Working with a designer can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, once you get the hang of it, it's actually a lot of fun! If you're working with someone for the first time and feeling a little nervous about how things will go down (or wishing you could back out) here are some things that I've learned over the years that might help.
1. Have an idea about the look and feel you'd like for your site.
Before you begin the process of hiring a designer, it's important to have an idea of what you'd like your site to look like. This will help the designer understand your brand and goals, which makes their job easier and ensures that they'll provide high-quality work that meets your needs. If you don't know what kind of site design would work best for your business, consider starting with a blank canvas so that the designer can create one from scratch.
2. Be willing to collaborate with your designer
It's important to remember that your designer is there to help. They are not a dictator, but rather an ally in your quest for visual perfection. Be open to feedback and willing to make changes when necessary--this will ensure that the final product is something both you and your designer can be proud of!
The best way to get your designer on board with your vision is to be as clear and specific as possible. This will help them understand exactly what you're looking for, which in turn will make it easier for them to do their job. They also have the technical know-how and creative expertise to help you elevate your vision, so it's important to be open to their suggestions, even if you end up not implementing them.
3. Be clear about what you need accomplished.
As a designer myself, I love to hear about your goals and why you want to achieve them. This helps me understand what's important to you and how I can best help with that. It also makes sure that we're on the same page about what's going on with your website--I don't want to spend time making something beautiful only for it not fit into your strategy or suit your needs!
When working with a designer, try not to describe what you think you need, and instead describe the goals of your site (how will it help you achieve them?), who its audience is (are they existing customers? Potential new ones?), and how much money is available for this project (can we do something simple now or do we need extra time?). Your designer is there to help you accomplish as much as possible with your website within the given budget.
4. Trust your designer's expertise
As a client, you should trust your designer's expertise. They've been trained in the field and have years of experience working with clients like you. Designers know what works and what doesn't, so they'll be able to tell you if something is a no-go or not. They're also trained to understand the end user's needs and experiences and this perspective lends to creative solutions that could improve upon an idea or fix any problems that arise during the design process.
If you have a specific idea in mind, it's important to communicate that with your designer. Be sure to explain what you like about the design, as well as any changes or modifications that you'd like to see made.
5. Give thorough feedback
It's important to give your designer thorough feedback. The more information you can provide, the better they can make your design. Some quick tips on how to give helpful feedback:
- Give feedback in a timely manner. If something is bothering you, let the designer know right away so they can address it before it becomes too late for them to fix anything.
- Give specific examples and explain why they bother you or don't work well for users (when applicable). Saying "this looks bad" isn't helpful; instead say something like "the font size is too small and makes my eyes hurt." This will help ensure that both parties understand each other's perspectives on what needs improvement--and why!
- Focus on what works well about designs rather than critiquing every element from top-to-bottom every time there's an update (unless there are major issues). You'll save yourself time by focusing only on things that need improvement rather than nitpicking everything about every iteration of every page layout or button color change request over the course of several weeks/months/years :)
6. Don't be afraid to ask questions
It's okay to ask questions.
As a client, you might be nervous about asking too many questions or not knowing exactly what to ask in the first place. But there's no reason to feel this way! A good designer will be happy to answer your questions--and they'll probably have some of their own as well. Asking questions can help you clarify what they're doing, make sure you understand the scope of their work, and figure out how they can best help you achieve your goals with them (and vice versa).
7. Trust your gut instinct
So you've found a web designer and they seem like they're a good fit. But what if something doesn't feel right?
Take your time to get to know them. If something feels off, it probably is. It's important to trust your gut instinct when hiring someone to work with you on such an important project -- whether it be for business or pleasure!
If there are any questions about the process or what's involved in designing a website, don't hesitate to ask them as many times as necessary until all of your questions have been answered satisfactorily so that both parties have an understanding of what will happen next.
Working with a designer shouldn't be scary or daunting, it's actually a great opportunity to learn new things about yourself and grow as an entrepreneur
When you work with a designer, you're working with an expert in their field. They know what works and what doesn't, which means they can help you build a brand that is aligned with your values and communicates your message effectively.
You might think this sounds too good to be true--but it's not! Designers are highly skilled professionals who have been trained to create beautiful products for people (like yourself). A designer will understand what types of colors work best together and how those colors affect moods or feelings; they'll also know whether certain fonts fit better with certain brands than others do. The more time they spend learning about your company's goals, values and mission statement, the easier it will be for them to create something amazing that reflects all three things at once!
Key Takeaway
Working with a designer can be scary, but it doesn't have to be! The most important thing is to remember that designers are people too--they're there to help you get what you need from them and make sure that the process of working together goes smoothly.