client approval of wire frames
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- monkeyshine
Why? They never understand what they are looking at. I understand the value of content inventory and showing flow of content.
And...it often becomes contentious when the IA suggests adding design elements (i.e., color, positioning) to make it more clear to the client. Do you get sign off on wire frames before going into design?
- studderine0
the short answer in my limited experience, is the client signs off on wireframes understanding that it is showing hierarchy, content org. and so on....not the actual design.
- monkeyshine0
yeah, in theory that is what it's about but in my experience the client never really understands what they are looking at...a bunch of boxes on a page, half the time the content isn't even fully identified.
Maybe it's a bad wire frame or maybe it's a bad explanation of what expectations from the client are. I dunno though...I wonder if a simple outline with content areas for a page (clickable so you at least get a sense of page/content flow) wouldn't be better. :/
- ukit0
I often thought that the whole purpose of "user-centered design" was just a clever way to add more billable hours to the process.
- MSTRPLN0
some clients think that the wireframes are what the actual site will look like and get angry.
"we can do better for the design can't we?"
- _salisae_0
perhaps you could create a well designed pdf presentation walking them through the wireframe with a very clear introductory page that explains what they are looking at.
- PonyBoy0
it's hit or miss...
... there are always clients who 'get it' as they're not <em>morons</em>... but then you have plenty of them too...
... they're the same people (those morons i mentioned above) who look at an actual 'design comp' that's been clearly labeled and vocally verified that this comp is indeed for LOOK AND FEEL ONLY. Alas... that 'lorum ipsum' scares the shit out of them... I can only imagine how that client reacts to lorum ipsum... IN A WIREFRAME!!
:) bottom line... Account Managers & sales folks should pre-judge the client and see if they're capable of handling such 'updates' w/out losing their shit.
I got a few agency projects that have just been draaaaaggggging mad butt because the client needs to be educated at what they're looking at every step of the way. If it's a long-term client who's paying a monthly fee (server maintenance... hosting... site updates)... then yeah, you grab your ankles and smile knowing the sun comes up in the morning...
... else... no... don't share the freakin' wireframes... that's more of an internal blueprint (in my mind) that makes sure the AI, AM, AD (WHAT'S THE NEW GhAY-BUTT 2.0-FUCKING ACRONYM FOR A DEVELOPER?!!)... blah blah blah... TO MAKE SURE ALL PEOPLE WORKING ON THE PROJECT ARE 'ON THE SAME PAGE'.
- Jnr_Madison0
"...that 'lorum ipsum' scares the shit out of them..."
ha ha ha
- I once had a client that thought the mockup had been 'hacked' when she read the lorem ipsum text sample.ETM
- univers0
Take some initiative tell the client you need to sign off on them. Stick it to the man!
- PonyBoy0
what needs to happen is the IA/Ux-boom needs to bust and AD's need to get hot private Claire Forlani lookin' assistants that can draw a bunch of stupid shapes in Microtit Visio all day...
... or not...
... either way... these 'IA/Ux' folks are WAY OVERPAID and often bottleneck up precious time.
- hey ponyboy, i just started doing ux/ia (new to the scene). do a lot of designers kind of feel this way about ia/ux?studderine
- monkeyshine0
Thanks for the great response PonyBoy...you feel my pain. I'm not a fan of showing wire frames to the client but that's the way my company (and others in the past) have done it. I don't really have control at that stage of "educating the client." What typically happens is that things get said to the client such as "oh don't worry, that will be resolved in the design phase" which is essentially where it gets thrown haphazardly onto my plate.
AMEN! bottleneck is so true. I LOVE your idea of assistants who can draw stupid shapes...also, let's ban Visio while we're at it.
- Dancer0
"GhAY-BUTT 2.0-FUCKING ACRONYM FOR A DEVELOPER?!!)"
Lol