PRINT & WEB: QUALITY (NOT IMPORTANT?)
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- jbranda
I've written this from a point in view of designers that cater to small to medium business with various development collateral material per year. Design budget: $20k, Print budget: $35 or less
PRINT
I've been talking lately with some of my other design colleagues and it seems that print work, (brochures, tri-folds, postcards in the majority) over all is 'there' for the sake of having something to hand over to a client or stockholder, and that most don't ever read it, just collect it and/or leave it behind. (design $ + print $ = smoke and mirrors) If you have a trade show, you need to have something.WEB
It comes as no surprise that more and more clients have updated info on their website and market by HTML e-zines, mass mailing lists, RSS feeds and so forth...the same above client, does not want to spend more then 5k on a website/design, and have CMS built into it or pay less then $300. a month (monthly contract 6-months min) for updating.WHAT's HAPPENING
Now with WordPress(WP) a free online blog and a number of companies that support and develop WP-Templates, then having an intern or secretary spent a few hours learning, it can create a simple, informative, organized website with a CMS behind it.WHY WRITE THIS
Well, as a designer I'm trying to shift and grow with the technology, time. While spending many hours and quality un-billable time educating Directors of Marketing, COO, CEO's, Secretaries why they cant use images from their digital camera or jpgs from a Google-Search, the clients seem to be less and less educated about branding, having an original website and marketing material that their sales team will use as tools for more profits, but the argument is no one reads these 'handouts'.Does the client, the small business need an original website to get their message across and do 'handouts' play important role.
PERSONALLY
I feel as if I'm spend much more time then needed to educate, promote and having to jockey these questions from clients and explain why what we do as designers, developers and producers of 'art/media' are very important...and that templates are not the way to go.Any thoughts?
- d_rek0
original thought is on it's way out, prepare for hive mind.
- trooper0
just adapt and learn to design for wordpress then - theres always a need for bespoke design and anyway off the shelf, wordpress sux at SEO!
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- JG_LB0
Designers will never be replaced by templates. Business, regardless of revenue amount, will always need quality design. Some realize this and some don't.
- jbranda0
Strongly agree.
- jbranda0
More and more it seems that the 'home computer' has convinced the average small business user that they 'can' design or be a designer in a few simple hours...and not clearly understand what it takes to develop/produce a 4-color brochure with bleed or a website that is cross-browser friendly at 'X' amount of $$ per hour.
- b_electro0
Ever created a WP theme from scratch? I have and it's pain in the ass! Good, go out and don't take less than 5K young man ;-)
- modern0
Get better clients that don't basically use you to pretty up word documents into distribution formats
- jbranda0
Thanks, that's the goal. Find quality clients that appreciate and respect design. Still looking.
- dearhead0
The actual aesthetic part of design is just a means to an end, you should be paid for your ideas, concepts, your ability to execute them, and their ability to, ya know.. do something..
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