Professionalism/Bullshit Sniffing in Web Design

I found these two reading helpful in maneuvering client based projects, and maintaining professionalism.   

The Creating a Site Design Plan reading provided helpful advice to front-load your work with background research about your client and their audience’s needs. Before your first meeting, before you are even hired it’s a good idea to research so you can show them that you are professional, serious about your work, and know your stuff. (I feel that in my case I’m lacking in the “know your stuff category” so I would use the opportunity to show what I am capable of and express that I working in a leaning/classroom environment, so there is room for expansion but no guarantees.)

A good first step site development is to recognize if a website is even necessary. Does the client need a web space? Would the users benefit, use it, need it?  Then proceed to development.

Identifying needs and setting goals are always recommended but here the author provides tips on how to get started doing just that.  After interviewing the client do a  needs analysis of the client and of the users. Then use the needs to formulate the goals. So instead of putting the client of the spot about having measurable well-defined goals, you can present your interpretation for the client’s approval. (Hopefully)

Once you have approved goal you should focus on 3-5 of them and use them to frame all of your design and layout decisions. If a choice seems tricky always go back to your goals and if make sure your choice fits.

The Killersites information proves that your peers can be a great resource for help! I like how one response chunks the questions into specific goal categories: Fact Gathering, Bullshit Sniffing, and Getting on the Same Page. This list in particular helps me to remember that there are more than clients involved in client projects. YOU are involved and invested, and you need to look out for your own needs in addition to the needs of clients and users.