Sometimes you win one...
I have been working on a largish catalog project... and while trying to hammer together the content, have been going back and forth over the overall page design and header.... an email exchange....
He: I reviewed the collection so far to date and decided the treatment on the header is not going to work. I like the concept but feel the text which needs to be lager on the header should be the category not the Publishers name. Maybe you can reverse the trend and feature the category which currently gets lost and make the publishers name on the smaller side.
Me: Okay, here we go, without radical revises, three takes.
I like 3 and 4 depending on how much emphasis on the publisher. Can
certainly be tweaked, and not inordinately difficult to update on the
fly on the Master Pages.
He: Like version 2 [the most ordinary and boring] make the category words white and loose the publisher.
Me: Please see "Spread Design 2a.pdf" on the server.
Updating existing pages.
He: Two things:
1.) Increase font a little more on the category of the page and try
centering it vertically on the header.
2.) Please put our phone number on the bottom of every page
ARRRGH... Why did I spend hours (on a weekend!) updating the master pages?
Me: Sending up a new comp with the following thoughts.
The category headers in Version 2a are already the size of the product headers, and in a heavier typeface, larger they outshout the products. Centered does work, but it's a more ordinary and less distinctive look and drifting towards a bit clanky. I don't think that what's essentially a navigation aid should be the main attention grabber on the page. It if works for you folks, its fine, but I did want to bring up those considerations.
Current version from 24 to 28 points.
I've included the text "[Clients Biz Name]" with the number for a bit of context.
A floating Tel Number is a bit disconcerting.
Please see "Spread Design 2b.pdf" on the server.
Folks, it was getting stonking terrible.... this big huge honking text up in the header that was screaming LOOK AT ME!. No. Customers may sign checks, but we draw the line here, are they paying me for expertise or what? So I winged out a re-design...
30 Min later:
Me: For a slightly calmer variation take a look at: Spread Design 5.pdf*
Still has the big text, but doesn't scream so much
This morning:
He: Nice job on version 5 - I like the look, go with that version. I also appreciate
your point on the previous and understand and agree with all your points.
Me: ** jaw drop ** ...
Holy crap. They actually listened to reasonable, thoughtful critique for once. It's not April First is it? Sometime you win one, but gotta tell ya, these folk have earned a chunk of cred with me today. Still have to re-update the Masters for the done pages. But maybe after 30 years at this I might have some notion of what I'm doing. But Gods, I should frakking FRAME that last email.
Don't lose hope! Banzai!
* [ versions 3 and 4 didn't survive the pass before. LOL ]
He: I reviewed the collection so far to date and decided the treatment on the header is not going to work. I like the concept but feel the text which needs to be lager on the header should be the category not the Publishers name. Maybe you can reverse the trend and feature the category which currently gets lost and make the publishers name on the smaller side.
Me: Okay, here we go, without radical revises, three takes.
I like 3 and 4 depending on how much emphasis on the publisher. Can
certainly be tweaked, and not inordinately difficult to update on the
fly on the Master Pages.
He: Like version 2 [the most ordinary and boring] make the category words white and loose the publisher.
Me: Please see "Spread Design 2a.pdf" on the server.
Updating existing pages.
He: Two things:
1.) Increase font a little more on the category of the page and try
centering it vertically on the header.
2.) Please put our phone number on the bottom of every page
ARRRGH... Why did I spend hours (on a weekend!) updating the master pages?
Me: Sending up a new comp with the following thoughts.
The category headers in Version 2a are already the size of the product headers, and in a heavier typeface, larger they outshout the products. Centered does work, but it's a more ordinary and less distinctive look and drifting towards a bit clanky. I don't think that what's essentially a navigation aid should be the main attention grabber on the page. It if works for you folks, its fine, but I did want to bring up those considerations.
Current version from 24 to 28 points.
I've included the text "[Clients Biz Name]" with the number for a bit of context.
A floating Tel Number is a bit disconcerting.
Please see "Spread Design 2b.pdf" on the server.
Folks, it was getting stonking terrible.... this big huge honking text up in the header that was screaming LOOK AT ME!. No. Customers may sign checks, but we draw the line here, are they paying me for expertise or what? So I winged out a re-design...
30 Min later:
Me: For a slightly calmer variation take a look at: Spread Design 5.pdf*
Still has the big text, but doesn't scream so much
This morning:
He: Nice job on version 5 - I like the look, go with that version. I also appreciate
your point on the previous and understand and agree with all your points.
Me: ** jaw drop ** ...
Holy crap. They actually listened to reasonable, thoughtful critique for once. It's not April First is it? Sometime you win one, but gotta tell ya, these folk have earned a chunk of cred with me today. Still have to re-update the Masters for the done pages. But maybe after 30 years at this I might have some notion of what I'm doing. But Gods, I should frakking FRAME that last email.
Don't lose hope! Banzai!
* [ versions 3 and 4 didn't survive the pass before. LOL ]