What happens when Web design goes to hell

[Aurora Moon]

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http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell

I literally loled at this. I'm not a website designer, but I also work in Graphics design.. artwork, posters, etc for magazines and stuff like that.

And unfortunately, I also go though this same thing. one time a person actually wanted me to digitally paint a group of 7 people standing around in a highly detailed place with mountains and double-rainbows in the background. oh, and he wanted it like yesterday instead of setting out a reasonable deadline for it. it's as if he thought that computer-generated artwork were done instantly, and didn't take time like real, actual paintings did.

I've done both, and I have to say both almost takes the same amount of time to be done. They have a few differences, such as the fact that with actual paintings it's all too easy to fuck up the whole picture and there's no undo button for real life.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I cannot tell you how many times I've been there.

"Can you design me a logo?" "How much?"

I tell them the prices - which are ROCK BOTTOM. They want it in ten minutes. Sometimes these things can take a week for a simple design because I am so damn picky first and then think of what to portray for the client. They wind up nit picking it apart, just like in the link, and it winds up being some shit I won't put my name to.

[Aurora Moon]

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I swear those clients are sometimes why we can't have nice, cool things when it comes to music, clothing, etc. they literally love this sort of tasteless crap.... so for people like us we basically have to sink really low and just do horrible artwork in order to get paid!

ugh.

[Gunnen4u]

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The customer is always right!

In reality, most are retards. I wonder at how an economy can be geared to filling the needs of their consumption. You guys have a braver soul than I to wade through providing a product to people like that.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Some people are a treat to work for and some are just pure hell. It's their lack of artistic intelligence (? not sure what word to use!) or deep down they are trailer trash and they like their sites to reflect that. I don't know. I'm just glad sometimes I'm on the other end of a computer screen and not have to look them in the face while. It's so nice to be able to curse them out and not risk having them hear me!

[Aurora Moon]

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TK-- yeah, you're lucky in that respect.

I have to meet them in person all the time... so whenever they want something hideous, tasteless or whatever else... I have to work really hard at keeping my face perfectly neutral and go: "Okay then. So when is the deadline? keep in mind that with complicated (horrible) pieces like this it can take up to a week or so. (mainly because I have to stop every six minutes just to scream at how horrible this picture is)."

the words in italics represent what I'm thinking silently.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I'm also lucky in the fact I'm not a professional nor professionally 'trained' so I get to fall back on, "Well, "we" can always find you a professional in this field to work on your stuff, but remember, the prices will not be the same as mine."

Works like a charm when they see what a professional charges per page or per design/item!

[Aurora Moon]

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I do the same thing when clients start bitching at me for not being "pro enough" even though I've been doing this for 4-5 years now. the "professionals" out there are usually a group of artists or whatever working with a company. So of course the company charges something close to 1k for hiring their artists.

me? I charge just 20 dollars to 100 dollars depending on the type of picture or quality that they're looking for. sometimes I have to charge 300, if it's a very large picture that they want. like a 24"x36" glossy poster. That's a whopping Two Foot by Three Foot! and well, the glossy paper I use to create professional-looking artwork and posters can be expensive.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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You're charging way too low for what you do. They need to learn to appreciate your labor alone.

[Aurora Moon]

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In a way I agree... but I'm also being competitive with the other artists who would charge a reasonable price. by keeping my prices so low, I attract more clients this way... and the number of clients I get makes up for what I would lose in money. sometimes they don't even mind paying me more than 300 dollars if they feel that my work is worth it. sometimes they come back for more.

In other words, I'm kinda like walmart of the artist world.