Hi all,

 

Just wondering how many concepts you normally generate for clients?

 

Do you set a pre-determined amount in the contract or a set time to work on them or do you use a different method?

 

Would love to hear your process and how you work on this stage.

 

I have only ever designed websites for my self or friends so I have never had to generate concepts for a paying client.

It's normally something I'd discuss at the initial meeting, sometimes people have a concrete idea of what they want and the brief is easy to work to. If they have no idea, it's easier to create a couple or 3 different designs and then take it from there. Usually taking features from the different designs and get them to work on a final design. This is then presented to the client and final tweaks are made.

 

Although this is ALL discussed with the client, they will always be kept in the loop about the cost of creating these concepts. Gauge what the client wants, its the best way to work. Ask them if they want these concepts to be made, sometimes they dont, sometimes it's best not

I include one initial comp and two revisions. Anything after that is billed at my hourly rate or added into the contract as needed.

 

In theory, I love the idea of providing three or four concepts to pick from, but with the amount of work that goes into a painstakingly pixel-perfect design, it's really not practical to present more than one. Besides, if you really need to present that many concepts, you should be wireframing and getting the client to decide on a wireframe layout first.

 

As a designer it's our job to advocate for the users, so we should be dictating as much as possible. Taking our clients needs in mind (and as much of their opinion as possible) and cranking out the best solution to meed business needs while maximizing the user experience. This tends to get watered down when you produce more than one concept at a time.

Good advice there chaps. I would have thought the complexity of the brief factors into the equation as well?

Good advice there chaps. I would have thought the complexity of the brief factors into the equation as well?

 

Maybe on absurdly complex sites, but in most cases you should be able to get your point across with wireframing or discussion with the client. There are always exceptions though, and if the situation warrants multiple concepts, put a note of this in your contracts and charge accordingly.

At work we only supply two concepts, sometimes just the one. But i believe(and i have suggested this to my boss) that you should give the client at least three page concepts which include a description of WHY you have designed it like that. In other words, explain to them the importance of usability, like why you have put a web form in the footer and why the search field is in the top navigation bar - things like that?

 

I have found adding a description helps prevent confusion and the inevitable "i know best" attitude from the client as it shows that you know what your talking about and your the pro, not them! How would they know about your crafty hidden feedback form that only shows itself when the user clicks a button(and any other jQuery animation)?

 

It's all good saying just do the one mock-up and hope the client likes what you have done, but without an explanation of the methods, they will most definitely ask you to change something, then something else and then perhaps something else? Thus, making more work for you and dragging out the project beyond the deadline.

Edited April 5, 201115 yr by neilp

It's all good saying just do the one mock-up and hope the client likes what you have done, but without an explanation of the methods, they will most definitely ask you to change something, then something else and then perhaps something else? Thus, making more work for you and dragging out the project beyond the deadline.

 

I thought it was understood that you ALWAYS pitch your ideas to your client. My one-mockup model works so well because I take the time to explain why my decisions were made and how this will affect the conversion rate (and the client's bottom line). You are absolutely right, we are the pros, and we need to reinforce this when we talk with the client.

Edited April 5, 201115 yr by porkchops

I thought it was understood that you ALWAYS pitch your ideas to your client.

 

If only my director would see it like that! Most of the time(and i mean 90% of the time) all i get is a few links to sites that the client likes the look of or a brief description of who they are and then open up Photoshop and try and wave the magic bloody wand! I have to ask and ask for content and then they wonder why it's taking so long!

 

If only i could talk to them first and explain how i roll, then i wouldn't be sitting here writing this with tears rolling down me face.

 

So, when i get a new project i create at least three concepts and overlay speech bubbles on things that need explaining which can only be seem once a button is clicked - using a bit of jQuery magic. I have done that twice now and things went as smooth as a baby's bum!

If only my director would see it like that! Most of the time(and i mean 90% of the time) all i get is a few links to sites that the client likes the look of or a brief description of who they are and then open up Photoshop and try and wave the magic bloody wand! I have to ask and ask for content and then they wonder why it's taking so long!

 

If only i could talk to them first and explain how i roll, then i wouldn't be sitting here writing this with tears rolling down me face.

 

So, when i get a new project i create at least three concepts and overlay speech bubbles on things that need explaining which can only be seem once a button is clicked - using a bit of jQuery magic. I have done that twice now and things went as smooth as a baby's bum!

 

That's rough dude, sorry to hear that. Thankfully my day job is all on internal stuff, so my only 'clients' are the UX lead (my boss) and the CEO.

Thanks everyone,

 

a lot of advice there. I guess a lot of it is down to personal preference and what you learn through experience.

 

I think that due to my inexperience I would probably prefer to draw up more than a single concept for a client.

 

 

Sorry to hear about that Nielp, I work in a similar situation in my profession so I feel for yah!

I always show my client only one single concept. But it does not mean that I don't send to the trash can 2-3-4 and more versions with the manu propria during the working process.