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Topic: Proposals
| Author | Message |
| wineaux | Posted – 5/7/2008 10:20:21 AM | show profile I am working with an independant website designer, who is good and is also a friend. We are working on totally overhauling a natural food website. I have very specific ideas about the graphics needed for the job, as do the owner and others who are involved in the project. His first stab wasn't quite in the right direction, but is getting there, and his ideas on the overall look of the site are right where I want them to be. My question, how much retouching to a proposal is too much? I'm about 90% sure we will use him, as he is reliable, has reasonable rates and is very skilled. I just don't want to scare him off or make him think I'm asking too much while we tool the proposal. Before I submit his proposal to the owner, I want the proposal to be solid, and if not on the right track, very close to the right track. Is that the norm? I've never hired a designer before. I've always worked with in-house designers, so I don't know what the norm is for contracters. I don't want to overstep and ask for too much of his time, since the deal isn't 100% set in stone. But, I know I want to use him, so I'm not going to just toss him aside, either. I don't think I'd ask for a few retools to a proposal unless I were serious. Designers, your thoughts? |
| JeanMarie | Posted – 5/7/2008 5:59:32 PM | show profile | email poster Two lines of questioning - 1. What (in a professional sense) is your position here? Are you paid by the natural food company? I'm not sure what your position is here. 2. Isn't this discussion and retooling something that include all the involved parties? Shouldn't it be part of the "design" process? Make a decision (within the company) as to whether this designer has the skills and aesthetics appropriate to execute this job. Then either hire him/her or don't. Your discussions (at this point) should be about time, money, and volume of work. Once you both are satisfied that the job can be done on-time and on-budget, then he's the "chosen one" and you can start talking about graphics and aesthetics with EVERYONE who is a stakeholder. Make sense? |
| wineaux | Posted – 5/8/2008 9:37:46 AM | show profile Jean: 1. What (in a professional sense) is your position here? Are you paid by the natural food company? I'm not sure what your position is here. I'm a marketing consultant. It's an extremely small company. 2. Isn't this discussion and retooling something that include all the involved parties? Shouldn't it be part of the "design" process? I wanted the proposal to be as close to what the owner wanted as possible, in order for her not to reject the proposal. I did have a meeting w/ the designer last night, explaining my concern and he assured me, as you mentioned, that the proposal was just that, a proposal. Changes or additions could be made later and the proposal itself was just a way for the owner to get an idea of his skills. (I'm new to this sort of thing, so I have been a little wary of getting it wrong.) I went ahead and submitted his work to the owners, and hopefully their team will be onboard when we have a meeting tommorow. I really appreciate your advice. I didn't want to waste anyone's time or put people through unnecessary hoops just because of my lack of experience in this area. |
