Artistic Integrity Vs. Client Wishes?

Originally Posted by Seb Well the reason I say it's dishonest is because you're implying that the design you show was the design the company chose, which may not be true.

He still created it though, so I don't see anything wrong with showing his work.

So my question is... do people in small businesses find themselves more comfortable with a crappy looking business site than an artsy one?

From what I've seen sadly, yes they do.

At the end of the day they have hired you for you expertise. But if they want a ****ty design, and not valuing your input, just give them what they want and dont add it to your portfolio.

Yeah. With the deadline and all I think I have no other choice.

If you want 'artistic integrity' (lol), live under a bridge and paint with mud. Freelancing is a business, get used to it.

Originally Posted by Gurnk He still created it though, so I don't see anything wrong with showing his work. From what I've seen sadly, yes they do.

Because "artsy" doesn't always translate into good. And unlike "designers," most people don't give a crap about design, as long as the content is accessible and all the functions of the website are usable. Artsy just means extra embellishment, extra style, and extra flair. Some small businesses don't want all that and just want a plain, presentable website. And there *is* a way to satisfy them, to make a website simple and classy, without going the artsy and sleek route.

Originally Posted by Josué Because "artsy" doesn't always translate into good. And unlike "designers," most people don't give a crap about design, as long as the content is accessible and all the functions of the website are usable. Artsy just means extra embellishment, extra style, and extra flair. Some small businesses don't want all that and just want a plain, presentable website. And there *is* a way to satisfy them, to make a website simple and classy, without going the artsy and sleek route.

Very true. Sometimes though, people can force you to use really crappy stuff, like bad photos and graphics, that don't even accomplish the simple classy goal. Ah well.

I have my original design of the page, I suppose I could put that on the portfolio.

I would do that - it's not dishonest or misleading because your client paid you for a design and you are showing what was presented to them. Eventually, many designs change as the client adds new things, etc.. anyway.

I know right where you are coming from. I am working on a project for a global consulting firm and the pastel colors they want me to use together are hideous. It is making my killer design look like someone threw up pastel crayons all over the place. The hardest part is that they LIKE the way it looks. Also they want me to use photos that were taken in the 60's. For this I am having the photos restored and enhanced but you can only do so much.

Ultimately it is my job to make the site look good to me, them, and their target audience. The method I am using is to bombard them with presentations of different designs that use their colors but don't look terrible. They appreciate all the extra work and as long as I make it seem like a standard procedure to build dozens of site presentations for them to review, they will not be offended at my distaste of their taste.

A middle ground will be made in the hopes that I can add their site to my portfolio; however, if the only way I can make them happy is to make a seriously ugly website, then so be it. I will be paid and they will be happy even if I cant add it to my portfolio.

Originally Posted by Acorn Studios So my question is... do people in small businesses find themselves more comfortable with a crappy looking business site than an artsy one?

According to one of my web design professors, when a visitor comes to a web page offering services, the more flash and glitter they see the more they "feel" like they are paying for the effects more than the products.

Generally, consumers seem to think that products sell themselves, so yes in a way a crappy to the point plain bland flavorless website tends to make consumers think they do not have to do anything more than show their product. This is according to my professor, and I have to disagree because there is a middle ground. Finding that middle ground is hard sometimes but it has to be done because YOU are responsible for your work as much as they are reasonable for their products.