Comments on: Do you use mock ups as a marketing tool?

By: rbdl

rbdl — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Maybe it’s how it should be for your projects because you know how everything else about the website is going to be run. Such as the backend, copy, SEO etc… All you need is the frontend design. But most web projects need more than just a design template. If a business only chose to hire a design firm because of a two day design mockup based on limited spec, there is a good chance of things not turning out as expected. On the other hand I prefer to sit down with my clients and go over in as much detail as possible all of their requirements, and show them how we can make their website a success.

This is a good read about designing on spec – http://www.zeldman.com/daily/0104h.shtml

In the end it depends on what you need, if all you need is a template then fine. But I probably wouldn’t waste my time on a project like this anyway.

A web design firm is not an advertising firm. To say “It’s how it should be.” devalues the work and many services that good design firms provide.

By: leadegroot

leadegroot — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I would have thought the legal implications were far to severe to encourage this sort of thing.
What if you hadn't chosen them, but 3 months later they found their design on your site?
and what if the design is sort of like their design?

Promoting this sort of approach does not help the industry.

By: charliemac1000

charliemac1000 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

To put a different spin on it, how do you know they don’t just have one ‘whizz-bang’ template that is personalised for each bid?

I appreciate that this is a simplified way of looking at it, but really, it�s not a bad idea if you can pull it off!

I�d much prefer someone to contact me and talk through what my requirements are, and I�m a big fan of a detailed reverse-brief that outlines exactly what they can offer with a good breakdown of costs.

Personally, I wouldn�t be too concerned about front-end design as I should be able to get a fairly good idea of what the company is capable of from their own website.

I do see your point though and it’s nice to have a company seem eager for the job.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

This is honestly the most idiotic way of doing business I have ever seen. So what you are saying is that in the space of 2 days this firm was able to architect and design a functional website mockup that follows all the rules good Information Architecture based on what? A description of what you want? What about a client survey, or a brief? What about the discovery process? What about taking the time to learn the clients business and design a website based on users needs? If you, the client were so smart, you wouldn’t be hiring a design firm to do the job. I think this type of mentality is part of the problem with web “designers” of todays day and age. These $500 dollar site wizards are digital sluts that don’t have a clue and should be flipping burgers instead. Sologig if full of these idiot designers and clients with ridiculous expectations. If you want a REAL design firm, don’t look at Sologig, get a referral or at least put out an RFP and let some real firms respond in a proper fashion. Or wait…I forgot, you wanted a 50 page site for what – $25?

By: type0

type0 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with charliemac1000 (and Andrew).

I just received a call today about a gentleman needing a website. He was only concerned with getting someone to build it, not how, but that they could do it.

To 'SHOW' that you can build a website for someone...well...shows that you can do it. You know the saying, 'Present for Show, Close for Dough'.

There's a reason why they say it.

If I was on eLance competing for a job with everyone else around the world, I'd present every arsenal I had.

By: ricktu

ricktu — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Sorry but I don't really agree with this. How can you possibly do a usefull design layout for a client until you've sat down with them and not only found out what they want from their site but also pitched a few suggestions to them that will help with their e-business.

For your idea to work I'd need to invest the time in building a spec with the client then spend the time involved to come up with a design based on that ground work. Thats at least half a days work for the equivalent of a fancy quote. Maybe you have the time for your staff or yourself to look after prospects this way but I certainly don't.

By: jlrosine

jlrosine — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I'm with you. We provide mock ups for about 90% of our potential clients. I didn't really think it was something new until reading your blog :). I just figured what better way to give the user some sort of clue about the functionality and design. You can bore them with long winded emails and calls they don't understand, or you can choose to give them simple instructions to a "demo" site that sucks them in.

It does work very well, but requires work. I guess people just aren't willing to put forth a few hours extra to get some jobs.

-Jeremy
Rocky Mountain PC

By: Pdx

Pdx — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I don't think that doing mockups/spec-work is helping the creative industry. It actually hinders it Ideas is what we as designers have as our selling point. It is bad to just give it away. If people need proof of our work, just show portfolio of client work done for others. If you are designer and sending in mockups for clients who arent yet paying you for them or may not pay you for them you are at risk in two ways. One is that the client may steal your designs. Seconldy they might steal your designs AND run with them with a less costly designer.

I just think that if you go the extra mile to build that portfolio of value, thats one thing to grab that client, but if you just give away not only your selling point, but free labour as well thats your own choice if you want to slave around w/o the guarantee of getting paid.

Spec work bad. Clients should know this. Designs count for a lot in terms of branding and image.

I also don't agree with eLance and those other bidding sites. They are hard and usually companies who bother to post on there know that the industry is competitively saturated and can just put their project out for bait to see who catches.

It's difficult because they have to make that choice of either getting what they pay for, or stealing ideas from desparate(?) design firms like Jeremy's and having other designers render them up and call them their own.

No give and take here. Did I mention that Spec work is BAD?

- Pdx, Toronto Canada

By: Jacob B�tter

Jacob B�tter — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Before starting my own internet agency, I used to work at an advertising agency. First as an art director, and when I chose to leave I was the Managing Director. I have done a lot of comps for clients, and this was actually one of the first tricks I implemented in the internet agency's strategy.

Our potential clients are blwon away by these, but here's how we do it:

1) We send a letter to the potential client; we haven't had any contact with the person before now. In this letter is a two-page review of their current website and two specially made mock-ups for their new website. I agree doing websites is more than just design, so usually we also place an idea for a sitemap, usability initiatives and so on.

2) Next day at about noon, we call up the company. Usually they've now read it, looked at the mock-up and is ready to make a decision whether or not they want a meeting with us. Usually (80%) the company wants a meeting at this stage.

3) 4) 5) 6) you can probably figure out, I just wanted to share my experience.

By: hurtdidit

hurtdidit — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

It's interesting to see what a hot topic this particular subject is proving to be!

I personally would never create a mockup on speculation. I've bid on projects where other designers submitted mockups, and the client didn't like the design so decided NOT to use that contractor. The competitor could easily have created any design the client wanted, but all the client knew was that the design they saw, they didn't like.

Design is so subjective--it's just far too risky to devote the time to create a mockup that might actually work AGAINST you.

Much better to put that time into a detailed proposal instead.