Client Rant
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- e-wo
"Think 'Eye Level' when placing anything on a page. Humans that we are directing this to read left to right and down. Put the buttons on the top and we've lost 'em. If you disagree, prove to me otherwise by showing me a site and it's success that does it another way."
- a client, tonightBy buttons, he means nav bar.
Truly, I have become a screwdriver in this situation. I tire of working with people who see me as a tool, rather than an advisor.
A motto to try out next week:
'Be an asshole about what you know you know.'
- monNom0
you should point to all other websites on the internet as your rebuttal.
- instrmntl0
It depends on what type of website they want.
here's upper and mid:
http://www.wk.commost are top nav tho, unless its a microsite. check FW Apple.com if you wanna find micro sites that dont adhere to the top. If its not a microsite, they may have a point.
- FredMcWoozy0
Who reads now a days?
LOL Eye level based on what? Your screen size? cell phone? That is pretty damn funny lol
- FredMcWoozy0
And you might want to show him major news sites.....I think they divide and box information pretty well for their users.
- e-wo0
Just imagine his response to my having comped things in lorem ipsum...
- At least it's left to right, top to bottom. Asshole will probably pretend he can read it.monospaced
- noneck0
How to fire a client:
Call the client and say, "I don't think that we're a good fit. I don't think either of us is happy with where this is going, so I'm going to end this now before we get in too far. Here are some people you should talk to about your project that you'll probably be happier with. I really think you should call XYZ Company. Thank you very much for the opportunity to work together, I wish you all the best."50% of the time when you try to fire a client they can't believe that it's happening, and try to address whatever it is they did to get fired.
You said, "I tire of working with people who see me as a tool, rather than an advisor." Do you have this happen often? If you do, then I'd say it's your fault. You're probably doing something to sell yourself as a screwdriver rather than an advisor. Either that or you're just really bad at figuring out which clients are going to be a headache.
- i_monk0
Your client is a buffoon.
- zenmasterfoo0
"I tire of working with people who see me as a tool, rather than an advisor."
It's why I quit my last job. Seriously, it's the sole reason. When you get to a point where you can tell the other person is waiting for you to stop talking and just do what they asked for, it's time to leave.
Be blunt. Tell them, what they need to hear - without of course sounding like a complete whiny ass. The best feeling in the world is when you lose baggage from your life. It's a freeing experience. More work will come, eventually. Your sanity and self worth are more important than the ego of your client.
- d_rek0
hey evin,
How are things at Tower? Been meaning to reach out to you guys and say hello!
Your client sounds a bit pretentious... maybe they just need some education? The whole 'eye-level' thing is sort of absurd and moot point if you assume the context we're talking about for the site is your typical LCD monitor that is also typically placed directly in front of the viewer. By that logic the monitor is always at 'eye-level'.
Sounds like they have some sort of presumptions about viewing content on-screen. I guess if I had to interpret their commetns they're probably looking for a site with a large masthead that eats up the top 1/3rd of their screen so that any content starts below that... just a few dwindling thoughts....
*gets more coffee
- Things are great, other than this project. Some big, challenging projects coming soon.
Yeah, this guy basically thinks he's an expert in a field if he has a friend who works in the industry. He's friends with some very ancient print advertisers, so he believes he's got a leg up on me as far as functionality goes.
I think he's probably something like 800 x 600. Which is kind of a metaphor for the whole interaction.e-wo - And yes, he's probably around 800 x 600.e-wo
- Things are great, other than this project. Some big, challenging projects coming soon.
- i_monk0
Solution: Cluster everything in the middle of the screen.
- vaxorcist0
hmmm.... could be due to bifocals.... did he just get new glasses?
- utopian0
The CEO decides he will now design his own logo instead....
- HA! I snorted ....zenmasterfoo
- were you talking about this? http://www.lordandta…jmilligan
- i_monk0
^ Ask which design school he went to.
- e-wo0
Luckily, this is not a frequent problem. A lot of low-paying, high-expectation clients try to hop in the pilot's seat, and I scold them. This guy is just unflinchingly pretentious.
Which is what I should have seen from the get go, and my bullshit meter has been adjusted accordingly.
- Everyone thinks they're the art/creative director.i_monk
- Samush0
i'm dealing with the same situation at the moment. really isn't fun, especially as its been happening for 10 months and as a freelancer I can't just drop the client, they still owe me money.
- e-wo0
So, if he's paid 75%, and I've done 60% of the work, is it fair to fire him?
- noneck0
Sometimes there's nothing wrong with a client that wants to drive, as long as you make peace with it.
One of my clients, since 2004, has given me pretty explicit instructions for all the work I do for them. "Ad needs to say 'blah blah blah' in gold type and black background. Make this bigger and move right." etc. They come to me with a pretty good idea of what they want from the start.
Now, this client is also pretty reasonable, insofar as that when I do what they want, they just say thank you and pay their bill. I've only had to quote them on two projects in six years. I bill them hourly for my time, and they pay me promptly and without question. Despite using me as a production artists, they're a very good client.
I'd rather do really great creative work for them–and I've tried–but I'm really happy with them as they are. I've made my peace with the relationship.
- Continuity0
God, I hate to invoke his name, but you could always point your numb-nuts client here:
http://www.useit.com/eyetracking…
I need a shower, now. >_<