Wow, I've been so ticked off I can't hardly see straight for a few days now. Anyhow, I have been working with this designer. I viewed his portfolio it looks really good, I gave him specific instructions on several things (like colors, style (web 2.0), gave him an example website we liked and wanted to mimic closely to, etc.).... however, we're having trouble getting the design we want from him. First off he presented a logo, we asked him to make a few changes on it, he did. So the logo is pretty good in terms of what we want. However, the entire rest of the site is just slapped together. It doesn't reflect the work he's done in his portfolio at all. I have stretched stock images, terrible buttons, a lot of the stuff doesn't match the specifications I asked for, etc. I'm thinking about asking for a complete refund and not use any of his work. Do you think this would be fair?
You should certainly tell him you cannot use any of his work. However as someone who had to "design" a web page with a client who only knew what he liked when he saw it but didn't know what precisely he wanted, I understand that what you see in the work and what the designer sees in the work can be very different things. Even pointing at sites you like, you need to send even more specific instructions. Better yet, if possible, sit down with paper and two notebooks and discuss big and little points. Or do it on Skype or the phone. You two need a live conversation, preferably where you guys can see what the other is talking about. Assuming the guy is being serious and really is trying his best and not passing off some sh*t for some easy money. PS if he's not agreeable to work with you on the design, then pay him for the logo and state you will not use the design. You DID have a signed contract with him, correct?? only smart way to do it.
You should ask for a refund. In cases like this it is wise to pay half up front and half on delivery. That way if the guy turns out to be a fraud you only lost half of what you were willing to pay. Chances are he will not give you your money back.
The guy is so cheap, i'm not too concerned if I lose it all. But, I think it is a matter of ethics right now. I have to admit, the guy has been willing to work with me. We've had him do a few revisions but I don't think he's putting in as much effort as what he has on those sites in his portfolio. In fact, i'm beginning to question whether those site designs were actually done by him or not. I think what I may do is request 50% back, keep the logo, and have someone else do the rest of the site. He even told me "well, once I get the logo done the rest won't take me long at all". Which was probably a red flag because he really did just slap the rest of it together.
Ah, that's a possibility. Also, someone who makes really quality work will charge what to you would seem outrageous, so if he's cheap in your eyes yeah, that may be a red flag. If you know someone with a job like yours who has worked with a graphics guy, see if you can ask for a second opinion (better than on some forum lawlz). Or get the opinion of a graphics guy if you know one who you trust.
Yeah, unfortunately I don't know of anyone who has done a site like the one we are needing. However, the site really isn't that difficult in my personal opinion. I could do it myself, I would just rather not.
I totally sympathize with you, and even though sometimes it's a matter of communication break down, I doubt that this is the cause. And then there's also the case of personality clash. But if the artist cannot edit images properly, is he really a professional designer? I THINK NOT! One thing I am trying to educate people about is to hire an SEO web designer. See my article here: Why You Shouldn’t Hire a Web Designer!
I always tell my clients if there is anything that they are not completely happy with, even if it's just a small thing then don't hesitate to let me know and I will rework it until they are happy (obviously within reason not just because the client keeps changing their mind). If he agreed to give you a design close to the site you showed him, then I would remind him of this and make a list of all the areas you feel do not match up, for example if he has given you "horrible buttons" state to him that you wanted a proper menu as on the site you showed him, if you feel that the pictures are stretched tell him that too, any area that you feel he is not matching what he initailly agree to, them tell him. At least if you give him a detailed list he has a chance to put it right. If after that you are still not happy then you need to be really straight with him and tell him that you are not happy and see what his responce is. Dee
You get what you pay for. Part of the reason designers get paid a good couple of $$ is because they not only have the skills to execute the design... But to wring the right information out of a client to get the project done. That and, simply saying web2.0 is kind of like asking the designer to make it a blueish color. I have one client I'm really enjoying working with. He gave me on e-mail with a good 10 sites, saying that he likes the look of this one, instead of that, etc... It's working great. If it's a serious contract he should be giving you 2-4 designs and having you choose, then doing revisions. Not just bouncing a template back and forth making one tweak at a time. But if you're paying this guy $200 for an identity design and custom interface... you can't expect the next adobe.com. You may well end up wasting more of your $$ and time trying to get him to do it, than you would just doing it yourself.
And you're very right. too many people who can code html and have ms paint are calling themselves web designers. They try to make a quick buck and neglect to study the real workings of the web. Attention to SEO, w3 standards, proper security and site optimization are all things that a web designer should produce. Unfortunately, not everyone who is able to talk their way in to a contract is able to deliver these features. And 9/10 "web designers" out there are giving the actual "web developers"; not only, a run for their money on decent contracts, but a bad name, by delivering sup-par work at prices far below the industry standard.
^ why I do not actually call myself a "web designer" because to most people that means something to do with design, which I can sometimes do but generally suck at. I don't design well, I code well. I can do the SEO, valid and logical and accessible code, and understand basic principles of design on the web as opposed to print... so I say I'm a "web coder" which sounds more correct. Often web coders end up working with graphic designers who come from (or went to school in) the print world. Print is totally different from web, and it gets frustrating to work with print guys sometimes.
web-coder... Yeah, I think the jury is still out on what to call all of the different breeds of net-geek. webmaster? webmarketer? webdeveloper? webdesigner? sitemasher? information sytems tech? it's getting confusing.
I find it odd that a "web designer" would leave stretched out images and buttons which don't look right. I would sit down with the guy and explain this to him, maybe ask him to do a little bit of the changes you want infront of you so you can verify he has skills. If he's got a fake portfolio and was trying to blag it then I think you should get a full refund.
Oh trust me, I gave this guy a list of things, even made suggestions. For example, I originally told him I wanted a stock image of a doctor (or someone in a white coat) included in the design. He put one in there, but it was just kind of thrown over on one of the side menu's. I asked him to incorporate in the design, suggested how he could do it, and still, he ended up giving me two doctors on the design, both thrown into the area that I told him I DIDN"T want them. Not to mention the fact that I emailed him my list and he responded within 30 minutes with the correction. I was hoping to have someone who would invest a little bit more time. Anyhow, he did refund me my money for the design seperate of the logo. I went ahead and paid him full price for the logo he did, which I thought was decent.