We have put together a brief guide here on what and how not to do as a Web designer. And then they told me how to.
Please don’t confuse!
In this article, at first, we were going to give the usual tips for a web designer, but then we decided that just reading tips is boring. Therefore, we recolored them into harmful ones so that they would have a greater effect. So, let’s begin!
1. A beautiful picture is the key to success
The main task of the designer is to make a spectacular logo and choose the right colors and font pairs. Better yet, spice it all up with juicy gradients and the latest trends. Only in this case, the client will be satisfied, and his business will take off.
The client can and will be satisfied, but only for the first time, later he will realize that a beautiful picture does not help his business at all in achieving his goals, and the purple gradient, albeit very trendy, is not at all suitable for his tire fitting.
The primary task of the designer is to solve the problem of the client, help his business to take a strong position in the market, and attract an audience.
Read also: Custom Noodle Boxes – Printing, Designing, and Material Ideas
2. The more perfect the layout, the better
The margins in the layout should be pixel-perfect, even on preliminary versions, everything should be built on a grid and taking into account the basic principles of design. If you give yourself freedom and deviate a little to the side, then this will be noticed and reproached for unprofessionalism.
It is not necessary to bring intermediate design options to the ideal. It’s just a waste of time. It is important to promptly show the concept and the approximate arrangement of elements in the layout so that the client accepts or rejects the idea, and moves further along the pipeline. And even if the final version of the layout went into production, and the text shifted 5 pixels to the right, this is not a reason to stay up at night.
We still work in a creative environment, so the basic principles of design can limit our imagination. Our position is this: you can break the rules if you know what you are breaking.
3. Look for inspiration only in your head
There are no better ideas than your own. Break through the memories from school in your head, take out children’s drawings – in general, do everything to squeeze the idea and creativity out of yourself. Turning to other sources is a threat to the uniqueness of your work.
In fact, even those ideas that we consider entirely our own are not ours at all. They are formed from those images that we have already encountered: in a store or on the subway, walking around the city, or hurrying on the way home. This fact reassures us, so we do not limit ourselves only to our imagination. We are inspired by other people’s work, make mood boards, and offer references to the client in order to speed up the work and maintain our mental health.
4. Do it yourself
A good designer is an independent designer. He is a master of all trades: he will draw an illustration, conduct a study, write a text, and provide a layout on time.
Of course, independent work pumps you as a specialist in all areas. But this threatens to burn out and reduce the quality of work. Do not be afraid to ask for help, to delegate a duty, especially if it lies outside your professional field. This will only improve the project and speed up its delivery.
5. Do not share knowledge and experience
Be greedy, take, but never give. Otherwise, someone may become more successful than you, take the best clients for themselves, and surpass you in abilities.
It is important to view other designers not as competitors who threaten your professional safety, but as colleagues who will share their experience and help in a difficult situation. Also, remember that reciprocity is important in any relationship, so help, and share successes, failures, knowledge, and useful tools. So you will grow faster and form a cool design community around you, which will help you more than once in the future.
6. You must be able to do everything
A true professional knows everything: Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, InDesign, After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Blender. The more programs you know, the more confident you will feel in the market.
You will really feel more confident, but imagine how much time it will take to study each of them in detail. Decide first on one direction of web design in which you want to work, and actively develop there. If you don’t like it – change it. But remember, where the focus is, there is growth. Spraying on everything at once, it is hardly possible to achieve success at least somewhere.
7. Attend as many courses, webinars, and intensives as possible
You need to absorb as much knowledge as possible, and only then apply it in practice. Especially with a long list of educational programs, you are more likely to be hired.
It’s not the quantity that matters, but the quality. In the experience of our agency, there were cases when we took on a team of specialists who did not have an education. Now in the online education market, not all of its representatives are conscientious and can actually teach something. It is important to take a responsible approach to choose a program, as well as to apply the information received in practice, and not just leave it in the abstract.
8. The customer is always right
Fulfill any whim of the client, even if it contradicts the TOR, answer messages at 11 am on Sunday, make an infinite number of edits, and be sure to make a discount.
Communication with a client is also about relationships, and personal boundaries are important in any relationship, so don’t let yours be violated for fear of losing the project. Try to build healthy communication with the client and regulate his TOR and the contract.
We also want to note that the client in reality does not always know what he really wants. Therefore, blindly following the TOR can lead to the fact that both parties may be dissatisfied with the final result. A good designer should be able to justify his decision and convey it to the client.
9. Terms of reference, briefs, and contracts are a waste of time
Drafting briefs, and contracts, and reading TK are long and tedious. It’s better to just talk face-to-face with the client and seal your union with a handshake.
In fact, TK, brief, contract – your salvation from endless rounds of edits, unscrupulous clients, and other risks. Never forget about them when you start working on a new project, because, as we wrote above, they will help build healthy communication with the client and regulate it.
10. If you know how to do it better, keep quiet, do not complicate
In the process of working on a project, you should not voice your ideas, even if they seem brilliant to you. Because it can add headaches and n hours of work to you. Agree to everything that the client or team suggests.
If you have such thoughts, then think about your portfolio. It is much more important to get a high-quality project and a review from a satisfied client than to provide an average-quality result and not get either.
Always voice your ideas and thoughts, and participate in brainstorms – both the team and the client will appreciate it.
