TeenBusinessForum

Shaun · 06-17-2010, 08:46 AM

When you are creating a website for a client, do you write up a design proposal and critical analysis?

My AIT subject is mainly based on web design. We must write a design proposal and critical analysis when we are creating a website. I'm just wondering if any of you people do this?

CoreyFreeman · 06-17-2010, 08:48 AM

I have no idea what a critical analysis is...or a design proposal. I just email them some ideas and generate a photoshop mock-up.

Shaun · 06-17-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoreyFreeman

I have no idea what a critical analysis is...or a design proposal. I just email them some ideas and generate a photoshop mock-up.

A critical analysis is talking about design functionality and design principles while the design proposal talks about the project brief, situation analysis, content analysis, navigation structure, visual storyboard (drawn on paper) with annotations and digitised visual storyboard.

This is how professional web designers create websites for clients.

CoreyFreeman · 06-17-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

A critical analysis is talking about design functionality and design principles while the design proposal talks about the project brief, situation analysis, content analysis, navigation structure, visual storyboard (drawn on paper) with annotations and digitised visual storyboard.

This is how professional web designers create websites for clients.

Right. Well the email + mock-up method works pretty well.

**bond** · 06-17-2010, 10:31 AM

@Shaun,
I did a pro-bono web design project before. It was developer from scratch. I treated my client like he was paying me. Actually, he was paying me in referrals which I took very seriously. And yes, I did have a project proposal for him. PM me and I can send you over what I created. I asked him for the absolute deadline he wanted the site to be created, design considerations, what sites he liked, priorities, weekly meeting schedules. Like I said, I took it very seriously.

Every 2 weeks, we would meet in person to discuss design, schedule, pending risks, etc. He knew every week what was happening with the development of his site. And all of this was documented in the planning as well as weekly documentation.

I had visual storyboards that I created using various software as well as Photoshop. I also created a document that said what each button will do what and what page it will go to.

Coming from a consultant background, I believed that was the right way to do it. Also, for another potential client, I created a proposal for them that included how I estimated the different costs.

Shaun · 06-17-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bond

@Shaun,
I did a pro-bono web design project before. It was developer from scratch. I treated my client like he was paying me. Actually, he was paying me in referrals which I took very seriously. And yes, I did have a project proposal for him. PM me and I can send you over what I created. I asked him for the absolute deadline he wanted the site to be created, design considerations, what sites he liked, priorities, weekly meeting schedules. Like I said, I took it very seriously.

Every 2 weeks, we would meet in person to discuss design, schedule, pending risks, etc. He knew every week what was happening with the development of his site. And all of this was documented in the planning as well as weekly documentation.

I had visual storyboards that I created using various software as well as Photoshop. I also created a document that said what each button will do what and what page it will go to.

Coming from a consultant background, I believed that was the right way to do it. Also, for another potential client, I created a proposal for them that included how I estimated the different costs.

This is how professional web designers/developers should create/design websites for clients

**bond** · 06-17-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

This is how professional web designers/developers should create/design websites for clients

Unfortunately, my potential client that I wrote the proposal for thought I was too expensive and went with someone else. 6 months later, she came back to me and asked if I could do maintenance work on it because the previous developer left her hanging =X. Oh well... that lead me to TBF which is the right project for me.

CoreyFreeman · 06-17-2010, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

This is how professional web designers/developers should create/design websites for clients

I'm sorry that I never took a class or was told to create a lengthy proposal and a story board. But I get clients, I get referrals, and I get jobs done (on time), and I get paid a reasonable amount. Professional doesn't have to mean a stack of papers with technical names.

**bond** · 06-17-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoreyFreeman

But I get clients, I get referrals, and I get jobs done (on time), and I get paid a reasonable amount.

Whichever works. Important thing is customers are happy and you get paid for your work.

vic · 06-17-2010, 01:44 PM

its this a design plan you are this going step by step with them to make sure you are giving them every thing they want its good for big project when he or she is spending alot of money. i would never say you are professional web designers/developers if you do this it this help your customers feel more comfortable when they give you there money. but i do mock-up when this want some thing done fast and cheap.