Comments on: Interview: Matt Davies on design process http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/ thoughts on | comments about | examples of } web design trends. Fri, 16 May 2008 20:52:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Tor Løvskogen http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75647 Tor Løvskogen Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:25:19 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75647 Do you do any offline sketching, in a notepad or the like? Another question, have you consider updating the site for your clients, for a fee of course - to have control of the site design? I've thought about this lately, and if the agree on it, it would result in a better page for the client. Do you do any offline sketching, in a notepad or the like? Another question, have you consider updating the site for your clients, for a fee of course - to have control of the site design? I’ve thought about this lately, and if the agree on it, it would result in a better page for the client.

]]> By: Matt Davies http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75657 Matt Davies Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:43:40 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75657 <p style="text-align: left">Tor, thanks for the questions. Yes I do sketch in a notepad but personaly I find that I only do this for concept driven stuff - like for example a concept which carries across web print and advertising etc. I may also sketch out rough layouts. I know others work differently but I mainly go straight onto a computer. I am fairly fluent with Adobe Illustrator and so find that sometimes its quicker for me to put ideas down through the computer than if I was to sketch them by hand.</p><p style="text-align: left">I do keep a sketch pad which I sketch out random ideas and put cuttings and printouts I like in. This sometimes helps with idea generation.</p><p style="text-align: left">Hmm, updating sites for clients. Yes I have thought about this and there are companies which offer such services. You have to have a very good relationship with a client and I normally think that most clients want to keep control on updates. A CMS system comes to mind... </p><p> </p><p> </p> Tor, thanks for the questions. Yes I do sketch in a notepad but personaly I find that I only do this for concept driven stuff - like for example a concept which carries across web print and advertising etc. I may also sketch out rough layouts. I know others work differently but I mainly go straight onto a computer. I am fairly fluent with Adobe Illustrator and so find that sometimes its quicker for me to put ideas down through the computer than if I was to sketch them by hand.

I do keep a sketch pad which I sketch out random ideas and put cuttings and printouts I like in. This sometimes helps with idea generation.

Hmm, updating sites for clients. Yes I have thought about this and there are companies which offer such services. You have to have a very good relationship with a client and I normally think that most clients want to keep control on updates. A CMS system comes to mind… 

 

 

]]> By: Tor Løvskogen http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75702 Tor Løvskogen Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:05:59 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75702 Thanks for replying. Yes, a CMS gives the client more control, but then again - the chances are their site would look like crap after two weeks :/ Thanks for replying. Yes, a CMS gives the client more control, but then again - the chances are their site would look like crap after two weeks :/

]]> By: Andrew Faulkner http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75714 Andrew Faulkner Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:29:40 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75714 <p>As for the issue with clients ruining their sites after launch, I'd favour the CMS idea - but one which allows them to change their content without breaking the presentation. Wordpress springs to mind (only as I regularly use it) - after handing over blogs/sites to clients, they're still looking good.</p><p>If it's a fairly static site though, a montly contract could work out best for both parties. </p> As for the issue with clients ruining their sites after launch, I’d favour the CMS idea - but one which allows them to change their content without breaking the presentation. Wordpress springs to mind (only as I regularly use it) - after handing over blogs/sites to clients, they’re still looking good.

If it’s a fairly static site though, a montly contract could work out best for both parties. 

]]> By: Andrew http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75736 Andrew Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:10:07 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75736 Great interview! Always inspiring to learn about the processes of other designers. Out of curiosity, how long after one of your projects goes live do you stay involved? IE: Helping the client learn about SEO, understanding rankings, etc or do you provide them with resources to answer those "post-launch" questions that can go on forever? Great interview! Always inspiring to learn about the processes of other designers. Out of curiosity, how long after one of your projects goes live do you stay involved? IE: Helping the client learn about SEO, understanding rankings, etc or do you provide them with resources to answer those "post-launch" questions that can go on forever?

]]> By: Matt Davies http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75822 Matt Davies Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:17:43 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75822 <p>It depends really. I am not a SEO expert and don't pretend to be. I normally get the client to contact somebody who specializes in that area. I know the code we produce is search engine friendly and we normally do the best we can when building the site but I personally come at these things from a design and branding background. Although I understand and respect the technical side I don't particularly enjoy it as much as the creative and marketing side. However saying that it has been known for me to help clients with getting links into their sites, thinking about second phases (eg adding a blog, pay per click, etc) which all assists in the overall strategy. Its horses for courses - depending on how large the client is and exactly what their requirements are. If they are SEO focused it might be best to get a SEO expert involved in the initial stages of the design if SEO is not the focus but getting something up if the focus then the SEO comes later. Its all about priorities (can I have that as a tag line?!!) </p><p> </p> It depends really. I am not a SEO expert and don’t pretend to be. I normally get the client to contact somebody who specializes in that area. I know the code we produce is search engine friendly and we normally do the best we can when building the site but I personally come at these things from a design and branding background. Although I understand and respect the technical side I don’t particularly enjoy it as much as the creative and marketing side. However saying that it has been known for me to help clients with getting links into their sites, thinking about second phases (eg adding a blog, pay per click, etc) which all assists in the overall strategy. Its horses for courses - depending on how large the client is and exactly what their requirements are. If they are SEO focused it might be best to get a SEO expert involved in the initial stages of the design if SEO is not the focus but getting something up if the focus then the SEO comes later. Its all about priorities (can I have that as a tag line?!!) 

 

]]> By: Andrew http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75888 Andrew Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:04:20 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-75888 Thanks for the response! I'm pretty much the same way. I let clients know that their websites will be built as search engine friendly as I'm capable of and I usually explain the basics behind SEO, PPC, and make similar suggestions (add a blog, exchange links, etc). Thanks for the response! I’m pretty much the same way. I let clients know that their websites will be built as search engine friendly as I’m capable of and I usually explain the basics behind SEO, PPC, and make similar suggestions (add a blog, exchange links, etc).

]]> By: Max Design - standards based web design, development and training » Some links for light reading (7/8/07) http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-77211 Max Design - standards based web design, development and training » Some links for light reading (7/8/07) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:51:06 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2007/08/09/interview-matt-davies-on-design-process/#comment-77211 [...] Interview: Matt Davies on design process [...] […] Interview: Matt Davies on design process […]

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