Designing without content
Out of context: Reply #9
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- mikotondria30
It can be a nasty and necessary part of getting work in the door, but it really feels like getting it out the door. It does take a certain siege mentality to be able to put the emotional, artistic and physical effort into every tiny corner, every color, every line and alignment and rhythm, and know that it might all be changed. It really feels like it might all be for nothing, but in fact it might all be for everything. It feels more like carrying the client on your pack than holding their hand. It feels like you are creating a vision for the company in far greater depth than they've done.
I'm not a fan of Lipsum. I would advise not doing it. If you can write even half-decent copy that clearly resonates with your client's business, then do that - it can be more powerful than the more finessed points of the design. Hit them with a great logo treatment, the right colors, and some concise, flattering headlines. Much more investment in exactly what that third item in the sidebar is for, or the precise wording of the maillist sign up is wasted. It has to capture the essence of the company for the prospect quickly, and people read, and they read quickly. Lipsum has a very neutralizing effect on a first-look design. It's great for designers ourselves, and to communicate between each other, and even when some way down the road with a current client, finalizing layouts for a project, but for the pitch, research some real words. Content is king - our role as designers is to give life to that content, and the client's message and brand and viewpoint, as clearly as possible.
The size of this or that photo, or the number of items in the menu there, or the width of the article teaser below the fold etc etc probably will change, don't sweat it, what a client wants to see is that you can give voice to their vision. If the design works in that regard, they won't see it, they will just see themselves, and then it's in the bag.- Nice, thanks.Maaku
- This 100%. If they buy it, 9/10 they don't know the details of why they bought it.cannonball1978