Hiring designers.
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- SimpleIrony
I'm at a bit of an impasse this evening. I've been working on a conceptual design where the requirements are so open ended that I can think of several dozen different ways to execute it. The goal is really to see what ways this can be built and then to test it with potential users and see if it fits the overall strategy.
Now, I'd like to recruit the input of other designers, but I'm not sure about the most effective way to do so.
Most of the other designers I know want to take on the whole project individually, when such a role is unnecessary at this point - and it also limits soliciting ideas from a wide range of people. I'm more than willing to compensate them for their time, but conceptual work is also usually a brief engagement. Posting publicly to forums doesn't fix the compensation piece, either. And, we won't even get started about something like 99designs.
Thanks in advance.
- airey0
well a problem you'll have is that if you ask 200 designers their opinion you'll come close to getting 200 different ideas. and they'll all be right. fence sitting will never work. shortlist some or choose a couple you trust and find a single medium sized studio/firm and run with them.
a camel is an elephant designed by committee.
- forcetwelve0
whats the brief?
- SimpleIrony0
That is the second time I've heard the camel mention today, although it was by someone who is arguably an engineer.
200 different ideas is fine as I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer to this problem. It's just trying to get those ideas for consideration, which is what I'm finding exceedingly difficult. It's almost like the need is to put together a designer focus group.
- how are you arguably and engineer? i just reread this and had to ask? surely you are or arent?airey
- forcetwelve0
please clarify if this project is:
a) web
b) print
c) identityso i can determine if i will continue my involvement.
;)
- airey0
alright. to cut the bullshit for a second.
1. what's the timeline you are hoping to have a solution by?
2. what's the budget (ballpark) that you actually have?
these are 2 things that actually get things done. if you want to ask designers / developers for their ideas you have to pay. that's half our IP. the more you ask the more cash you're going to need.
as you're already aware of 99 designs i'm a tad concerned for your future here as we're not the crowd that are going to do say a corporate ID for $220.
just trying to help you along man.
- airey0
and looking at your website:
http://www.hello.com/
"We're shutting down Hello to focus our efforts on the development of Picasa and Picasa Web Albums and other photo sharing efforts, including Talk and the new OpenSocial effort. Our goal continues to be making photo management, editing and sharing as easy as possible."please don't tell me you've wandered in here with the idea that you're setting up the next facebook / twitter / whatever. please? if you are that's the 2nd one in the last 30 minutes. you're not right?!? please say you're not?!
- Hello.com is what gets entered when QBN forces a website entry and haven't finished reconfiguring the domain entries for you real home. :) It would be a great address to have, though.SimpleIrony
- SimpleIrony0
In a perfect world, the timeline is 3-4 weeks with a budget of $2,500. The project budget is higher, but I'm also assuming that this involves none of the eventual coding or execution.
As for 99designs, it came up because its one of the first suggestions that was offered for soliciting the input of a larger group. I'm against that type of model because a) it devalues the work of designers, b)encourages rapid prototyping without understanding the true needs and scope of the project, c) only compensates only designer despite the efforts of others.
- airey0
right. cool. that's a start!
i suck so i'm out. good luck though.
- monNom0
just pick something and run with it. 99% of the value of any web property comes from it's nurture AFTER the design phase. You likely wouldn't know a good design yet anyways... good design for WHAT?
- ********0
If you feel like you don't have enough parameters to narrow down to one specific design then stay away from designing now. You will be wasting money, wasting a bunch of designer's time, and irritating everyone involved.
What you should be doing is making a statement of work and a brief that are both super specific that take into account all your requirements.
If you have this and you feel like it's not enough to generate one common design, go with the first one that seems to work for you.
Rapid prototyping is generally a waste of time IMHO. Take one design that you can stand behind and massage it until it's right.You don't need a larger group to design. You need one strong designer to get to know the ins and outs of the solution.
- +50forcetwelve
- sounds right but i've followed this dude before. still haven't got my shoes back.airey
- forcetwelve0
yeah - more designers will just confuse it. just get a good one and go with them, and you'll both learn along the way and feed off each other to get the job done.
- look up a qbn member called lloyd.airey
- i'm familiar with his workforcetwelve
- ********0
Think of this like a dinner you need to prepare, and the design is the menu and recipe. Can you get it done with 50 designers each submitting a menu to you and then taking a bit form here and there and expecting it to taste good?
- yes.airey
- yes you can.airey
- and by yes,airey
- i mean no.airey
- designers being the chefs.. too many in the kitchen.. you get the idea********
- sorry, who's the busboy in your story?airey
- that would be the uh... Project Manager?********
- what about the food and health inspector that turned up for a last minute surprise check!airey
- The QA of course, or the usability company hired by the client to make sure they are getting a good meal********