Comments on: The Client Is Not Always Right http://www.jwphill3.com/web/the-client-is-not-always-right/ Sat, 01 May 2010 15:52:01 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jim Amos http://www.jwphill3.com/web/the-client-is-not-always-right/comment-page-1/#comment-2635 Jim Amos Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:02:31 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2007/06/07/the-client-is-not-always-right/#comment-2635 And sometimes the client can't be educated at all and all you can do is walk. <a href="http://www.mbwebdesign.co.uk/blog/nightmare-web-design-clients/" rel="nofollow">The anecdotes in this article</a> remind me why I don't particularly miss the full-time freelance life! And sometimes the client can’t be educated at all and all you can do is walk. The anecdotes in this article remind me why I don’t particularly miss the full-time freelance life!

]]> By: Nils http://www.jwphill3.com/web/the-client-is-not-always-right/comment-page-1/#comment-2631 Nils Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:07:20 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2007/06/07/the-client-is-not-always-right/#comment-2631 Sure, fair enough. I wasn't fishing for details, and I'm sure you've made the best decision for this company. Using a technique just because it's cool (or worse: because you've <i>heard</i> it's cool) is always wrong. Like I said, apologies for how my comment may have sounded. I just have strong convictions, and I'm happy to see you have too ;-) Sure, fair enough. I wasn’t fishing for details, and I’m sure you’ve made the best decision for this company. Using a technique just because it’s cool (or worse: because you’ve heard it’s cool) is always wrong. Like I said, apologies for how my comment may have sounded. I just have strong convictions, and I’m happy to see you have too ;-)

]]> By: J Phill http://www.jwphill3.com/web/the-client-is-not-always-right/comment-page-1/#comment-2630 J Phill Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:36:20 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2007/06/07/the-client-is-not-always-right/#comment-2630 Nils, of course I didn't get into a ton of specifics with the project mentioned above, because I'm trying to stay as vague as possible. I completely understand your point, however, certain technologies are for certain projects. Flash, does not belong in every kind of project, and this was one of them. Their site was very niche and specific in what they wanted, however, it was made obvious that they wanted flash for the "cool factor" and not because it would have helped meet the business goals of this project. So don't get me wrong, I am all about pushing forward with technology, however, some aspects of the web do not belong in every single project. And I did not believe that flash was suited for this project. I would rather play it safe and know that close to 100% of the visitors could use this site, rather than gambling and having only 90% be able to use the site. Nils, of course I didn’t get into a ton of specifics with the project mentioned above, because I’m trying to stay as vague as possible.

I completely understand your point, however, certain technologies are for certain projects. Flash, does not belong in every kind of project, and this was one of them. Their site was very niche and specific in what they wanted, however, it was made obvious that they wanted flash for the “cool factor” and not because it would have helped meet the business goals of this project.

So don’t get me wrong, I am all about pushing forward with technology, however, some aspects of the web do not belong in every single project. And I did not believe that flash was suited for this project. I would rather play it safe and know that close to 100% of the visitors could use this site, rather than gambling and having only 90% be able to use the site.

]]> By: Nils http://www.jwphill3.com/web/the-client-is-not-always-right/comment-page-1/#comment-2611 Nils Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:16:12 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2007/06/07/the-client-is-not-always-right/#comment-2611 Look, I don't know who that company was or what their product was about, but I don't really get it. I just turned 37 the other day, so... what, I can't use Flash? I remember when I was 20, thinking the world would end at 30. It's just not true. As technology evolves, so should we, whatever our age is. I've no doubt that you were able to dig up plenty of articles saying that such and such target audience is digitally illiterate, but come on... Those are the same articles that say people are still on 800x600. If I see someone's display still set at that rez, I just slap them in the face and change the settings myself (well, you know what I mean). You do have a point: the customer isn't always right, but in this case that would be the customer who refuses to look at a site because he thinks there's some kind of learning curve to the technology used behind it. Many of my (often younger) friends have no idea what I'm talking about half the time. They don't even recognize an RSS button. But I just have to see that as my task to educate them then. I know, it's a crusade ;-) Okay, reading over this again, I have to apologize for the rant-ish tone in this (I hope you appreciate my entry here as a contribution to discussion, not a rant), but it just pains me to see people 'stay behind' like this. And the decision made here just encourages this (even though as a short-term business decision it may probably even have been the right one). Yes, educate, but educate our end-users then, that's what I'm saying. Look, I don’t know who that company was or what their product was about, but I don’t really get it. I just turned 37 the other day, so… what, I can’t use Flash? I remember when I was 20, thinking the world would end at 30. It’s just not true. As technology evolves, so should we, whatever our age is.

I’ve no doubt that you were able to dig up plenty of articles saying that such and such target audience is digitally illiterate, but come on… Those are the same articles that say people are still on 800×600. If I see someone’s display still set at that rez, I just slap them in the face and change the settings myself (well, you know what I mean).

You do have a point: the customer isn’t always right, but in this case that would be the customer who refuses to look at a site because he thinks there’s some kind of learning curve to the technology used behind it.

Many of my (often younger) friends have no idea what I’m talking about half the time. They don’t even recognize an RSS button. But I just have to see that as my task to educate them then. I know, it’s a crusade ;-)

Okay, reading over this again, I have to apologize for the rant-ish tone in this (I hope you appreciate my entry here as a contribution to discussion, not a rant), but it just pains me to see people ‘stay behind’ like this. And the decision made here just encourages this (even though as a short-term business decision it may probably even have been the right one).

Yes, educate, but educate our end-users then, that’s what I’m saying.

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