Moral Dilemma #2
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- lyrek
Family member just hired with a company I've been pitching a Web site and application to. They're asking him to do it, tho he has no experience/skills w/ design.
Should I drop it? or push...
- ********0
how close is this family member?
- GreedoLives0
a bit of nepotism never hurt nobody.
- rasko40
why are they asking him to do it if he has no experience, I mean what, do they ask the secretaries to do the plumbing?
- lyrek0
he's pretty close. they're asking him because he does motion graphics and they need a web site...so they automatically assume he can do it.
don't laugh, another client that does it services was told to do a web site because 'you're the computer guy, right?' I get a bunch of clients from frustrated it and non-web design designers. :)
- loop0
1. do They know this person is related to you?
2. has this person led on to the fact that he/she might be able to swing it even if he/she isn't qualified? (we've all seen programmers who say they can design and vice versa. sometimes true. sometimes not.)
- lyrek0
Loop. good questions.
1. yep. i was interviewing for the contractual job the day before he interviewed for a motion graphics full time job. they persist that they want me to do the site and app, but have been asking him to do stuff "in the meantime."
2. He's maintained "i can try, but i don't really have any experience with this. and i'm definitely not skilled as a web designer." but he can't really say "no it's a conflict of interest" because he's new there...y'know.
if he did it, it would save them about 5K, but look like it did just that. :)
what would you do?
- Bio0
if you like your family member and felt that pursuing the client would jeopardize his job or could strain your relationship, then i would let this one go.
if it will cause him no harm and he understands that you are experienced and can do the job well, then he should step up and explain to his company that you are a great asset and that you really know what you are doing. if he really believes in you, and then you do a great job, then you will be doing him a favor by giving him a voice in the company. they will respect what he has to say in the future and will be sure that they made a good choice in hiring him.
unless it is like my last job. then they would shave his entire body, put him in a box with only a block of iodized salt and tell family members he died a year earlier of a non-work-related accident and feed him scraps of fried chicken and stale crackers until the planets aligned properly and "the ritual" was to occur. *shiver*
either way, family is more important than business.
- loop0
hm. he certainly didn't leave lots of room when he said "i'll try". it's good to hear they still want you to do the main stuff. i'd stay on them, get them to commit to a contract, and start!
as far as your relative handling things in the meantime... perhaps you can work with him to eliminate the need for stuff "in the meantime". perhaps updating some copy is ok and will tide them over until your new stuff is unveiled. he can draw the limits at implementing bandaid creative. (that's always a problem. and half the time it becomes permanent.)
scheme together. see what happens. and good luck!
- ********0
how about he says yes to the project then he hands it off to you as a side gig and gives you a cut of whatever he's getting.
sounds cheesy but it has worked for friends of mine before. if he's slick about it nobody really has to know, but he needs to know a little design to pull it off. if he learns from what you've done then he can perform some maintenance for you.
then there's that whole ethical question. . .
- brundlefly0
get him to art direct it, and you plug it together, thus it will be his design with your web saavy, they dont even need to know your involvement
- loop0
i assume the idea is do create a kick ass project that is totally legit and can be in your portfolio for future reference.. i'd stay away from anything shady. (somehow that always backfires)
but i like the idea of him art directing it a bit. whether he does or not isn't the point, since you say he isn't as savvy with this type of design project. if the company thinks he is coordinating the efforts, perhaps it will look nicely on you getting stuff started, and him fitting in nicely with the new job.
- lyrek0
All amazing suggestions. And at the thought of:
a. jeopardizing his job
b. jeopardizing our friendship
c. getting shaven and thrown in a boxI've decided that I'm going to confront his CD and have him spell out his intentions. My relative would be getting paid much less for it, but it'll look like it was designed by someone who's skills are in another industry.
What I'm thinking about saying:
"I'm still very interested in working with you and your team to build your Web presence. If budget is a concern I'm certain we can work something out. You and I share a common goal of creating a quality, impactive site. If you'd like me to do the design and development, or just provide creative consulting, that's up to you. How can I be of assistance?"