We get lots of wonderful designs to turn into fully functioning websites here at Big Dot Media, and on the whole we love turning the vision of the creative agency into something that works well on the web. Sometimes though, we do stumble across problems especially when working with Content Management Systems. When the client of the agency has requested a content management system, the client assumes they will be able to edit every aspect of every page with their sparkly new CMS and never have to engage a designer or agency again. The reality is, there may be very little they can edit, even with a great CMS. Why? Well let me tell you..
The main issue is that if your client requests a CMS, generally you, and therfore we, will have no way of knowing how they will edit their website in the future. For instance, will they be adding new pages? They might say no right now, then change their mind in three months. How do you plan for that possibility in your design. What if the main navigational menu that you have designed fits perfectly and evenly across the width of the website, and they add two new pages into the main navigation – result = broken layout.
And here’s another example. What if one of the pages has two paragraphs of copy. You have carefully designed all the imagery, gradients, columns and buttons to ‘house’ this copy with pixel perfect precision. Two weeks after the website goes live, the client decides to add another eight paragraphs of copy to this page – result = broken layout.
Now, there is an easy answer to all these, and other related challenges. Design flexibilty. Now, come on designers, don’t start moaning at me! Let me explain…
The right process starts with ‘account management’ and the creative brief. When you run through your planning meetings with the client, and they have requested a CMS, really drill down into what they want from the CMS. What kind of changes are they expecting to make? Will they want to add or take away main navigational pages? What about sub-navigation pages? What kind of control do they want over the imagery? All these factors have to be taken into account when you brief in creative. And then we need to know when you brief us, unless of course we have attended the pitch and planning meetings with you.
If we know what is likely to be edited, we can advise you of potential problem areas and possible solutions in the design. Note that I am not talking about giving you design suggestions. We are not designers, but we know what works and what doesn’t work from a build point of view.
As a partner, we’re here for you every step of the way, to enable you to offer the fully-integrated service. So why not ask our advice before you present creative to a client, just in case. Otherwise you could show the design to a client who loves it, then you show it to us and we say something needs to change. You know that most of the time we build it exactly as you have designed it, but occasionally there is an issue that needs to be addressed and we would not be doing our job as a ‘Trusted Partner’ if we did not address them with you.
Account Management, Creative and Developers all approach the same website with a different set of objectives. Add the client ( “I want our logo bigger”) into the mix and you have a lot of input that needs to be addressed.
Use us as a sounding board for these issues, get us involved early so we can advise and support through all stages of the project. Its what we are good at. The balance between design and functionality is often a minefield of technical, creative and political issues, but we are always here to help and support whenever you need us.
By the way, if a client says to you “can we make the logo bigger?” – point them in this direction
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