Web design is a complicated process that takes a lot of effort. It also requires a set of specific skills that not everyone has. In this case, your best bet would be to employ someone else to do it. An expert will not only take the workload but also offer a better result.
Overseeing a web design project is not easy work. You have to do various managing tasks. However, there are some pointers that you can follow to make the entire process a lot easier.
5 Tips for a Successful Collaboration with a Web Designer
Not all web design projects end successfully, even if the person hires a professional web designer. This list shows how a project manager can lead a great web design project:
1. Having a certain objective
As a project manager, you will be the person who makes sure that the vision for the design is achieved. You must know the objective inside out. The web designer will not be able to make the vision comes true without a clear overview.
These questions can help you formulate the objective of your web design project:
- Who are the targets of your website?
- How tech-savvy are your visitors?
- What features that should be included in the web design?
- How many web pages that should you design?
- What are the brand’s components that you want to include in the website interface?
- What kind of vibe that you want to evoke in the design?
Many people forget that web design is not artwork. While the esthetical value is a plus point, the most important thing is to make a usable website. The website should contain functions and information that are relevant to the users. That way, the website can grow according to your intention.
2. Finding a trusted web designer
The quest for a trusted designer is not breezy. You are likely unable to find the right one on the first try. In fact, making comparisons between designers that you encounter along the search is suggested. You just need to know what criteria that they need to fulfill.
Here are some ideas that may help you find a perfect fit for your project:
- The designer can present past works that are relevant to your design objective.
- The designer shows interest in discussing the project with you.
- The designer can answer your questions satisfyingly.
- You feel comfortable with the designer’s personality after several interactions.
- There are supporting testimonials from past clients.
- You should be wary about designers who are underpricing themselves.
3. Creating a clear and doable plan
Without the right plan, your web design project may not go in the direction you want. A project manager needs to work with the web designer to create a plan for the project. The following shows the recommended steps for planning development:
- Identifying the specific objectives of the design
- Listing tasks that the designer needs to work on
- Setting a clear timeline for the project
- Assembling team if necessary
The plan does not only need to be clear but also doable. A project like this cannot be rushed because it may require repeated testing and such. On the other hand, you are also restrained by a time constraint. You and the designer need to establish a plan that both of you agree on.
4. Comprehensive and transparent budgeting
Discussion about the budget should happen at the initial stage of hiring the web designer. Both parties should agree upon the price of this service. This can prevent future disputes.
To create a comprehensive web design budgeting, you can employ the following strategies:
- Determining the scope of the web design project (i.e., number of website pages, features, details, and so on)
- Identifying parts of the design that you can take care of on your own
- Web hosting and the chosen platform
- Deciding whether to price the service per project or per working hour
You should be prepared for an emergency in any project, such as an extension to the project. You need to discuss the budget if things go south like this.
5. Providing feedback to the designer
Feedback is a vital component in any project, not only web design. To achieve the design objective, you need to provide feedback to the designer along the way. Here are some ways to come up with great feedback on the design:
- Checking if the tasks in the list have been fulfilled
- Using the website as a user to check the user experience
- Paying less attention to contents that can be changed easily (e.g., photos and articles)
Good feedback is the feedback that is very specific to the issue. That way, the designer can solve the problem quicker. It is also necessary to provide feedback as early as possible. However, it does not mean that you should hover over the designer’s back or something.
These five tips should help you work together with the web designer of your choice more effectively. Web design is an investment that will benefit your brand in the long run; thus, it is important to take it seriously.
