Working with a client is somewhat freeing. You get to collaborate. It is a communicative effort in which you share ideas and desires. You have a baseline to begin with instead of an absolute blank canvas. You are working with an individual or team of individuals who have a somewhat clear, albeit not entirely organized or refined, idea of what they want. Having restrictions in place often frees up the creative mind. By eliminating the possibility of endless possibilities, it helps the mind focus and begin creating. It helps one avoid the “writers block”  predicament.

The usual process I use to discover the actual wants and needs of a client is to first have them plunk down in front of their computer and just surf the internet for a while. Their goal: to critique as many websites as possible to establish a good idea of what they like, don’t like, and absolutely have to have. This serves a dual purpose. First, it focuses the client. Most people know they want a website or they want a better website but they aren’t quite clear what sort of website they want or how exactly to make their current one better. Second, it provides inspiration for me to work from.

I absolutely believe that good web design is a form of art. There are thousands upon thousands of gorgeous websites out there. So many, in fact, that your client will most likely find a few and send you the links. It’s almost guaranteed. Most people inherently look for websites in their related field to critique. Real estate agents look at other agents’ sites. Churches look at other church sites. This is all well and good but I tend to encourage them to observe sites that have nothing to do at all with their related field because, frankly, certain fields of business tend to have some horrific websites.

Maybe that is what makes it so hard to design for yourself. You’re completely on your own. There is no one to guide you. No one to send you links of inspiration or to bounce ideas off of. If you work in web design you probably already have a folder of favorites full of awe inspiring websites made but some of the most talented designers out there. It can be inspiring and deflating in the same instance to view them all. But, probably most importantly, you have no one to simply tell you, “OK, I like it. Go with it.” No one to give you a deadline. No one to give you approval. It’s just you and your limitless available revisions, budget (assuming you don’t bill yourself for your work), and absolutely no deadlines.