Five Key Steps to Take Before You Hire a Web Designer

August 22, 2011 by GingerKid · Leave a Comment 

Questions and AnswersI often have small businesses and entrepreneur come to me wanting to start up or improve their website for their new business.  However most of these people come to me totally unprepared, not knowing what they want, how they will market themselves on the web or even what content is going to be on their website.

Unfortunately this can really hold back the development time for a website.  I can confidently quote a two week turnaround time on a website if everything is organized and submitted by my potential client.  However, if this isn’t the case, which is more likely then not for most, it can drag the completion date on for weeks or even months because I am waiting on the client. Read more

200 Wanna-be’s vs. 1 Bonafide Designer

February 16, 2010 by GingerKid · Leave a Comment 

I was inspired today when a coworker of mine passed on this blog post, “American Airlines Web Site: The Product of a Self-Defeating Design Process”.  To sum it up it’s about a designer, Dustin Curtis, who was absolutely disgusted by the American Airlines website. So much so that he redesigned it and send a public letter to AA expressing his disappointment.  One of the Designers replied to Dustin’s letter saying “The problem with the design of AA.com, however, lies less in our design department and more with the culture and processes employed here at American Airlines”. Read more

The Ongoing Battle Between Web Design, Marketing and SEO

February 16, 2010 by GingerKid · 1 Comment 

meeting conflictIn my industry, graphic design, I find I’m always arguing with the marketing team.  This isn’t because they aren’t nice people ­– they’re all swell – or because I’m confrontational – I’m the most laid back person I know.  Mainly, it’s because we have different goals.

I know this seems a bit strange, considering our goal should really be the same, to sell, promote and market our products, but to a designer it’s all about looks and to a marketer it’s all about sales… So sometimes we don’t always see eye to eye, especially when a design is compromised for the sake of reaching yet another target market. Read more