Content before Design
Out of context: Reply #13
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i'm in the same boat, slappy, but with a deadline. i can't even get a committal to an outline and all I hear is where's the site? all conversations about their perceived needs as far as copy focus and photography renderings are all met with a no. No ideas in return, just disagreeing with mine.
I've proposed a few copy strategies following the same tone from page to page with a common end goal, but they won't contribute anything to build from. Like if I gave them a site with the CMS filled with lorem ipsum, they'd understand what to do next. I doubt it, they don't understand what to do now.
the idea that I'm going to build a framework for their content to magically grow on is absurd.
I built a cms for them 5 years ago as well. they used it to remove one person from the employee section and never used photographs though the cms supported them and the design was ready for them. they added 11 news items in that same 5 years and never once added to their portfolio section though they're always working.
All I learned is that the president of the company is not above attempting to download files and editing them locally. even going so far as using the file manager within the hosts website to do so.
fact 1. make every bit of the text on the site accessible from the cms.
fact 2. crop and size images server side
fact 3. reading minds comes in handyContinuity, are you available? can I email you? I may be able to get you in touch with some people that need some help. They have a current website which is an abomination of a former company president art direction then coded and cms for a site that was then edited (read: hacked, broke, taped, glued) and filled with content all written internally. the facts are there in plenty, the service benefits overlooked for capability I think. I don't know I don't do this stuff.
They recently acquired a new logo/color scheme and are prepared to move forward in a more sales oriented tone, not a newspaper ad, but more so than the current educational site. if you're interested let me know.
Good luck to you slappy, I feel your pain. All you can do for sanity is not design anything and just sit back and listen to all the input you can until you're inspired. Never force ideas, they come out looking, well... forced.
Regardless of content, if the design is not inspired it will be lacking with or without the support of well written copy.
I leave you all with this...
"If the muse comes to your bedside, don't tell her you'll fuck her later." -- Allen Ginsberg
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- I'm available as of Monday; you can mail me the details of this to the address on my site, and I'll see if I'm able to do it for you.Continuity