The perfect client?

October 21, 2003 | View Comments (6) | Category: Web Business

Summary: Is there such thing as a perfect client.

Today while talking to one of my clients I began to wonder (for no apparent reason) what would be the perfect client to have. I don't mean who would be the best client, but what makes the best client. Sure most people would love to have some big name companies like Nike or Apple as their clients, but even then I don't think those would be the perfect clients.

Web Standards

Wouldn't it be awesome if you could have a client that demanded that their site be coded with web standards. Even more so what if that client requested that you achieve XHTML 1.0 Strict compliance with the understanding that it would not be easy to achieve the same look in all browsers. This client would understand the importance of standard compliant sites on the web and how it allows for the broadest audience to view the site. Does this client exist?

Tableless Design

After the initial shock of hearing your client lecture you about web standards he then proceeds to tell you that he believes his site should use tables, but only in the places where the W3C intended. Therefore, he is asking for a tableless-designed website. Impressive.

Clean, Simple, Usable Design

Now this is where it gets tough because everyone's opinion on clean, simple, and usable design can differ. However, what if the client said that the only images that could be used are the logo and the pictures that are uploaded to the site? This would require you to create a simple design because CSS without images can really only take you so far. Now to many this may not be ideal, but since I am not the ultra-creative type and I enjoy creating usablity then this would fit right up my alley.

Now maybe there is no such thing as a perfect client. Maybe all the stuff I mentioned above is not even close to a perfect client. However, these would be some ideal traits of a good client. I gathered these points from a client I am currently working with (I will provide details later).

What is the perfect client to you (besides one that pays on time :))?

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Comments

#1

As a web developer (as opposed to a designer) I like it when clients say "here's an interesting problem, solve it in whatever way you see fit".

Simon Willison (http://simon.incutio.com/)

#2

And they actually pay you for that? Sounds more like one of my professors.

Scrivs (http://www.9rules.com/whitespace/)

#3

Jeez, Paul. You have an odd notion of a perfect client.

Mine's a drop-dead gorgeous redhead with green eyes and a billion dollars in the bank who offers me her body and a few million to make a web page so she can show off photos of her mansion, but oh, I'd better live there with her for a year or so so I can get the proper 'feel' for it.

I don't ask for much....

JC (http://thelionsweb.com/weblog)

#4

And on a more serious note, the perfect client is the one who knows I was hired because I know what I'm doing and they don't, takes my advice when it's offered, and speaks intelligently about ideas for the site, gets excited about the project and has lots of *good* input. Being interested in how it works so I can talk geek a bit helps, too. And swearing a most solemn oath not to screw up the site after I turn it over to them (eg, keep any copy or graphics or anything I let them change up to the same quality as the original) so I don't suddenly find it an embarassment on my portfolio.

JC (http://thelionsweb.com/weblog)

#5

JC: I like both of your clients. Maybe we can find a combination of the two.

Scrivs (http://www.9rules.com/whitespace/)

#6

wow...you just described me. well, you would have, if I was going to be a client (since I can do all that myself, that's not very likely).

My brother is a graphic designer, and I had a conversation with him about Web Standards. He made the argument that there's no point in having (or complying to) standards so long as it looks right in the major browsers. I didn't manage to convince him otherwise. I guess he's thinking that since the way he's doing it now works, it's good enough.

The problem is that graphic designer-types aren't necessarily the type who like standardised, consistent code. And also, the geek coder-type isn't likely to be able to do spectacular things, design-wise. The average client probably doesn't care how you do it, so long as it works right.

Of course, the perfect client would care. So, I would have to say that the perfect client doesn't exist - and neither does the perfect designer.

adam (http://www.moosoft.net/)

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