers are the unsung heroes of successful projects.
The process of keeping a project moving along smoothly can vary tremendously from one client to another. The project managers role in keeping clients and internal stakeholders on time and on budget is one of the hardest tasks in our industry, and great project managers can make it seem effortless.
The customer isn’t always right.
Great communication is key. While it’s important that a client feels heard and appreciated, it’s also important that their marketing team is able to convey – honestly – what’s working or not working in their project. While they may have the final say in the end, an understanding and respectful approach often validates their concerns and solves their underlying issue without compromising the integrity of the project.