Design & HTML

[Hitch]

Hey,

A few days ago on Digg, someone posted a article about Freelancing, one of their points was,

I thought this was supposed to be coded? I’d like my money back.
If you’re like me, you love the Photoshop aspect of design and can’t stand coding. I generally just create .PSDs and refer my clients to a good coder to get their project finished up, or handle the outsourcing myself and hand over the complete package. I’ve run into quite a few clients though, that never mention a word about front-end coding until it comes time for payment. As soon as the phrase “my PayPal address is ..” comes up in conversation, the words “I thought this was going to be coded” flies right back and slaps me in the face. So, after my first encounter with this situation, I’ve kept logs of all my conversations so that when someone tries to get free coding out of me, I can send them a large text file and tell them so try to find the words “coding”, “HTML” or “CSS” in it.

On the Digg comments, people were disagreeing with the Article a user wrote (Above)

Some say, when they order a "Website Design", they expect the Design, and the Design coded in HTML, though, some disagree.

So, what's your thoughts?
Would you expect the Design to be coded in HTML or not, when asking for a "Website Design"? :tu:

Adrian

 

[Albino]

I wouldn't expect it coded.

imo if you ask for a "design", that is what you should get. if you want it coded, you should say coded design.

 

[enlytend]

Different clients have different expectations and differing amounts of knowledge about web sites. You're always gonna find people who are naive enough not to understand that "coding" is a whole different discipline. If a design isn't going to be coded, best to make sure they understand that up front and so everyone's on the same page.

 

[shockie]

best to make sure ... everyone's on the same page.

i agree. and even as a designer, you should tell your client up front that you will not be coding, rather than just passively not mentioning the terms coding, html, css, etc. disclosing this information and being honest can really help your reputation and future business.

 

[smithp0]

The designer is the "expert" and should ensure that he/she is giving the client what they want/need and also knows exactly what they are paying for.

Unless you don't want repeat customers and a good rep

 

[WhiteWebServices]

If you aren't going to code a design, I think that needs to be made clear up-front.

Many clients don't understand the process of getting a website up and running, and are relying on their designer / developer to guide them through the process. Being clear about what services you're providing and what will be left for them to get done afterwards is pretty fundamental part of this.

If they didn't know what they were buying, then telling them at the end of the job that when you said that you'd design a website for them what you meant was that you'd make them a picture of how you think it should look will just lead to web designers being classed with car salesmen, personal injury lawyers, and politicians as people who should never be trusted. None of us needs that.

 

[shockie]

... will just lead to web designers being classed with car salesmen, personal injury lawyers, and politicians as people who should never be trusted.

...but no offense to the car salesmen, personal injury lawyers, and politicians out there

 

[UneekTT]

Wait a second here, this is freaking NUTS!

I have owned a web design company for over 5 years (just so you know my background) and I have NEVER heard of that.

When a client ask's me to give them a web site or a complete web solution, they never even hear the word "code"! I would never want to confuse them, unless I felt comfortable that they would be able to understand what I was talking about (and I have only had 2 clients that have been able to understand)

Regardless, I am not sure we are all talking about the same thing here.

I think that there are multiple different aspects in design/development and I will be the first to say that I am not expert in anything. Maybe a jack of all trades. Just like cars, there is nobody that knows everything, and I will give an example too just so we all know what page we are on here:

Cars:
One guy makes the body, another knows the electrical, and another knows suspension and brakes, while there is another that knows the motor/transmission. Now, the guy that knows electrical does not know all that much about the internals of a motor, or even the suspension, and coversely the guy that knows about the motor probably does not know all that much about the body work or even the braking system and more than likely he is not electrical engineer.
Web:
I am a designer, and I am not a programmer, or a certified database expert, nor do I know all there is to know about SEO, although I know some, I am no expert. Much like the programmers of the world, I would not suggest to have any of them DESIGN your site.

To sum this all up, I think the guy that has photoshop skills, and does not know how to code, should not be selling web design to clients and then asking them to have it coded somewhere, or attempting to outsource unkowingly. I would feel a lot more comfortable if he was working for a guy like me, where I could give him direction as well as keep the client informed and happy.

Thats just my thoughts - thanks for giving me something to write about on my blog - lol

P.S. Little confused too - Originally posted by DesignersMind.com (and it looks like that is a pretty well designed site IMO) - crazy!

 

[Halobitt]

DesignersMind has added an extra bit of info:

Sidenote: After many comments regarding this point, I thought I should add this. My clients know that I outsource my coding work, and I make this very clear. This point refers to clients that try to get free work out of you, which is quite common these days.

which changes things a little if the clients know up front what they are getting into.

 

[TylerLemieux]

I'm the owner of DesignersMind and I posted that article. I should've been clearer in the original post, but after enough comments regarding the subject I added a bit to clear things up. My clients are well aware if I'm not handing them a coded product, although I do offer the service if I have the time. Sorry for the mix up!

 

[Swefx]

The person who is making the design should specify. Alot of people would be expecting a design to be coded and it's much easier to tell them at the start other than after they have payed. Maybe they wouldn't have payed as much if they knew the design wouldn't be coded and therefore they feel like you cheated them.
I'm not saying anyone cheated them it's just clients can get the wrong idea easily. I find 50% of my freelance work is from people I've worked with in the past.

These days I've always got some freelance work to do because all my clients come back to me.

The bottom line is to specify everything.

 

[WhiteWebServices]

My clients are well aware if I'm not handing them a coded product, although I do offer the service if I have the time. Sorry for the mix up!

Very glad to hear it!