how to crit
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- sherm
some one dropped me a line asking about a rehashing of their website.
I in turn gave them a good old fashioned QBN ass reaming and thus have yet to hear from them.
I suppose I could kiss the gig goodbye... could care less really... but whats proper etiquette for critiquing a site when someone who may pay you asks for one?
site In question
http://www.clarias360.com/
- Jnr_Madison0
I don't think it's possible to have been too hard on this.
- peterorpete0
whats to crit?
- Nairn0
Answer honestly, but answer as if it were someone talking to you.
I dunno - I'm too blunt half the time. Whatever you said though - it probably wasn't harsh enough.
- peterorpete0
love the logo of the mutant fish
- skt0
you cannot be diplomatic about something like that. probably best off not hearing from them again if that is last thing they paid for.
- d_rek0
the proper way i was 'taught' to crit goes like this:
1. Start on a positive ("I like such and such...")
2. Slam the shit out of their shit. (This is garbage, your typography is like rotting flesh, only more rotten.)
3. End on a positive ("Despite the rotting flesh of your type the color pallette is very appropriate").Ending on a positive is important because if you end on something negative that's what most people remember.
- d_rek0
Also, you might turn a positive or two into a negative in this case.
- blaw0
Start with tangible, technical remarks: outdated, tables-based design; ambiguous meta tags not helping the cause; layout is too narrow and has no visual or informational hierarchy.
These are facts that cannot be refuted and highlight your knowledge of the industry.
- jamble0
I never give "feedback" on an existing site a client has unless they pay me to "review" it for them. If they want a site, they can pay for one and get all the suggestions and design work that goes into that as a project but not a review of an existing site done by someone else.
- Jnr_Madison0
You should of said you'd send them a crit by post, then mailed them a big jobbie.
- peterorpete0
just out of interest how did your old fashioned QBN ass reaming go like?
- 23kon0
aye, bear in mind theyve maybe spent a small fortune (a number of times) on a website getting built and each time it's not hit the mark.
dont just slag off what they have got and point in their face and be like "HAHAHAHA youve spent money on that piece of shit!"
best thing is to honestly crit what they have there, but more importantly - let them know that the best way to crit their site and how well it is performing for them as a company is by getting them in and speakign to them about whta their objectives for the website is.
a company could spend hundreds of thousands on a site that might give them nothing back in return, but by adding a "call me now" button, that could completely change things round.
before the dotcom bubble burst years ago people were throwing silly money at websites that gave the clients no return.
when this was realised thats when the bubble burst.
and these days, before even startign on a site, you need to know the purpose of the site.
- thebottlerocket0
Design practice isn't about point scoring, although it might seem like that at times.
Personally i would see it as less about what 'critique' to give or how to give it and more about 'what i want out of this job'. If someone came to me offering me work the last thing I would do would be try to score points and distance myself from the client, hence severing a relationship that could be beneficial to both parties.
- Kidswift0
I hope you told them to use more fonts. I found their site really distracting that they only changed fonts for every other heading.
- sherm0
@ peterorpete
i was kinda diplomatic at the same time now that i reread it.
================================...
Thanks for the inquiry. Here are my comments:
Whats not going on...
This site sells active wear but upon first impression, I don't get the vibe of a brand that represents an active lifestyle.
I'm not sure of the focus of the design of the site also. It appears to mimic aspects of a print based wholesale ordering catalog.
So it may be focused on wholesale opportunities rather than directly selling to customers themselves.
The design also needs an overhaul. Some people attribute design of a website to the quality of the products it sells.
You want a clothing site to wow people and suck them in to where they are saying to themselves:I want to be a part of this.
I want to buy this,
This is who I am or who I want to be.Right now that message is not being delivered.
What needs to be going on...
The design to reflect the lifestyle of an active person. The clothes are a tool but the brand is what makes the identity.
The images of the products shot over again. Showing people how other people wear the clothes while being active will instantly draw them in.
The contact page. This needs to work and lead to a form where you can ask a question or send a comment along.
An about us page. The company is all about active wear. I think the site should discuss this a little more.================================...
I provided these examples of active lifestyle brands
================================...Check this site out for an idea of what I'm talking about and what to aim for. Different companies but the brand and the lifestyle are prominent.
http://www.ridesnowboards.com/ho…
http://www.k2snowboards.com/home…
http://www.burton.com/default.as…
http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/ho…================================...
and then i asked for money
- thebottlerocket0
Did they actually ask for a critique? Or was it a work enquiry and you took it upon yourself to do that?
- thebottlerocket0
Well I don't think a 'critique' like that would be worthwhile for them and it certainly seems that if they don't come back then it wasn't worth it for you either.
Look, you probably know more about the client, but I would have gone and met them and spoken about what they needed.
- Glitterati_Duane0
Good crit. You did nothing wrong... Other than give free advice