The 4 People You Meet in a Web Design Company

If you think it’s tough getting people in your company to agree, you should see the design process at a web developer.

Everyone is an expert in their field and wants to set up the design a different way.

All those personalities clash (and mesh) spectacularly.

Imagine this meeting…

____________________

Frank Lloyd Wright:

That was Donald Trump and he wants a website. He says that we can make it however we want but if it sucks, he’ll buy our company and fire everyone.

Andy Warhol:

I see a bright, shiny homepage with light pinks, yellows, and greens, offset by a dark red border, symbolizing Trump-like responsibility…

Ernest Hemingway:

(Drinks swig from flask and slams on table) The copy should be solid. That’s most important. Small words. Big meaning. Whitespace everywhere: no colors. Maybe some gray. But no frills. Sites need words, not pictures.

Andy:

Donald loves colors! Everyone does!

Mr. Wright:

The site must be usable. I recommend a streamlined architecture, enabling the user to flow effortlessly from each page to the next, while incorporating code that can be read by any device: mobile phone, laptop, desktop, Blackberry, etc.

Andy:

Nobody cares about the code. People will see the site, real people! They need colors: red for hunger, purple for sex…

RON POPEIL:

I DON’T CARE ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO SELL SELL SELL!!! DONALD LOVES SALES!!! KEYWORDS EVERYWHERE!! CALLS TO ACTION! SNAPPY HEADLINES! 5 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE NOT SUCK! HOW TO BE LIKE THE DONALD!!

Hemingway:

Ron. Solid copy, written succinctly, sells itself.

RON POPEIL:

BUT WE NEED TESTIMONIALS!!!

Andy:

Ugly testimonials wreck the site’s ambiance.

Hemingway:

Colors wreck meaning.

Mr. Wright:

Each user needs to find the information they seek easily and quickly. That is paramount.

Andy:

But if it’s ugly they’ll leave!

Hemingway:

Too many frills distract the eye. Words matter most.

RON POPEIL:

NOTHING MATTERS IF WE LOSE MONEY!!!

Mr. Wright:

No one spends money if they can’t figure out how.  Usability is paramount.

Andy:

Pretty colors!

Hemingway:

Words! No more.

RON POPEIL:

REVENUE!!!! ITS DONALD TRUMP!!!

____________________

And so on. Eventually, if all goes according to plan, a gorgeus, usable, well-written and profitable website evolves.

But sometimes it takes some negotiating

(P.S. 100 points to the first person who can tell who each character represents)